Abhishek Barot

Age: 13

Address: Chandra Bhaga Na Khada

Meet Abhishek. He is always smiling, very jovial and extremely friendly .He enjoys the time he spends at Manav sadhna and being a part of the Earn N’ Learn family. He considers the time spend here to be his favorite part of the day, mainly for the fun games they play, along with the opportunities it has forged for his future. His father works on a daily wage basis and his mother makes handicrafts at a small scale. He has 2 siblings, a brother and a sister. He studies in 7th standard and is fond of studies. He wants to do something big and thus join army when he grows up .He is greatly inspired by the song Vande Matram and the story of freedom struggle.

Ajay Barot

Age: 13
Address: Old Vadaj Slum

All you have to do is meet Ajay to instantly know that he is the mischievous one! But his philosophy is that he can be cheeky and up to mischief when he is young, “but when I’m old, I’ll be a good man”, he says. He is determined to be this ‘good man’ when he is older and says that he wants to be in the army, mainly to beat the bad guys, of course. He is one of 4 children and he lives in a slum with his Parents. His mother works as a cleaner and his father is unemployed. His mother’s income alone is not enough to support the whole family and this is why Ajay is part of the Earn N’ Learn Program. He attends a local Municipal School and tries to study as best as he can. But Earn N’ Learn is his favorite part of the day and he says that this is because at Earn n Learn they teach him everything!! He learns craft, gets extra tuition, and he is also taught the principles of life and how to be a good person. He really enjoys making the crafts and loves to be creative, and when he “feels like” he starts to draw.

Ajay Bilocha

Age: 15
Address: Ram Pir No Teckro, Slum

Ajay is one of 3 children in his family, and they live in a small slum dwelling with their Parents. His father works at the Petrol Pump and his mother is a cook for the local Pre-schools in the city. His favorite part of the day is split between going to School and coming to Earn N’ Learn, both of which he loves. He has been part of Earn N’ Learn for over 4 years and enjoys the extra tuition that he gets there. He is attending a local High School and is in his senior years. He has aspirations of studying further and maybe one day becoming a doctor. He is a fun loving child who likes to play cricket and play-fight with his friends, otherwise you would probably find him just hanging out with his friends, chatting and joking around.

Akash Bilocha

Age: 14
Address: Ram Pir No Tekro, Slum

Akash is a very quiet kid who likes playing cricket a lot. He studies in 9th standard in the local municipal school and has been a part of the Earn N’ Learn for more than 3 yrs now. He has two other siblings, both brothers. His father works at a petrol pump and his mother is a housewife. He tries to study as best as he can. Earn N’ Learn is his favorite part of the day and he says that this is because here they teach him everything!! He learns craft, gets extra tuition, and he is also taught the principles of life and how to be a good person. He wants to be a cricketer when he grows up and his favorite cricketer is Dhoni.

Aman Vishwakarma

Age: 9
Address: Dandipour Slum.

Aman is new to Earn N’ Learn, but it is fast becoming his favorite part of the day. He is already very comfortable in the program and enjoys it because so many of his friends are there. Aman’s 2 older siblings Rohini and Bipin are part of the Earn N’ Learn family too and he is so happy to finally be able to come along with them. His family lives in a small slum dwelling, not far from Manav Sadhna, and he is often found playing around the Gandhi Ashram. His mother is employed as a Clothing Tailor and his father works in Carpentry. Aman attends a local government school and is in the 3rd standard. He enjoys most of his activities at school, especially reading. However nothing beats his love for playing games and having fun! He doesn’t care what games he plays, as long as he gets to have fun and be cheeky. When he grows up her wants to be a Police Officer; his desire is to ‘get all the bad guys’.

Ashwin Ravat

Age: 15
Address: Ram Pir No Teckro, Slum

Meet Ashwin. He is a type of friendly child who will come and say ‘Hello’ several times in one-day. He comes to Earn N’ Learn with his younger sister and they both enjoy the time spent here a lot. Ashwin considers it to be his favorite part of every day, mainly for the fun games they play, along with the opportunities it has forged for his future. His mother works for Gramshree and his father is a ‘Choutuk’ (a kind of Handyman, when there is work available). Ashwin attends the school in Gandhi Ashram, where his favorite subjects are English and Maths. He is a very quick learner and wants to do Business when he is older. For now, though, Ashwin is happy to watch movies, play Frisbee and hang out with his friends, with the occasional game of Cricket (which he loves to play).

Bhavesh Acharya

Age: 13
Address: Parikshit Nagar

Meet Bhavesh. He is always smiling and has a great desire to learn English and Maths.He enjoys his Earn N’ Learn a lot and is loved by his close friends here. He considers the time spend here to be his favorite part of the day, mainly for the fun games they play, along with the opportunities it has forged for his future. His father works as a tailor.Bhavesh is in the 6th standard and is fond of studies. He wants to become an eye specialist because his own vision is not perfect and therefore wants to treat others with the same defect.

