Sarv Saarthi Foundation

Towards a better tomorrow – enable a dignified life through education, wellness, opportunities, and inclusion.

Author: Sarjana Pandey

  • “Creating Change, One Canvas at a Time”

    —

    by

    Sarjana Pandey

    The Journey of Mukesh 🎨

    Mukesh, a hardworking and immensely talented boy from Madhya Pradesh, embodies resilience far beyond his years. At just 13, he showed the determination and maturity of someone much older, standing tall against the challenges life threw at him.

    His father worked as a vegetable vendor and his mother as a house help. With limited resources and inadequate nutrition, Mukesh faced health challenges, including problems with his eyesight. School wasn’t always a safe space—he was often scolded for poor handwriting or small mistakes—but his hunger for learning, especially in art, remained unshaken.

    Mukesh’s passion for art became his way forward. He tirelessly practiced every new technique he came across, turning each artwork into a step forward in his growth. Every piece was better than the last—his journey was not just about creating art but about creating a better version of himself.

    To earn money for his art supplies, Mukesh took up small tasks and saved diligently. But what makes his story even more remarkable is his selflessness—he didn’t keep his knowledge to himself. As a student of Grade 8, he began teaching younger children in his locality, sharing whatever he had learned with sincerity and care. He understood the power of passing on knowledge and believed that growth was meaningful only when shared.

    Today, Mukesh continues to grow and glow. He completed his Grade 10 through the NIOS curriculum and joined the commerce stream in Grade 11. Scoring 76% in Grade 12, he is continuing his journey with confidence and purpose.

    Mukesh is also:

    • 🎨 Training in fine arts at Aone Academy
    • 👨‍🏫 Teaching art to children at Aone Academy
    • 🍽️ Working part-time at Damm Good Fish to support his education
    • 📚 Pursuing an online BBA degree from Amity University

    🎉 Celebrating Mukesh’s Achievements

    From restarting his education in 2018 to scoring 76% in Grade 12, Mukesh’s journey is a shining example of what passion, perseverance, and community support can accomplish.

    We are incredibly proud of Mukesh—not just for his academic and artistic achievements but for his values, his heart, and his willingness to give back.

    💖 Mukesh, you inspire us every day. Keep creating, keep teaching, and keep shining.

    The Journey of Mukesh 🎨 Mukesh, a hardworking and immensely talented boy from Madhya Pradesh, embodies resilience far beyond his years. At just 13, he showed the determination and maturity of someone much older, standing tall against the challenges life threw at him. His father worked as a vegetable vendor and his mother as a…

  • Education is my birthright….

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    by

    Sarjana Pandey


    With every kid there is a story of a lifetime. Every kid is a story and their life is no less than a roller coaster ride. Unlike ours it has too many bumps and free falls too. We do have our own challenges in life but they have to face it everyday to survive. It’s a question of survival at the cost of their dreams.
    A girl wishes to study but is unable to do as she has a younger brother to look after, or sometimes two. Nandini had to bring her little brothers with her if she wanted to study. One was few months old and the other barely two years old. She herself was five at that time. One can’t imagine our kids to be taking care of two other babies at this tender age. She used to carry one and hold the other by his hand and some how manage to reach school everyday. We couldn’t say no to her for the simple reason that she wouldn’t have gone to school at all. So if Nandini wanted to study she had to bring her brothers with her, make the baby sleep, occupy the other with some toys and then get on with her daily lessons. This was August 2018. God bless her and her determination to study.

    In 2024, the same story continues with Rukhaiya, who is just 9 years old. She is not allowed to come to school as there is a younger sibling at home. There is always a baby at home who needs care and the easiest available caregiver is the youngest child who can be held at home. Taking away her right to education is the parent’s mistake but the child has to pay for the rest of her life.

    There are many such stories, as I said every kid is a story and a living example of dedication and determination.
    One could only imagine their life but having lived one is what these kids do everyday. Not only they live it but they get through it with a lively attitude. They know the value of each and everything they have or receive.
    Teaching them values was the focus of our vision. Our goal was to inculcate the basic values in them. But to our surprise we discovered they already had so many of them in place. Humility and gratefulness were the most pronounced ones. They valued whatever big or small they received. Valuing every bit of it made them more and more content with what they had and thankful for what they received.

