The Role of NGOs in Education: Pehchaan The Street School’s Mission

Pia Chopra
4 min readJun 24, 2024

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A wise person once said, “Your good deeds might seem invisible, but they leave a trail that is imprinted on the hearts of others.”

This is exactly what Pehchaan The Street School is aiming to teach its volunteers and members how one small act of kindness goes a long way. Its main objective is to provide free education and teach skills to underprivileged children in the slum areas of Delhi NCR in order to secure their future and make them financially independent.

“Pehchaan” means Identity which is what Pehchaan- The Street School provides to underprivileged children through their noble thoughts and even nobler actions. For over 8 years now, they have emphasized on the value of education as a fundamental right that ought to be accessible to every child out there with a desire to learn, they thus, aim to go beyond education. The institutionalization and commodification of education across the country have severely restricted the ability of the underprivileged to access means of vocational and academic studies, and that’s the barrier that they aim to break with Pehchaan- The Street School.

Pehchaan- The Street School plays a pivotal role in displaying the massive role Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) play in helping marginalized communities. As the catalysts for change, NGOs bring unique perspectives, flexibility, and a commitment to community empowerment. NGOs often operate in regions where access to government resources is limited and there are geographical, economic, or political constraints. By leveraging private funding and volunteer support, NGOs swiftly mobilize resources to establish educational infrastructure and deliver quality education in remote areas and disadvantaged populations. This dynamic approach slowly but surely helps in revitalizing the communities by imparting them with knowledge and empowering them to take ownership of their development.

Children praying in the morning

NGOs also contribute significantly to improve the quality of education being imparted to disadvantaged communities. They develop new strategies, train teachers and volunteers, and also innovate teaching methodologies to enhance their skills and effectiveness. In India, NGOs have played a significant role in addressing complex challenges like access, equality, and equity in terms of educational resources. With a population of 1.4 billion, the largest in the world, India also has massive socio-economic disparities, NGOs play a crucial role in providing access to free education in marginalized communities and areas where there is a scarcity of resources.

NGOs interact with local communities to identify the discrepancies in different sectors of education and policies made in that sector. They then serve as intermediaries between the communities and the policy makers, to further advocate for inclusive educational policies that further address the needs of marginalized groups including girls, children with disabilities, as well as those who are from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

NGOs are more than just non-profit organizations. For the marginalized communities, these NGOs act as their support systems, as their voice against injustice and discriminatory activities by other communities. They work towards creating a safe and supportive learning environment for all the children where they can thrive socially and academically and harness their full potential.

While NGOs in India have taken leaps in transforming and revitalizing the educational landscape of the country, they still face major hurdles in the country like funding constraints, bureaucratic hurdles, internal and external corruption, and regulatory issues. All these factors limit the reach and sustainability of these NGOs further delaying the much-needed help and resources required by the needy and marginalized communities.

However, these hurdles also present opportunities for the NGOs to collaborate effectively and adapt to the changing dynamics for effective collaborations to take place. Partnerships with academic institutions, companies, government ministries, other NGOs, and sustainable and non-profit organizations further help in enhancing the activities of the NGOs, leading to an increase in the quantity and quality of resources as well as encouraging continuous funding which is essential for the working of the NGO.

Pehchaan- The Street School is one of the several NGOs that are diligently and tirelessly working towards the betterment of underprivileged children. It has helped several children by enhancing their skills and imparting them with free knowledge to help them harness their full potential. This in turn has made the children the torchbearers of change and has further led them to bring positive changes in the community. It is important to note that NGOs play a major role in the educational and emotional rearing of these children, who then grow up to become successful and compassionate people in various fields thus, contributing towards their community and country.

In conclusion, the value of NGOs resonates far beyond mere classrooms and communities- they embody a collective commitment towards empowerment, equity, and knowledge in learning. With their unwavering dedication and determination, NGOs continue to inspire hope, unlock potential, and shape a more promising session for the present and future generations.

For further information, please visit the following links:-

Website- https://pehchaanstreetschool.org

YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXd4gnTazJh3JugKENt5yog

Instagram- https://instagram.com/pehchaanstreetschool?utm_source=ig_profile_share&igshid=181sger2fozl7

Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/PehchaanTheStreetSchoolOfficial/

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Pia Chopra

Pursuing Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Deshbandhu College, University of Delhi.