Bipin Vishwakarma

Age: 14
Address: Dandipour, off Ashram Road.

Bipin is one of the 3 children, living in a slum dwelling with his Mother and Father. His mother does some work as a Clothing Tailor and his father works in Carpentry, neither job provides a strong income and this is one of the reasons that all 3 of their children are in the Earn N’ Learn Program. Bipin now attends a local government school and is in the 7th grade. He values his time at school, but enjoys his time at Manav Sadhna best. He likes everything he gets to do there, especially the tuition, because he really wants to do well at school and the extra learning helps him achieve his best. He wants to be in the Military when he is older, but for now he is happy playing around with his friends, his favorite game being Cricket.

Chirag Barot

Age: 10
Address: Old Vadaj Slum

Chirag is a very hard working member of the Earn N Learn family. He is often seen sitting peacefully, working away on whatever is in front of him, but whenever he gets time, he is off playing cricket with his friends! His mother is a housewife and his father is a ‘Choutuk’ [a handyman when there is work available]. Chirag and his 3 older siblings are all part of the Earn N’ Learn program. He’s in grade 6 at a local Government School and everyday he looks forward to finishing school and playing “it” [tip] and dodgeball with his friends. Still, these games are nothing compared to his “favorite time of the day”, which is whenever he gets to play cricket. So far he thinks that he might like to be a Police Officer when he grows up because he, like most boys, wants to “get the bad guys”.

Daksha Ravat

Age: 13
Address: Bharistad Naga Slum

Daksha wants to be a Teacher when she grows up, so that she can look after little children. She tells us that her favorite things in life are to learn and help people. She is a very lovely girl who does a lot of work around her home to help her mother. Her mother works as a cleaner in a Bungalow and her father works as a ‘Choutuk’ (a handyman, when there is work available) and on their incomes alone it is not enough to send all their children to school. This is why Daksha and two of her sisters are part of the Earn N’ Learn program, and this involvement helps to support their family and broaden the opportunities available to them. Daksha attends a local high school and loves her studies, which she spends a lot of energy on each day. For fun she likes to sing and dance with her sisters. Although she doesn’t really like to “play”, she does love to hang out with her friends, chatting and talking about anything they can think of!

Dharmishtha Ravat

Age: 12
Address: Parikshit Nagar

Dharmishtha is a gorgeous thing with a quick working giggle and a fast smile. She is in a family of 2 boys and 3 girls, living in a small slum dwelling, and comes to Earn N’ Learn with her 2 sisters. Her mother works as a cleaner in a Bungalow and her father works as a ‘Choutuk’ (handyman) when there is work available. She attends the School in Gandhi Ashram and looks forward to be a part of Earn N’ Learn after school everyday. It is her favorite place to come because she feels that she gets to do EVERYTHING there! She gets to make crafts, do tuition, take computer classes and hang out with her friends, all whilst having fun! She enjoys watching movies and sometimes likes to play games, but what she likes best is sitting down with her friends and chatting together. She helps her mom with the housework when she gets home everyday and says that she wants to be a Doctor when she is older, simply because she wants to fix people.

Ganesh Bharaiya

Age: 14
Address: Shapur Slum

Ganesh is such an inspiring boy who has an incredibly gentle and loving nature. He invited us into his home and while we were waiting for his parents to arrive he insisted on making us tea. He has been part of the Earn N’ Learn project for the past few years and he considers his time there to be his favorite part of the day! He loves it because he gets to do so many different things there, learning, craft, playing, prayer, and he gets to sing while he does it all! Singing is his favorite thing and he hopes to be a professional Singer when he is older. Both of his parents work as cleaners and Ganesh is the second of 5 children, all boys. He used to work as a boot polisher on the street side until one day Jagat-bhai met him, had his shoes shined, and invited him to be a part of the Earn N Learn family. Now, Ganesh’s shoe shining days are over.

Guddi Barot

Age: 12
Address: Old Vadaj Slum.

Guddi is full of giggles and is always trying to get a smile out of someone. She began seeming to be quite shy, but is now full of confidence and constantly playing around. She comes from a close-knit family with 3 other siblings. Her father works as a ‘Choutuk’ (a handyman, when there is work available) and this income is not generous or consistent, so all 4 children are now part of the Earn N’ Learn family. Guddi is in the 7th grade at a local Government School and is a very good student. She says that they have strict parents so there is not much playing, but plenty of time for study. She and her sister like to dance together, and she says that instead of playing they fight, like most loving sisters do... Guddi’s favorite time of the day is her time at Earn N’ Learn! She likes it because they get to do everything there- work, play, study, prayer, tuition, and she gets to hang out with friends! Sounds perfect to us :)

Harshad Parmar

Age: 16
Address: Vadaj, Ram Pir No Teckro, Slum.

