A Sukoon Ghar In The Street

June 09, 2025

A Sukoon Ghar In The Street

Hello Readers,

One quiet evening, while taking a walk, I came across a young girl named Riya. She was around 12 years old, and it was her curious, wonder-filled eyes that drew me toward her.

Riya was sitting beside her mother, who was selling flowers outside a nearby temple. As I got closer, I noticed she was scribbling something in her notebook, completely absorbed in her own little world.

Intrigued, I walked up to them and gently asked her mother what she was doing. With a warm smile, she replied, “Arey wo bas apna homework kar rahi hai".

It was not just a normal reaction - it was a proud smile of a mother whose daughter had dared to dream beyond the boundaries of her family’s lineage.

A daughter who didn’t listen to that "education is not for people like us."

Where does she go for schooling? I asked

"Pehchaan The Street School"

She answered with quiet confidence.

Curious, I turned to Riya and asked,

“Did you make friends there?”

"Many! Even the bhaiya and didi who teach us are my friends. They play, sing, and dance with us, and also help us learn. It is like our Sukoon Ghar"

Even though she was still busy writing she answered my questions enthusiastically.

She went on to name a few of her friends with joy in her voice. But then, her tone suddenly softened.

She added-

“But my best friend doesn’t go to school” in a low voice

I asked why

“Her parents don't allow her because they think they have to pay lots of money to send her to school and it’s better if she stays at home and learns household work with her mother”

Her words stayed with me.

Two girls from the same street. One is learning how to write stories. One was taught how to wash dishes.

Even in today's society, beliefs about gender shape practices that limit girls' education and opportunities to learn additionally financially weak Families generally prefer sending boys to college/school and girls to help out with house chores.

However, to lighten up her mood I asked her about her favourite subject.

Her eyes sparkled again. “English” she answered.

She went on telling me about how much she struggled in the beginning but now it's her favourite subject.

“I want to write stories one day” she added hopefully.

"What kind of stories?” I questioned.

“Stories about girls like me… and her. Who can go to school, help their mothers, and still do big things.”

Statistically,119 million girls are out of school worldwide. In India, girls' enrollment in primary education is high, but it's not the same as their progress to higher levels. Therefore, an organisation like Pehchaan the street school is a beacon of hope for these children. They gave them a chance to rewrite their stories.

Pehchaan The Street School: A school without walls

Pehchaan The Street School is a non-profit organization that provides free, holistic learning to underprivileged children across Delhi and NCR.

It is a light of hope for underprivileged children.

They teach girls and boys in the same space and provide similar resources, which reduces gender discrimination. They understand the philosophy that when you educate a girl, you empower a nation.

Pehchaan means 'identity' in Hindi and this organization has been working tirelessly for decades to provide pehchaan to underprivileged children.

Pehchaan The Street School is an unconventional conventional school. It has a gender-responsive curriculum and provides opportunities for holistic learning to both boys and girls in the same environment. The school goes beyond traditional knowledge and combines academic knowledge with life skills- with a powerful emphasis on building confidence and social responsibility, which results in the holistic development of children.

They offer vocational training in areas such as computer and IT skills, and personality development and also teach about financial literacy keeping in mind the demands of the modern world. They provide the same resources to both genders and organise various workshops for good and bad touch, and menstrual health education aiming to have an inclusive and open conversation. They ensure a safe environment for female students.

Parents who don’t send their children to school due to economic barriers mostly prefer sending their sons to school and daughters to learn house chores. This organisation provides financial support to them and also encourages them to empower their girl child.

Moreover, they also offer community engagement through which children get exposure to new scenarios, new people, and new stories, and learn about lifestyles and perspectives.

Woh Pehla Pen

It is a collaboration between Montex and Pehchaan The Street School.