    With every kid there is a story of a lifetime. Every kid is a story and their life is no less than a roller coaster ride. Unlike ours it has too many bumps and free falls too. We do have our own challenges in life but they have to face it everyday to survive. It’s…

  • Ritika’s Story: A Silent Childhood Finds Its Voice

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    by

    Sarjana Pandey

    Ritika is 9 years old. She lost her hearing completely due to the lack of timely medical checkups during infancy—a tragedy that went unnoticed in the early years of her life. With no access to special education or resources, Ritika remained isolated from the world around her, unable to communicate or learn.

    In 2023, Ritika joined Sarv Saarthi Foundation, and that’s when her journey truly began.

    When Ritika arrived, she was completely illiterate and had never stepped into a classroom. Our teachers saw her potential and took it upon themselves to learn Indian Sign Language to teach and connect with her. Step by step, they built a bridge of communication—with patience, empathy, and creativity.

    Today, Ritika is thriving. She has progressed to the learning level of Grade 2. She uses sign language to express her thoughts, ask questions, and engage with her peers. She has also discovered her deep love for dance and art, where her creativity speaks louder than words ever could.

    Ritika’s transformation is a shining example of what inclusive education and compassionate support can achieve. At Sarv Saarthi Foundation, every child has the right to learn, grow, and shine—just like Ritika.

    Ritika is 9 years old. She lost her hearing completely due to the lack of timely medical checkups during infancy—a tragedy that went unnoticed in the early years of her life. With no access to special education or resources, Ritika remained isolated from the world around her, unable to communicate or learn. In 2023, Ritika…

  • Overcoming Roadblocks: A Path to Progress and Success

    Overcoming Roadblocks: A Path to Progress and Success

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    by

    Sarjana Pandey

    The journey began and the beautiful milestones kept greeting me. There were road blocks too. Frankly speaking there were more road blocks and stop signs but we always found a way to move forward. There was always a way. It is truly said that where there is a will there is a way. Sometimes there were many ways too. One can only imagine how this happened and how we could surmount all the hurdles. But we are winning the race everyday. Defeating all the set backs and problems we could still move forward.
    Setbacks give you a new way to move forward and they taught me the following lessons:
    I could see beyond a certain level and think of ways to do things differently.
    There are a hundred other ways to do the same thing.
    One way or another we can accomplish our goal.
    A task needs to be done and it has to be done. The most important thing is that it has to be done in some way.
    One may think it is difficult but there is always a way to do it.
    People may tell you it is difficult, impossible or impractical but if your heart is set on it, nothing can stop you from doing it.
    The most important thing is your determination and the urge to do it.
    Road blocks and hurdles will always teach you something new about yourself and others too. Overcoming them will show that you are stronger than you know.

    You can surmount the hurdles and find your way out of anything if your goals are clearly marked. Accomplishing small goals one at a time will ultimately help you achieve the main goal.

    Small achievements give motivation and make you feel good about yourself and keep you going even in trying times. Small successes and even small progress can take you places. It makes you aware of your own potential and capabilities. You may not even know what you are capable of. Small progress in the right path is vital for the next step and that’s the way I could move forward with each small step every time.

    Every time I got a kid back to school or a new kid to school for the first time I would have a feeling of contentment inside me. When a child comes back to school after a long break or absence, it gives me reassurance that I am doing something right, maybe not perfectly but to some extent I was moving in the right direction. The kids always taught me more than I could teach them in return. They taught me the right way to do things and sometimes the solutions to some problems as well. They are the ones who should lead the way when there is no light. They are the ones who always know how to take up a challenge and come out of it with flying colours. Setbacks and hurdles are building blocks for success. They make sure we succeed, no matter what.

    These children have helped us keep ourselves grounded. No matter how successful we are in whatever we do, we ought to keep ourselves close to reality and keep growing. We don’t grow till we test our limits. In a field like education we can’t get too comfortable with a set pattern or system. Change is crucial for new ideas to guide us and move forward. The only ‘Mantra’ I repeat to myself in any situation is to keep moving forward. Never stop, keep moving forward.

    The journey began and the beautiful milestones kept greeting me. There were road blocks too. Frankly speaking there were more road blocks and stop signs but we always found a way to move forward. There was always a way. It is truly said that where there is a will there is a way. Sometimes there…

  • The beginning…

    The beginning…

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    by

    Sarjana Pandey

    To begin is the toughest part!

