Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the whole world.

These wonderful words belong to the renowned freedom fighter Nelson Mandela. He has rightly pointed out that the education has the power to change oneself and the whole world. Education is the way to converse with every section of the community. It has been a power house that produces the light of knowledge for every human being and acts as a life blood for us. The object of education is to prepare the young to educate themselves throughout their lives. But we witness certain group of children being denied in having quality education due to poverty and ignorance. Such reasons act as a hindrance for the growth of an individual, family, society and the country as a whole. How can this plight be changed? Nothing is impossible. We are all familiar with the concept of free primary education for the children up to 14 years of age. This is a drastic step taken by the government to implant the concept of basic knowledge in every one. Right to Education Act has also added more flavor to the concept. Yet, the fact is that there are still a number of children deprived of this right. But how and who are they? What can we do for it? .

The answer for the above questions is quite simple. There are a number of rag picking children, child labor and drifters who have either terminated or quit their education to earn money for their living. We as kids can lobby for those children to our parents, elders and our well wishers to help them continue their education. We can join hands with the non-governmental organizations that strive for the welfare of such children. These are some ways to reach our support to the children in need. Education is not a preparation for life; in turn education is life itself. It can build and break communities. We children, who are the backbone of the nation, should take it as a pleasure to help our fellow mates to get their right. There is a common saying which we would have heard a million times, “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime”.

Education is a onetime investment for everyone. So let’s try to impart it to the less fortunate through our brave deeds. Sometimes one step taken by us can lead a mass change in the society. Let’s all try to banish the concept of lack of access to education in the near future and create a Oxford glossary without the word UNEDUCATED.

Steffey Sherine
Social worker, Thoothukudi.