Harshad Parmar is a very focused boy, and he knows whatt he wants from life. He has a younger brother, who accompanies him to Earn N’ Learn. They live in a small slum dwelling with their mother and father. Their mother works for Manav Sadhna as a cook for the local Preschools around the city, and their father is a Watch-man for a local University. Harshad attends a nearby High School and is in the 10th standard, where his favorite subject is Science. His favorite parts of the day are School and Tuition class and he says that he does his homework to relax, showing us just how much he values and loves his education. Harshad hasn’t yet thought about what he wants to do when he grows up, but he knows that he wants to go to a University. He has been part of Earn N’ Learn for 4 years and Card Making is his favorite activity there. He loves Earn N’ Learn and is happy and grateful for the positive impact it has had and will have on his future.

Hetal Barot

Age: 14
Address: Old Vadaj Slum

“I want people to know that if you study hard, and work hard, then you can be something!”
This is Hetal, she is a passionate young lady and freely offers her thoughts to us.She says that she wants the world to know that girls can also do what boys can . She wants to be a Professional Singer when she grows up and wants this mostly so that she can help support her family and make them proud. She sits like a lady and tells us that she doesn’t really go out to play, but sometimes has fun with her brothers and sister around the house. Her father works as a ‘Choutuk’ (a handyman, when there is work available) and her mother is a housewife, and their income is anything but reliable. She and her 3 brothers and sisters live with their Parents in a small slum dwelling and, with thanks to their involvement in Earn N’ Learn, Hetal attends a Local Private High school where she works determinedly on her studies. She is the most confident of her family members, singing and dancing around the place almost constantly. She loves to come to Manav Sadhna each day and says it’s because Earn N’ Learn offers her everything, an opportunity to work to support her family, a time to play with her friends and a time to learn craft making and get some extra tuition.

Hina Makhwana

Age: 10
Address: Parikshit Nagar Slum

Hina is a sweet girl who is simple natured and fun loving. She lives in the slum with her Mother and Father, with 2 brothers and 1 sister. Her Father works as a ‘Choutuk’ (a handyman, when there is work available) and her Mother stays at home cleaning, cooking and preparing for her family. Everyday Hina looks forward to go home and help her mom around the house, and once this is done she goes out to play with her friends. They play games like Kho-Kho and Ram-Sham-Ravin, and she says that they sometimes play for hours! Hina says that her time at Earn N Learn is her favorite part of the day. She loves it because of the opportunities it brings her and the fact that she gets to work and learn with all of her friends. She goes to School in the Gandhi Ashram and works very hard on her studies. Hina really enjoys helping her friends and this is one of the many reasons for her aspiring to be a Doctor when she grows up.

Jay Makhwana

Age: 12
Address: Subash Bridge

Jay Makwana comes from a small family, with only 1 sister. His mother works as a tailor and his father works in a Khadi Store, as Shopkeeper. He goes to school in the Gandhi Ashram and, although he enjoys School quite a lot, his favorite time of the day is whenever he gets to play! He likes to play Cricket and Ball Games and spending time with his friends. He wants to be a Pharmacist when he is older, so that he can help people when they are sick. Jay is a very caring son and helps his mom with the house work whenever he can. He says that if his family needs anything then he will go and get it, whatever it may take. He wants to tell the world about how good-natured and loving the people in India are, and he says that you should come and visit him in India and he will invite you over for some Chai(Tea).

Jyotsana Ravat

Age: 11
Address:Parikshit nagar

Jyotsana is a surprise package. She’s a tiny little thing who seems to be quite shy and careful; however it is she that leads most of the mischief at Earn N’ Learn. And although she is small, she is still the Leader Of The Pack. Jyotsana is one of the 5 children, with 2 brothers and 2 sisters, and they live in a small slum dwelling with their Parents. Her Mother works as a cleaner in a nearby home and her Father is a ‘Choutuk’ (handyman) when there is work available. Neither of the jobs provides a strong enough income to support a family of their size, and this is why Jyotsana and her 2 sisters are part of Earn N’ Learn. Their involvement helps and supports their family, whilst also brightening their own future with broader opportunities. Jyotsana attends school in the Gandhi Ashram and tries very hard to keep up with her studies. She likes to dance and play games like Tip and Kho- Kho with her friends. She likes just about everything, but her favorite time of the day is being at Earn N’ Learn, she says she likes it “because it’s fun!!!!”.

