Santvana Sahara
Education, Empowerment and Care.
Introduction
Support, in the truest sense
Santvana Sahara is an initiative of Santvana Community that works with children, young people and families from underserved communities, with a particular focus on education, personal development and empowerment. The name Sahara means support — and that captures the heart of the initiative: providing children and families with the encouragement, educational support and opportunities they need to grow with confidence and dignity.
How it began
A simple concern
Why were some children, particularly those from economically and socially disadvantaged families, repeatedly struggling in their studies?
While interacting with students and families, the need became increasingly evident: many children were finding it difficult to keep pace with their classmates, lacked academic support at home, or needed encouragement, individual attention and a place where they could build confidence. This led to the idea of free remedial education and motivational support for children who were struggling academically — particularly children from migrant and underserved families.
Around the same time, a family connected with the Holy Rosary Parish was supporting a small group of children through additional English classes. When the person conducting those classes moved on to further studies, the children were entrusted to the emerging Santvana team — and what began as a small response to a local need gradually became Santvana Sahara.
The beginning
2010 — a formal start
Santvana Sahara was formally inaugurated on 13 June 2010 at Uttarakhand Village near Nathupura, Delhi. The initial programme supported around fifteen children, largely between six and eleven years of age, studying in Classes 1 to 7. Free evening tuition was provided, along with activities aimed at identifying learning gaps, strengthening basic skills and building confidence. Mrs. Shiney Alexy took responsibility as the first coordinator, working closely with teachers, volunteers and families.
Growing
From tuition classes to community-based learning
As the programme developed, the single initiative gradually evolved into a network of small study centres within local communities. Each centre provides a supportive learning environment where children receive regular academic assistance and individual attention, with teachers and volunteers becoming an important link between children, families and the wider team.
What the centres offer
- Remedial and supplementary education
- Individual learning support
- Student assessment and identification of learning needs
- Counselling and personal guidance
- Personality development and confidence-building
- Examination preparation
- Parent orientation and support
- Sports and cultural activities
- Health and awareness programmes
- Educational outings and experiential learning
Education is understood as a means of helping children discover their abilities, develop confidence and participate more fully in society.
Supporting families
Education for the whole family
Santvana Sahara recognizes that a child's educational progress is closely connected with the well-being of their family. Parent meetings provide opportunities to discuss children's educational needs and encourage parents to take an active role in their development, with individual guidance and counselling offered when required.
An adult education centre was initiated after requests from mothers who wanted to learn basic reading and writing, and stitching and skill-development activities were introduced for older girls and women — reflecting a broader understanding that learning should create opportunities for families and communities, not only children.
Beyond the classroom
Curiosity, confidence, teamwork
Regular programmes and activities — sports days, cultural programmes, competitions, educational workshops, environmental activities, celebrations and educational outings — give children the chance to discover new interests, develop social skills and gain exposure to a wider world. For many, these experiences open doors to places and opportunities they might otherwise never encounter, nurturing curiosity, confidence, creativity, teamwork and a sense of possibility.
Teachers are central to this work. Regular meetings give them a space to review progress, share challenges and receive guidance, in recognition that teachers in underserved communities often become mentors, listeners and trusted links between children, families and the programme.
During the COVID-19 pandemic
Adapting to keep learning going
The pandemic created an unprecedented challenge for children with limited access to digital devices and online education. Where smartphones were available, teachers conducted classes and kept in contact through digital platforms; for children without smartphones or reliable internet, teachers provided assignments by telephone and followed up regularly. During the most difficult period, the programme also extended practical assistance to needy families, providing essential provision kits on three occasions with the support of well-wishers.
Educational support and social support cannot always be separated. When families face serious difficulties, helping children learn may also require helping their families cope.
From students to teaching volunteers
A new cycle within Sahara
Several Sahara students, after completing higher secondary education and entering higher studies, approached the coordinating team wanting to start and support study centres for younger students. This gave former students the chance to use their knowledge and skills to support children in their communities, while earning a modest income to help meet their own educational expenses.
Learning → Growing → Contributing → Empowering Others
Higher education and careers
Opportunities that create opportunities
Sahara students are pursuing or preparing for courses and careers such as Chartered Accountancy, Company Secretaryship, Nursing and B.Ed., among other fields of higher education. A number of former students have secured good placements in different institutions, and many continue to stay connected with Sahara and contribute to the programme in whatever ways they can.
SOSA
Sahara Old Students Association
SOSA is an informal initiative bringing former Sahara students together with the coordinating team — a place to stay connected, share experiences and ideas, support one another, and find ways of contributing to the wider Sahara community.
Internship opportunities
Bringing young people, institutions and communities together
For the past three years, institutions including Amity University, Noida; XIME, Kalamassery; and Mount Carmel College, Bengaluru have collaborated with Santvana Sahara to provide internship opportunities. Students gain first-hand exposure to community-based education and social development, interacting with children and families and participating in educational and community activities — a two-way learning experience for everyone involved.
From the centres
Santvana Sahara in pictures
Every child deserves the opportunity to learn, grow and discover their potential.
Academic difficulties should not determine a child's future. With the right support, encouragement and opportunities, children can develop confidence and become active contributors to their families and communities.
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