Recently, Montex Pens sent 2000 pens for students at Pehchaan The Street School. Montex is the name that is a reminder for most of us - the name that is associated with our very first pen. This heartwarming collaboration began through a simple Instagram outreach by Pehchaan The Street School Projects Team. One message led them to a phone number, which turned out to belong to none other than Mr Rishabh Jain, the Managing Director of Montex Pens. A brief conversation turned into a meaningful connection. Once Mr. Jain heard about Pehchaan The Street School's journey and their work across Delhi NCR, he was deeply moved. Without delay, he committed to donating pens for Pehchaan The Street School students, and within just two days, the boxes arrived at our centres.

They distributed the pens with immense joy, shot a heartfelt video capturing those moments, and shared it with their community. The campaign struck a chord, reminding everyone of their roots, their first steps into learning, and the power of a single pen.

Link- https://www.instagram.com/reel/DKMVT43pSiv/?igsh=MWFjN2dtNTRjb3M3OQ==

A Day in the life of children at Pehchaan The Street School

While talking with Riya, she shared with me what a typical day looks like at Pehchaan The Street School.

"Our day begins with silent prayers and later with the introduction of one good habit. This moment teaches us positive behaviour and values."

Children spend their day with Pehchaan The Street School volunteers who teach them not just ABC or 123 but about life.

Many of these children come from a home where sometimes they don't even know if they will even have food or not let alone go to school.

But still, they show up — they show the courage to dream and to build a better life for themselves and their families despite the odds.

They organize fun activities like drawing, music etc occasionally.

Pehchaan The Street School also uses a star-based reward system to keep the kids motivated. It goes like this-

Students get stars for participating, staying focused, and doing good work. They collect these stars all month long. At the end of the month, the students with the most stars win cool educational prizes like:

Books
Notebooks
Drawing kits
Pencil boxes
Stationery sets (with pens, pencils, erasers, etc.

Recent Highlights

Rotaract Club of Delhi University South Campus organised a stationery donation drive at Pehchaan The Street School. This heartfelt initiative brought loads of smiles, hope, and tools for learning to those ambitious children.

Link-https://www.instagram.com/reel/DKHXtq3zSx-/?igsh=MXg1cDB5NTg4dXB0Mg==

in this sunny weather,a cold beverage is what everyone need and Sweetmate sent amazing tender Coconut Water Powder for Pehchaan The Street School's children to keep them cool,refreshed,and full of energy.

Link- https://www.instagram.com/reel/DJ3wpCApmGM/?igsh=eGwyMDU5ODRybWY1

Loads of love to @youuandyourss for sending cute charm bracelets and handcrafted floral candles to Pehchaan The Street School.

Link- https://www.instagram.com/p/DKHJ3V-pEyy/?igsh=dDlwbjlhdTUwdzI4

Also mini masterpieces sent by @divinedesignsbyasra- They have sent adorable keychains packed with color, charm and a powerful little message.

Link- https://www.instagram.com/p/DKHJcEnpVxl/?igsh=MW1rMjR1bnE3M3FqNw==

Challenges

Despite being a well-organised organisation they face real challenges like-

Lack of Funding- This is the most important need for an NGO to work successfully.

Lack Of Resources- Due to lack of funding NGOs are unable to fulfil many requirements many times.

Need for more volunteers- Pehchaan The Street School is a volunteer-driven organisation and dedicated volunteers are one of the major needs.

Inadequate infrastructure - It affects the delivery of education and limits access for children.

Ways You Can Support Pehchaan The Street School

• Volunteer -on the ground or online and contribute your time as per your availability.

• Internship -on the ground or online, one can choose from multiple positions as per interest. All Interns get a certificate after completion of the internship.

•Member-Membership is for everyone who can't commit time or can't work either online or

offline. One can also donate a certain amount and become a member of the trust.

Once in life, we all should be a part of such a great cause.

To know more about Pehchaan The Street School visit the following links-

Website-

https://pehchaanstreetschool.org/

Facebook page link :

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

Instagram page link -

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

YouTube channel -

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