Kajal Gautam

Age: 12
Address: Dandipour, off Ashram Road

Meet Kajal, she is a natural born leader and has a lot of her friends looking up to her for guidance. Around younger children she can be a bit of a bossy boots and knows how to “mess around” and make fun. But as soon as you get her into her home she is a perfect lady, tidying the house, folding the washing, offering you tea and biscuits, and making sure that you’re looked after. She is mature beyond her age, and has a LOT of character. She lives with her family in a small slum dwelling and she attends Earn N’ Learn with 2 of her brothers. Her mother works for Gramshree [an organization with close ties to Manav Sadhna] and her father is a Painter. With the help of Earn N’ Learn she now attends a local Government School and loves having the opportunity to learn and study. She hasn’t yet thought about what she wants to do when she is grows up, but has plenty of time to in the future. For now she is happy to enjoy her favorite things, which include drinking Ice-cold Water, eating Samosa’s, helping her mom with the housework, singing and playing with friends.

Kalpesh Barot

Age: 18
Address: Old Vadaj Slum

Kaplesh is the eldest in his family. His father works as ‘chotuk’ (a handyman when work is available), which can prove to be an unreliable income at times; therefore Kalpesh has stepped up to take on household responsibility. His Mother is a housewife and Kalpesh helps around the house in any way he can. He and his 3 other siblings are all a part of the Earn N’ Learn project, and this helps support their family. He attends a Municipal High School, which is a half hour walk away, but he doesn’t mind the distance. He is just happy to have the chance to study. Regardless of how much he may like school, he is always very eager for the vacation time to begin. After a hard day of work and school, Kaplesh rewards himself by hanging out and chatting with his friends. He is always playing cricket and would love to be a professional cricketer when he gets older. He is a hard working boy aware of his responsibilities and always tries his best to fulfill them.

Kanchan Gautam

Age: 12
Address: Near Mahadev Revarivas.

Kanchan is a confident, smart girl who wants to do big in life. She comes from a close-knit family with 3 other siblings. Her father works as a painter and mother engages herself in bharat kaam (kadai). Kanchan is in the 7th grade at a local Government School and is a very good student. Her favorite time of the day is her time at Earn N’ Learn! She likes it because they get to do everything there- work, play, study, prayer, tuition, and she gets to hang out with friends. When she grows up she wants to be a doctor and help those in need.

Mahesh Merani

Age: 14
Address: Parikshit nagar Slum

Mahesh is new at Manav Sadhna but is already enjoying the time he spends with the Earn N’ Learn group. He considers his time here to be his favorite part of the day! He loves it because he gets to do so many different things there, learning, craft, playing, and prayer. At home he plays with his sister and brother. His father works at the petrol and his mother is a house wife who sometimes weaves cotton to earn some money. Mahesh wants to be a police officer when he grows up the reason of which he himself doesn’t know.

Manish Varmar

Age: 9
Address: Dandipour Slum.

Manish is one of the 3 children in his family, all of which are part of the Earn N’ Learn project. He comes along with his two older sisters and loves the time he spends here! It is the best part of his day, mainly because all of his friends are there to help and enjoy with him. Manish lives in a small slum dwelling with his 2 sisters and his parents. His mother is a house wife and his Father is employed in Iron-Construction. Manish helps his mother around the home by sweeping and cleaning up himself. But because his sisters do most of the work which leaves him with some time to play! For fun he likes to play “It” and “Hide N Seek”, which is his favorite game. Manish attends a local government school and is in the 6th standard. He enjoys his time there and his favorite activity at school is Writing. He is not sure what he wants to do when he grows up, but knows that he would like to help those in need.

Manisha Dulera

Age: 14
Address: Parikshit Nagar Slum

“I think I’d like to be a Painter when I grow up... I’ve never tried it before but I think I would love it”, Manisha is really something special! She is a beautiful young lady who glows with maturity even at the young age of 14. She feels that she is too old for playing and instead helps her mother with work around the house, sometimes stopping to play for a short while with her little brother. Her mother works as a cleaner and her father is a ‘Choutuk’ (a handyman, when there is work available). Manisha treasures and loves her education and usually attends a local school, but gets pulled out when her family isn’t able to afford it. She is currently not attending any school and particularly values her time at Earn N Learn because of the extra tuition they offer; it is her favorite part of the day! She comes along less for the work and more for the learning, as she loves to keep herself challenged and learning and growing, even when school is not available to her. Her attitude towards learning is inspirational and she can’t wait to get back into school!!!

