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.