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Would You Like to Adopt a Teacher? #WATWB

Adopt a Teacher writing
We are the World Blogfest focuses on positive stories no matter where they’re found. It is all about spreading peace and humanity on social media. For this edition, Anouradha Bakshi from the non-profit Project WHY is taking over Daily (w)rite. This small organization with a big heart is trying to support education among the underprivileged and do it in a way that empowers the community from within.

teacher writing project whyYou have all heard of people adopting children. Some adopt pets. But have you ever thought of adopting a teacher?

That is what we ask you to do at Project Why!

For the past months we’ve been looking at new ways to fund our different programmes . Come March 2020 we will lose funding for two of our main centres: Okhla and Khader. This is almost 50% of Project Why.

Adopt a Teacher writingWe need to find funds urgently and we are looking at all possible ways: grants, CSR, philanthropists and institutions. But our search does not stop there.

Looking at Project Why  we realised that our most precious and unique assets are our teachers. They are not your normal teacher but a very different crew sourced from within the community, people many would have found unemployable but who, when given a chance, proved to be stars. They have been the cornerstone of Project Why. So we came up with the India of launching a campaign called: Adopt a teacher!

Before I go on I would like to give you a snapshot of the kind of souls we are asking you to adopt.

Do you find it difficult to keep your calm in the face of challenges? How do you find serenity in a turbulent world?Pushpa the diminutive woman of substance who with her colleague Sophiya set up our vibrant Okhla centre, an oasis of peace and joy in the most aggressive of slums were gangs and slumlords prevailed.

If not for them, the children of that area would have become drug addicts and been used by the many predators lurking. Thanks to their patience and determination children were pushed back into school, finished their schooling and went on to embrace a bright future. Some have joined the army, others are pursuing engineering studies and yet others have become accountants and even CAs. These are the women we need you to adopt so that they can continue helping children fulfill their dreams.

There is Shipra who has over the years worked in different centres and has taken on every challenge thrown her way. Today she runs the Kalka Mandir centre teaching beggar children and women in a difficult environment, never losing her smile. For her as for us, if one child can be saved from a future of begging, it would all be worth it.

Who has nurtured you? Who do you nurture in your daily life?Then there is young Anita, today a secondary teacher but whose journey with Project Why began when she was a tiny tot and joined the center in class 1. Today she is a woman who has found her voice and place in the sun and is busy ensuring that other young girls can find their way just like she did. The stories are endless, each more poignant than the other. Every Project Why teacher is truly unique.

Each teacher takes care of 45 to 50 children in a day, that is 50 lives, 50 dreams, 50 futures. And they do it year after year, then over 10 years each teacher teaches and mentors 500 kids. So by adopting one teacher, you are making a difference in the lives of hundreds of children.

The average cost of a Project Why teacher is 10, 000 rupees a month (145$ or 130 euros). That is all it takes. We urge you to adopt a teacher as an individual, or a group of friends.

If a few people get together to commit to giving a little each month, you can easily fund a teacher. You will receive updates on the teacher, on the children they teach, and the difference you’ll be making in these precious lives.

It is possible to make tax-deductible donations from the USA and France, and you can also contribute from the UK, and other countries.

Adopt a teacher, and change many lives. Help us help these teachers and children, and keep alive our dream of education for all.


Do you have a child or teacher in your life? What impact has a teacher had on you, or your children? Would you, or a group you are part of, like to adopt a teacher from Project WHY? To support Project WHY’s teachers, get in touch with Anouradha : anouradha dot bakshi at projectwhy dot org


festival of words project WHYAnouradha is the descendant of an indentured labour and a freedom fighter, and the daughter of a senior diplomat. She travelled the world before settling in India.

A professor in French, an interpreter and a conference organiser, she found her true calling when she set up Project WHY in the year 2000.

She is a wife, and a mother not only to her two girls, but also to the scores of children whose dreams she holds in custody.