Manisha Ravat

Age: 12
Address: Ram Pir No Teckro, Slum

When Manisha grows up she wants to be a Playback Singer! It is her biggest dream and she loves to sing with all her heart. She is happy and willing to sing us a song at any time we ask! She comes to Earn N’ Learn with her older brother, and is one of 4 children in her family. Her mother works for Gramshree and her father is a ‘Choutuk’ (a handyman, when there is work available). She goes to school in the Gandhi Ashram and her favorite subject is “Ssamaj”, which is a value-based subject that teaches Ghandian Principles and how to live a good life. She goes home to help her mom around the house by washing dishes and making dough, she also cooks Kitchadi sometimes. For fun she likes to play “Slaps” with her friends, a game where they hit each other over the back of the head... She assures me that no one gets hurt!!

Mehul Chauhan

Age: 11
Address: Ram Pir No Teckro, Slum

Mehul is the youngest member of the Chauhan family involved in the Earn N’ Learn project, he comes along with his older brother and sister. Mehul treasures his time with the other Earn N Learn children and says that it is his favorite part of the day. He has 3 sisters and only 1 older brother, and they live together with their parents in the local slum. His mother is a cook for the cities local Bal mundir (preschool) and his father is unexplainably unemployed. At his young age he has bundles of energy all going towards playing games, and he loves to play Tip and Cricket with his friends. He considers himself to be quite a good batsman and spends hours playing Cricket in the grounds of the Gandhi Ashram. He attends a local Municipal School and also attends tuition classes offered by Earn N’ Learn to make the most of every education opportunity.

Mitesh Makwana

Age: 12
Address: Ranip slum

Mitesh is a very friendly boy who loves making new friends. His father works in security and his mother is a house wife, however throughout the week Mitesh and his brother live with their Grandmother. They stay with her because she lives very close to their School. Going to school is Mitesh’s favorite part of the day! On his father’s income alone the family has struggled to send the 2 brothers to school, but with the help of Earn N’ Learn Mitesh and his brother are both very happily enjoying their education. He loves to play Cricket and Marbles with his friends, and can often be found practicing and developing his skills in both these activities. Mitesh hasn’t really thought about what he wants to do when he grows up, but like most of the kids here, when asked, he responds with “... Maybe a doctor... I don’t know.” If only choosing a career path was as simple as that :)

Naresh Parmar

Age: 11
Address: Ram Pir No Teckro

Naresh is a softly spoken boy with a gentle, kind nature. He is very friendly and always has a big smile on his face. He lives in a small slum dwelling with his older brother, Rahul, and his Mother and Father. His father is unemployed, and it is his mother who bares the financial responsibility of their family. She works as a cleaner in a nearby home and is often very busy with work. This leaves Naresh and his brother to help out a lot around the house, which they don’t mind doing at all. They enjoy having the chance to help out. Naresh comes to Earn N’ Learn with his brother, and it is his favorite part of the day. He finds it peaceful at Manav Sadhna, and enjoys being able to work and do tuition without being disturbed. He attends a local Municipal School and focuses hard on his studies. For fun he likes to play Cricket with his friends, and otherwise, really enjoys watching Tom and Jerry Cartoons on the television.

Nayan Rathod

Age: 18
Address: Old Vadaj Slum

Nayan has been a part of Earn N’ Learn for 3 years and loves the time that he gets to spend here! Not only does he come here for work and tuition, but also to enjoy with his friends. It’s his favorite place to be and the best part of his whole day! Because of the support provided by Earn N’ learn he attends a School in the Gandhi Ashram where he studies very hard. His dad works as an Electrician and he is the oldest of 6 children in his family. Nayan used to work on the roadside selling Balloon’s to passer by’s.He wasn’t attending School because his family couldn’t afford it, until one day Jagat saw him by the road and invited him to come and visit Earn N’ Learn. Since that day things have only looked up for Nayan and he really appreciates the opportunities that he has before him. He says that he doesn’t really “play” games or anything, because he more likes to just hang-out relaxing with his friends. His ambitions for the future are direct and simple, just to “get a decent job”, he says.

Nikul Bijalbhai

Age: 14

Address: Ram Pir No Teckro, Slum

Nikul is a very friendly boy who likes to observe others, although he is a little shy. He has two elder brothers and a younger sister. Being part of Earn N Learn ensures that he gets to go to school and these hours he spends at school are his favorite part of the day! His Mother Picks paper from different places and then sells it to earn some money and his father fits window glasses. He enjoys the combination of work and studies. He studies in 9^th standard. He wants to become a cricketer when is grows up and his favorite player is Yuvraj Singh.

