The Women of Pratham Series: Poonam Sandhu

By Pia Brar, Intern

Poonam Sandhu has been working with Pratham since

 2003 and is now the “Head coordinator” 

for Pratham’s centre in Dadri, Uttar Pradesh.

Poonam became a volunteer at a small mandir 

school her village.

“I always wanted to support the children who came from troubled households, 

who didn’t go to school, or so wondered on the streets,” she said.

During her time at the school, she began to realize that the teaching methods 

were not engaging enough and the students were not learning well. Poonam 

then heard about the classes Pratham operated and soon visited the centre

 to witness the innovative teaching methods she had been hearing about.

“By seeing the Pratham classes, I was keen to work and asked the teacher 

how to get involved. She helped me contact Pratham and I have committed to 

my work ever since,” she said.

Poonam was promoted and transferred from her village to the more urban setting 

of Dadri, leaving her own two children behind. “Initially this was extremely hard,

” she said, “but I realized my children have their grandparents to watch over, 

a good home and good schools, but what about the other children? 

The ones who have none of these? Those are the ones I really need

 to help and that’s why I do what I do.”

For the past decade, Poonam has dedicated her time to Pratham and to her

 young students. She spends her days organising ten-day Learning Camps to be run 

in the government schools of Dadri, teaching in the camps and ensuring that the 

Read India program is implemented effectively in her area.

Poonam’s driving force is something close to her heart. “I strongly believe girls should 

have the opportunity to be educated,” she stated. ”Luckily, I had that opportunity, 

and I’m a girl, but every girl should have this right. In India, it is important to

 help the parents understand this, so that is what I am fighting for.”