GURGAON: At a time when most students are attending summer camps enjoying their holidays, a group of children from international and private schools are spending time teaching underprivileged children. Anisha and Muskaan, have cancelled their vacation plans to teach deprived children through Bagiya, an NGO that works towards providing education to children. "Last year, at this time, I was in the US.

We have been to many holiday destinations and it doesn`t excite me anymore. So this time, I had decided to do something fruitful and joined Bagiya as a volunteer," says Muskan, 13, a student of Shri Ram School, Aravali. Like Muskan and Anisha, there are about 20 children from affluent backgrounds who visit Bagiya every day.

They teach, interact, and plan various extra-curricular activities for underprivileged children. For Vicky, 10, a resident of Tigra Village, interacting with students from private schools is a good source of learning. Speaking of his mentor Shubham Gupta, he says, "he not only gives me mathematics and english lessons, but also tells me about the states and cities in India and how an airplane flies," he smiles.

Shilpa Sonal, founder, Bagiya, Sanshil Foundationsays, "While children who come from international schools are exposed to the `real world` and challenges faced by these children, students at our NGO are learning new skills with the help of their urban mentors. Such activities also help to break the perception of parents of less-privileged that people living in condominiums are unapproachable." The NGO has come up with a unique programme, "Buddy Volunteer", wherein a young volunteer is given a charge of a student at Bagiya to offer assistance in studies and other activities throughout the year.

Calling it a great initiative, Yash Saxena, a student of Pathways World School, Aravalis says "Through this initiative, they get in touch with us. As one student is assigned to one volunteer, the volunteers will also not feel burdened. Most importantly, all this contributes to the success of a child.

" When asked about the challenges, the volunteers say that language is a major barrier. "We understand that English is not their second language. I think we should look at the positives.

I appreciate their enthusiasm and ability to grasp concepts quickly, irrespective of their unfavourable circumstances. Moreover, they are extremely polite and accommodating," says Riya, a student of Scottish High. .

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