Nikul Parmar

Age: 14

Address: Vadaj, Ram Pir No Teckro, Slum

Meet Nikul. He loves to draw and he loves to paint, mainly in his favorite colour, Yellow. His favorite part everyday is the time he spends at Earn N Learn. He loves to be creative in making the Cards and enjoys all of the tuition and games and especially the food that he gets to eat there. He sees it as a time where he gets to do everything, and enjoys being surrounded by his friends! Nikul’s mother works as a cook for local Preschool and his father works in Security for a local University, and together, with his older brother, they live in a local slum. He goes to a nearby school and although he is extremely grateful that he gets an education, he also looks forward to playing Cricket in the afternoons, like most boys. He hopes to be a Pilot when he is older because he has always wanted to fly

Nilam Chauhan

Age:15

Address: Ram Pir No Teckro, Slum

Spending even a small amount of time with Nilam, it is immediately apparent that she is quite the ‘don’ of the Earn n Learn kids. She is naturally very inquisitive and always wants to know what is going on. She has 2 sisters and 2 brothers, and they live with their Parents in the local slum. Her Mother works as a cook for the local Bal mandir (preschool) around the city and her father is unexplainably unemployed, this leaves their family in quite a financial crunch and this is why Nilam and her 2 brothers are part of the Earn N’ Learn Program. This helps to provide for their family and enables the children to attend school, which is Nilam’s favorite part of the day. She enjoys her studies and values the opportunity that she gets to attend school. She likes to have fun playing Raquette Ball and Tip with her friends. Nilam’s bossy qualities are actually a charm in her personality and she is always entertaining to be around.

Nitesh Gautam

Age: 17

Address: Old Vadaj

Piyush has just completed his 10th standard exams. He loves going to school, even though he has to walk half an hour to get there each morning. His favorite part of the day is the time he spends playing cricket with his friends every evening. He tells me that they try to play for only an hour before heading home, but usually the time gets away from them and they end up playing for hours, some days even missing dinner as they get home so late! Piyush’s father works as a ‘Choutuk’ (a handyman, when there is work available) which provides only a small and unreliable income for their family, which is why Piyush loves coming to Earn N’ Learn to help support his family. Before being part of Earn N’ Learn he would aimlessly waste time hanging around in the streets with his friends, but now he is happy to be productive and studying; and his parents are very happy for the changes it has made in his life.

Piyush Parmar

Age: 17

Address: Old Vadaj

Piyush has just completed his 10th standard exams. He loves going to school, even though he has to walk half an hour to get there each morning. His favorite part of the day is the time he spends playing cricket with his friends every evening. He tells me that they try to play for only an hour before heading home, but usually the time gets away from them and they end up playing for hours, some days even missing dinner as they get home so late! Piyush’s father works as a ‘Choutuk’ (a handyman, when there is work available) which provides only a small and unreliable income for their family, which is why Piyush loves coming to Earn N’ Learn to help support his family. Before being part of Earn N’ Learn he would aimlessly waste time hanging around in the streets with his friends, but now he is happy to be productive and studying; and his parents are very happy for the changes it has made in his life.

Poonam Moria

Age: 11

Address: Dandipur Slum

Poonam is such a beautiful girl, with a perfect smile, constantly glowing even as she expresses her frustration in not being able to do her hair in the mornings (because her hair is so long and her arms are so short). She lives in a small slum dwelling with her older brother and Parents. Her Mother spends her days at home, cooking, cleaning and preparing for her family, whilst her Father works in Carpentry, making furniture. Her older brother used to come to Earn N’ Learn, but he has moved on and she is so happy that she finally gets to come! She has only been coming along for a short time. She loves it so far and says that all the other kids are really kind to her. Poonam doesn’t like to watch t.v. with the other kids but much prefers to dance, play Marbles and throw balls around with her friends. She particularly likes the Rainy Season when she still gets to play these games and having a bath at the same time! Her favorite part of the day is when she is studying at home and gets to help her mom with housework. She wants to be a Teacher when she is older.

Poonam Varmar

Age: 10

Address: Dandipour Slum

Poonam has a serious little face and talks to us with great care, almost as if making sure to say the correct things. She is very clever and studies in the 5^th standard at a local Municipal School. At school she enjoys reading and meeting her friends, and it is her favorite part of the day. Poonam has a younger brother and an older sister, and they live in a small slum dwelling with their Mother and Father. Her Father is employed in Iron-Construction and his income alone is not enough to send Poonam and her siblings to school. This is why all 3 of them are involved in the Earn N Learn Project. Poonam is grateful for her time at Earn N Learn and loves to learn the many creative skills that she picks up there. She is not sure what she wants to do when she is grown up, and even though her parents tell her to become a Doctor, she is determined to work this one out for herself.

Prakash Parmar

Age: 13

Address: Old Vadaj Slum

Prakash is part of the Earn N’ Learn program and is very grateful for the opportunities it has given him. He appreciates the skills he has learnt from Earn N’ Learn and immensely enjoys creating the hand-made cards. He loves attending school and studies very hard. His father works in a flour-mill and he is one of four children in his family. He loves to watch movies, especially films by Amitabh Bachan. But one of his favorite things in the world is Food, any kind of food. We asked him what his favorites were and he went on to give us a list so long ,that it would have been far too much to even begin recording!! He says that his favorite part of the day is any time that he gets to eat. He’s a clever boy and knows how to make others laugh. He’s not sure what he sees himself doing when he is older, but thinks that maybe he could be a Doctor or an Engineer.

