From Streets to Schools: Support First-Generation Learners in Gurgaon
-
500
Books Goal -
260
Books Received -
0
Days to go
Know more about us
Who we are
Pehla Akshar is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering underprivileged children through quality education, helping bridge the gap between street life and school life. Our work primarily focuses on children from construction worker and Banjara families, all of whom are first-generation learners. These children often live in unstable conditions—on construction sites or in dilapidated roadside huts—and lack a permanent home. Many have never attended school, while others, who attended school in their native villages, have dropped out because they cannot secure admission in the city. Books are an integral part of our learning environment, and we aim to create libraries filled with storybooks in Hindi to encourage children to explore reading from the very basics.
Our work and its impact
We run Nukkad Pathshalas (street schools), where we support mainstream school admissions, provides learning materials, scholarships, mentorships, and college fee assistance, and offers digital literacy, open schooling, and other holistic development programs including art, hygiene, sports, and health initiatives. We focus on providing Early Childhood Learning for children aged 3–5 years and Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) for children aged 6–12 years.
From its humble beginnings as a footpath class in Gurugram, Pehla Akshar now educates over 125 children across three sites, distributes 500+ book sets, and supports the higher education of 10+ deserving youth. With a dedicated team experienced in education, social work, and mentorship, and a growing base of 200+ individual donors, the organization continues to expand opportunities for children to learn, dream, and thrive against all odds.
How we will utilise these books
The books raised through this fundraiser will play a crucial role in nurturing a love for reading among children at our centres. Children will be able to freely explore books—pick them up, flip through pictures, and begin reading small stories. By creating a library with easy access to books with supervision, we hope to encourage children to naturally develop the habit of reading. Over time, these books will open doors to new ideas, spark curiosity, and help children imagine, learn, and grow beyond the boundaries of their everyday surroundings.
Supporters
| Anonymous | ₹17,240 |
| Chandrashekhar Digraskar | ₹2,500 |
| Anil Bhavnani | ₹850 |
| Vikas Bagga | ₹500 |
| Shruti Gupta | ₹1,000 |
| Name | Donate Amount | Date |
|---|---|---|
| ₹17,240 | February 10, 2026 | |
| Chandrashekhar Digraskar | ₹2,500 | October 23, 2025 |
| Anil Bhavnani | ₹850 | October 07, 2025 |
| Vikas Bagga | ₹500 | October 07, 2025 |
| Shruti Gupta | ₹1,000 | October 06, 2025 |