    August 2018 was the beginning of this beautiful new journey of my life. Moreover a much needed fresh chapter. Never knew it would become my ‘Ikigai’.

    With a handful of students under a banyan tree, I embarked on this adventurous journey, which took my life off like a jet plane or something. One would wonder how? Banyan tree and jet plane certainly don’t add up. They multiplied actually!

    Each leaf of that banyan tree conspired to bring my dreams to life by giving the oxygen and shade to those little souls. They were not merely kids but they were my wings. They helped me believe I could fly. They could fly too, all they needed was a little push to dream and believe in the power of dreams.

    Once we were onboard these flying lessons, teaching each other became a daily affair. For every lesson I taught I learnt many more for myself. I was exploring a whole new side of myself. One could only imagine such a thing but I was living it. It became the most genuine part of my life.

    So to begin with, we just had to battle with a few dozens of ants and the scorching sun on a daily basis. The day used to begin with a hearty ‘Good morning’ accompanied with those beautiful smiles. There were twelve kids and I was the thirteenth, not an auspicious number but obviously worked for me.

    Once it started, there were no stop signs or U turns. One could only look forward, move forward, sometimes in the first gear or maybe second but there wasn’t any chance of applying the brakes. {06.12.20}

    What started as casual activity in the forenoon became a whole new world for me. I never knew it could bring out such lovely shades of me. The days flew by and their smiles and laughter filled my heart everyday. Their love and happiness gave me a new purpose. It was my duty to follow through and take them forward with me. If not me then who? Someone had to start the fire! There’s always a fire within us that needs to be rekindled. Sometimes you do it or someone else does it for you. These kids were the reason for this fire burning within me to make a change. The flames were so powerful that they steered me towards a path of self-discovery. On this path, the people I met, the things I did and learnt, are going to stay with me forever. Those memories, those moments of happiness and love, still bring tears of pure joy in my eyes. It is a lifetime of happiness that these kids have given me in the past couple of years. They have added so many beautiful colours to my life.

    To begin is the toughest part! August 2018 was the beginning of this beautiful new journey of my life. Moreover a much needed fresh chapter. Never knew it would become my ‘Ikigai’. With a handful of students under a banyan tree, I embarked on this adventurous journey, which took my life off like a jet…

  • Hope: A Lifeline for Underprivileged Students

    Hope: A Lifeline for Underprivileged Students

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    by

    Sarjana Pandey

    What is hope?

    To be able to see the light in the darkest of nights.

    Their lives have seen so much darkness that a ray of light seems to be blindingly fascinating. They had no idea that they deserved so much more than what they thought was good enough. One would wonder how. That’s the kind of hope I am talking about. A ray of hope can change your life inside out and bring so much more than the so called normal. They don’t just need to hope for something better but rather work really hard to keep hoping for it till they get it. To keep the faith and trust in your own capabilities is a bit too much to ask from them. Who are these people I am talking about? Why is life so tough for them? Why do they need to do the impossible to survive?

    Our students are the ones I am talking about and they are expected to be the brave hearts on each and everyday of their lives. Getting to school is one of the many challenges they face, which we assume is the birthright of every child in this country. One would wonder what’s the big deal about it. The challenge is to choose between cooking a meal for your siblings or walking hungry to school. The choice is between going to school or helping the father build a bungalow next to their ‘jhuggis’. Once the bungalow is built they shift base to the next site for making another bungalow. Now the next question is if the child goes to school who will look after the two younger siblings. The burden of choices keeps multiplying everyday with no respite whatsoever from the parents. These children are expected to make these choices on a daily basis in order to make their childhood fruitful, the onus of which lies entirely on their tender shoulders. How they survive this anyway? It’s hope after all.

    People like me and you are the ones who are responsible for making them believe that they too can have dreams and fulfil them. One just needs to believe in their dreams and envision it with them. It’s just a few miles away.

    Hope is the light in the darkest of nights, bringing more than the norm. For students in challenging circumstances, hope means making tough choices daily. Balancing school with family responsibilities, they rely on hope to overcome and dream of a better future. It’s up to us to support and believe in their dreams.