Rahul Parmar

Age: 14

Address: Ram Pir No Teckro

Meet Rahul, he is an extremely caring and helpful boy, with 1 younger brother. They live in a small slum dwelling with their unemployed father and their hard-working mother, who works as a cleaner in a nearby home. Their mother is so busy working most days that Rahul has to help out a lot around the house. He likes to do anything he can to help, washing the dishes, peeling garlic, and other small chores. Because of their family’s financial situation, both Rahul and his brother are a part of Earn N’ Learn, where they come each day to help to support their family. Rahul really enjoys making cards, and especially because he gets to do this with his friends around. He now attends a local Municipal School and is studying hard to do his best. His favorite part of the day is when he gets to watch cartoons on the television and to play Cricket with his friends.

Raju Desai

Age: 15

Address: Dandipur Slum

Raju has such welcoming features; he is a very quiet boy and manages to be your friend without saying too much at all. He is 1 of three children, with an older brother and a younger sister and his family live in a small slum dwelling. His mother spends her days at home, cleaning and preparing food for her family, and his father is an Auto Rickshaw Driver. Raju helps his parents by milking the cow’s everyday. Both his parents are happy that he is part of Earn N’ Learn and entirely support his involvement in the program.He attends a local High School and focuses determinedly on his studies, his favorite subject this past year has been English. He loves to play Cricket, enjoys watching T.V. and loves to see new movies. When he gets older he would like to be a Mechanical Engineer.

Rohini Vishwakarma

Age: 11

Address: Dandipour, off Ashram Road.

Meet little Rohini, she is “cute as a button” and has a special gift for seeing the good in everything! She tells us that the best part of her day is… well, everything! The list is huge and contains many different things, from helping with housework in the mornings to playing games with her friends in the afternoon. She lives in a small slum dwelling with her parents and 2 brothers. She really loves to help her mom around the home and is a very good assistant in the kitchen. Her father works in Carpentry and her mother does some work as a Clothing Tailor, both unable to create much of a solid income for their family. For this reason, Rohini and her brothers are all part of the Earn N’ Learn Program, where they get to help and support their family. Rohini is currently attending a local government school and is in the 5^th grade. She says that she wants to be a Doctor when she grows up, so she wants to do very well at school and spends a lot of time studying. For fun she sings but only a little bit and also likes to play chasing games with her friends.

Rohit Gautam

Age: 14

Address: Dandipour, off Ashram Road

Rohit lives in a small slum dwelling with his family, he has 2 brothers and 2 sisters. His mother works for Gramshree [an organization with close ties to Manav Sadhna] and his father is a Painter. Rohit comes to Earn N Learn with his sister Kajal and his brother Nitesh, and he is the eldest of these three. Before being part of the Earn N Lean program Rohit used to spend his days fruitlessly selling small toys and gimmicks off the roadside, and now, thanks to Earn N Learn, he is attending a local Government School where he relishes the time spent. He is a naturally clever child and School hours are his favorite time of the day. Aside from being clever, Rohit is a comic. Comedy is his favorite thing to do and he loves to make people laugh. He is an excellent entertainer, and nothing makes him smile more than cracking a good joke.

Sachin Chauhan

Age: 14

Address: Ram Pir No Teckro, Slum

Sachin is a very friendly boy who, along with his two other siblings, attends the Earn N’ Learn project. Being part of Earn N’ Learn ensures that he gets to go to school and the hours he spends there is his favorite part of the day! After school he comes to Manav Sadhna where he gets to exercise his natural creative abilities in craft-making. And along with the many days he has spent doing craft he also utilizes his time sketching and painting. His Mother works as a cook for the local Bal mandir (Preschool) and his father is unemployed. He is a naturally talented child and belonging to the Manav Sadhna family gives him an opportunity to nurture his talents and make full use of them in the future. He has no idea of what he wants to do when he is an adult, but is talented in many areas of his life and is sure to succeed.

Sanjay Barot

Age: 17

Address: Parikshit Nagar Slum

Sanjay has such an easy nature, which makes spending time with him very enjoyable. He has a very inspirational attitude towards learning and, even though he doesn’t attend school, he is still working very hard at his studies. He attends Earn N’ Learn tuition classes and studies at home in his spare time. His favorite are his English classes, because he finds it to be so different from everything else that he is learning. He is studying in preparation to enter the 10^th standard. Sanjay lives in a local slum with his Mother and Brother. His single mother works as an office assistant, and her income alone has not been large enough to send Sanjay to school. This is why he is now involved in the Earn N Learn program and is very grateful for the opportunity he has been given to work towards his future. Sanjay loves to study, he says that it is his favorite thing, and this shows just how highly he values his education. When he is older he is hoping to go to University, though he is not yet sure what he wishes to study.

