There was a time when Pooja* felt afraid whenever she was asked to read aloud in class.
She could recognise only a few letters and simple words in Hindi and English. Larger words felt difficult. Writing sentences was hard. Understanding passages took effort. Each time she struggled, she felt embarrassed, and slowly, the fear of making mistakes began to silence her.
Pooja had been facing these academic difficulties since entering the secondary section in Grade 5. Her family situation made the challenge even harder. She lives with her mother, grandmother, and younger brother. Her father passed away seven years ago, leaving the family with emotional and financial difficulties. Her mother works as a housekeeper and is the only earning member of the family. With one modest income supporting the household, it was difficult to manage daily needs and educational expenses.
Yet Pooja remained cheerful, active, and eager to learn. She wanted to improve, but she needed individual support, regular practice, and a safe environment where she could learn without fear of being judged.
Sahaara came into contact with Pooja in 2025 when the Pratham Education Centre shifted to a new location after demolition in the area. During the enrolment process at the new centre, Pooja joined the education programme. The teachers soon observed that she was struggling with reading and writing in Hindi and English. They assessed her learning needs and began providing regular educational support.
At the centre, Pooja participated in phonics activities, guided reading sessions, flashcard exercises, word-building games, vocabulary activities, worksheets, and educational games. These helped her recognise letters and sounds, read words more confidently, improve her vocabulary, and form meaningful sentences.
The teachers also gave her individual attention, homework support, and regular reading and writing practice. Most importantly, they encouraged her to read aloud in a safe and supportive environment where mistakes were treated as part of learning. She also received mentoring, encouragement, and positive reinforcement to help her overcome her fear of reading in front of others.
Slowly, Pooja began to find her voice.
Through regular practice and individual guidance, she worked on the specific areas where she was struggling. The supportive classroom environment helped her learn without fear of being embarrassed. Her mother and grandmother also played an important role by encouraging her to attend the education centre, practise her lessons regularly, and remain motivated.
Today, Pooja’s reading, writing, and language skills have improved significantly. She can now read larger words, understand simple passages, and form meaningful sentences in English. The change is also visible in the way she participates in class. She is no longer afraid to read in front of others. She actively takes part in classroom activities and shows greater interest and enthusiasm towards her studies.
The fear that once kept her silent is gradually being replaced by confidence and determination. Her progress has also given hope to her mother and grandmother, who now see her participating more confidently and improving in her studies.
Pooja says, “Earlier, I was afraid to read in front of others because I made mistakes and people laughed at me. After joining Sahaara, my reading and English skills have improved a lot. Now I feel more confident in class and enjoy learning new things. I want to study well and become an engineer in the future.” Her mother shares that Pooja now reads better, participates more in her studies, and has become more confident.
Today, Pooja is a cheerful and determined Grade 7 student who actively participates in the Pratham Education Centre and dreams of becoming an engineer. Her story reminds us that when a child receives patient teaching, encouragement, and a safe space to learn, fear can slowly give way to confidence — and a struggling learner can begin to believe in her future again.
*Name changed to protect identity