This post was the 24th installment of the monthly We Are the World Blogfest: I’d like to invite you to join, if you haven’t as yet, to post the last Friday oWe Are the World Blogfest Writing by handf each month a snippet of positive news that shows our essential, beautiful humanity.

The co-hosts for this month are: Shilpa Garg, Simon Falk, Lizbeth Hartz and Eric Lahti.and yours truly.

Here’s a sampler of this blogfest. Click here to know more. Sign up here and add your bit of cheer to the world on the next installment of August 30, 2019!


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Damyanti Biswas

Damyanti Biswas is the author of You Beneath Your Skin and numerous short stories that have been published in magazines and anthologies in the US, the UK, and Asia. She has been shortlisted for Best Small Fictions and Bath Novel Awards and is co-editor of the Forge Literary Magazine. Her literary crime thriller series, the Blue Mumbai, is represented by Lucienne Diver from The Knight Agency. Both The Blue Bar and The Blue Monsoon were published in 2023.

I appreciate comments, and I always visit back. If you're having trouble commenting, let me know via the contact form, or tweet me up @damyantig !

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18 Comments

  • msw blog says:

    This is a great idea it reminds me a lot of Donorchoose.org a site that helps funds teachers projects.

  • simonfalk28 says:

    These teachers, other people at Project Why and their work are noble in the best sense, Damyanti. I hope you find the people of means needed to provide such sponsorship.

  • Susan Scott says:

    Thanks Anouradha Bakshi & Damyanti – Project Why is an extraordinary organisation and I really hope that your aims are furthered.

    • anouradha says:

      Thank you for your kind words and support. It means the world to me. We will do everything possible to ensure that we carry on our work

  • jlennidorner says:

    Education is so very important. I wish the world didn’t need to raise money for teachers, that it was just a given that they are vital to society. Thanks for sharing this post.

    • anouradha says:

      I do agree with you thoughts but sadly that is not the reality. We need to find support to allow us to continue helping and teaching the 1200 children of Project Why!

  • hilarymb says:

    Hi Damyanti and Anouradha … you have a wonderful way with words. I just wish I was in a position to help and do lots more – at the moment needs must. I can only wish everyone the very best and sincerely hope the centres and teachers will be able to continue on … with lots of thoughts – Hilary

    • Thank you so much Hilary for your warm words of support. We do hope this initiative will take off and help us carry on our work.Love and hugs

  • This is such a wonderful project and such a worthwhile cause to support teachers who offer so much.

    • Thank you so much Deborah for your kind words. You are right, teachers are the ones who make the real difference. I hope this idea takes off!

  • Eliza says:

    As a teacher I love this.
    Thanks for sharing

  • Abhijit Ray says:

    I can help whatever little bit I can. Please ask them to forward bank account detail for e-transfer. I had requested earlier, got no response.

    • anouradha says:

      Thank you for your support Abhijit. We are looking forward to your visit to Project Why! Our bank donation details are available at this link https://projectwhy.org/donate/

      Our bank details for India are:
      Account Holder: SRI RAM GOBURDHUN CHARITABLE TRUST
      Account No: 5812679017
      Bank Name: KOTAK MAHINDRA BANK
      MICR code: 110485029
      IFSC code: KKBK0000201
      Branch Name: GROUND FLOOR, SHOP NO 1,2,3,6,6A DEENAR BHAVAN, 44, NEHRU PLACE NEW DELHI 110019

  • What a wonderful effort. I’m asking around… Good luck with this!

    • anouradha says:

      Thank you so much Jacqui. It will be wonderful if you can find someone to adopt one teacher… If this work we may be able to save our centres! Hugs

  • Kalpana says:

    Hi Anouradha – I would love to find a group of people who could, together with me, adopt a teacher. Where can I find like minded people Damyanti? Ketto? Have you set something like this up for Project Why?

    • anouradha says:

      Kalpana that would be awesome! Thank you so much. A big hug. We are trying to set up the Adopt a Teacher Project. Damyanti is as always our beacon. Hope it works. It will help us save our centres.