Sonal Ravat

Age: 10

Address: Parikshit Nagar

Sonal is a cute little girl. She is very soft spoken but enjoys talking to her friends. She really enjoys her time at Earn N' Learn because she gets to learn different crafts and has made many new friends.Sonal has one brother and a sister. Her father works at a petrol pump and her mother looks after the house. Sonal is loved by everyone around and likes to spread happiness around. She is in the 5^th grade at a local Government School and likes to go to school. She wants to be a police officer when she is older. Ask her why and she goes into a deep thought without any successful answer

Sweta Vijaya

Age: 11

Address: das ordi, near gandhi ashram.

Sweta is a sweet girl whose favorite thing in the world is to play and hang out with her friends. She thinks that it is the best thing in the world. And she really enjoys her time at Earn N’ Learn because it combines learning and working with ‘having fun with her friends’, all at the same time! Sweta has an older brother and a younger sister, and together, with their parents, they live in a small slum dwelling. Her father is a Furniture Carpenter and her mother is a Cook for the local Bal mundir (preschool) in the city. Sweta is a darling daughter and helps her mom out around the place by cleaning the floors and washing the dishes. She is in the 7^th grade at a local Government School and going to school is her favorite part of the day. Outside of school hours she likes to play Caram for fun and says that she wants to be a Computer Engineer when she is older.

Utsav Makwana

Age: 13

Address: Ranip Slum

The first time I visited Earn N' Learn, it was Utsav who patiently taught me how to make a gift bag, the best way to apply glue to the folds, and the most eye-pleasing way to finish the product. He has become a professional in the crafts and is extremely friendly and generous with everyone in his life. His father works in Security. With only one family member earning, Earn N’ Learn has allowed him to attend school and contribute to the family. School is Utsav’s favorite part of the day and he really values his education. He is a naturally clever child and has often helped me translate to the rest of the children, even though he knows only little English himself. He loves to play Cricket on Sundays with all the kids in the neighborhood and has recently taken up Marbles as a favorite pass time. His future is so bright and it is thanks to Earn N Learn that he has had a chance to realize this for himself :)

Varsha Marini

Age: 12

Address: Parikshit Nagar Slum

Meet Varsha. She has a beautiful smile and an even more beautiful nature. She is new to Earn N’ Learn and loves making all the wonderful things that enable her to express her creativity and skills. No where else would she be able to learn how to make such lovely things. She has a younger brother and an older sister and they live with their mother and father in a small slum dwelling near the Gandhi Ashram. Her mother creates and sells her own handy-crafts, and her father works in Carpentry. Varsha attends the Mahatma Gandhi Ashram School and is in the 7^th standard. She enjoys dancing and likes to help out around the home by washing dishes. Her favorite part of the day is whenever she gets to sit down with her family and share a meal. She loves to spend time with her family and also loves to play games. She says that she will play whatever her friends are playing.

Vijay Bhatiya

Age: 15

Address: Old Vadaj Slum

Vijay is a very loving and welcoming boy. He has 1 younger brother and 2 older sisters and he is the only child of his family that is part of the Earn N’ Learn project, where he has been for 5 years. His mother works for Gramshree, which is another organization that is closely related Manav Sadhna, and his father is a Truck Driver who rents a pedal-rickshaw to make deliveries when there is no available work in driving. His involvement at Earn N’ Learn is a great support for his family and also allows him the freedom to attend school everyday! His favorite subjects are Math and Science, but he loves to play around as well! He likes to play cricket and frisbee and enjoys joking around with his friends. Vijay wants to be a Computer Engineer when he grows older.

Vishal Shreemali

Age: 15

Address: Ram Pir No Teckro, Slum

Meet Vishal. He is in his senior years of high school and studies so hard that he is always more than ready to enjoy vacation, even when the next vacation is months away. He likes going to school very much and highly values his education, enjoying the chance he has to learn. He also loves his time at Manav Sadhna and has been coming to Earn N' Learn for 4 years now! Vishal is one of 3 children in his family, having 2 younger brothers whom he looks out for daily. His Mother works as a Tailor and his Father works in a General Store.Vishal likes to watch cartoons, particularly Tom and Jerry, but his favorite pass-time is to Play Fight with his friends, and he promises me that no one gets hurt. He loves to spend time with his friends and wants to be a Police Officer when he gets older; to stand up for what is right.