As a run up to the World Book Day 2016 on April 23^rd, I decided to have a heart to heart session with the children of the famous “Garage school”. My encounters are always so wonderful, as they are about stories and storytelling. I was fortunate on Friday April 22, 2016 to conduct an hour long session with those amazing little angels.  I was so happy to observe that these kids, though have little exposer, but their worldly knowledge was commendable and not less than any other privileged school going children, perhaps the sensitivity was a bit more.  With them I read few nazms (poems) and  shortshort stories which they enjoyed thoroughly, asking many questions.

The school is amazing, a labor of love and vision indeed. The Garage school is run by Shabeena Mustafa, the passionate lady who has dedicated her time and life for the betterment and education of the children belonging to the families of lowest income group. Though it began in a “garage”, it is now housed in three different buildings in the same locality, where children of all age groupsget an incredible education- based on the principles of inquiry based learning, above all. Among these children are street children  as well, who have left their homes because of different reasons, but  the charm of this unique  house of learning and  knowledge motivated them to join Mustafa’s garage school.

This school does not only enroll the children, there are mothers’ classes as well where they join in the afternoon. Beside learning reading and writing these women also get skills in stitching, drawing andembroidery classes- above all it is a great support centre for women and mums!

AmraAlam –editor UranTashtaree (Flying Saucer magazine)  Children’s Literature Festival (CLF)

AmraAlam of CLF  reads to the “bright  angels Garage School” for International Book Day 2016