Education
Stories
Isha Ayube Gat – A Change agent in the making
He has many feathers in his cap: he is an actor, an influencer to his peers and the most educated child in his family. Isha Ayub Gat, 14 years old, is from Vandi village. His parents stay in Randh Bandar, in the Kutch district of Gujarat.
Since studying is his favorite activity, it’s easy to comprehend why he is always studying, whether in Randh Bandar or in a village.
He used to walk to school in Bhadreshwar from Randh Bandar with his friends Razak and Yasmin. However, since the Yusuf Mehrally Center (YMC) has started a hostel program with the help of AIF, life has become easy for him. He now stays in the same village where his school is located.
Nizam, Isha’s friend from Randh Bandar, had dropped out of school after the 4th grade. When Isha went back to Randh Bandar from the hostel for the first time, he met with Nizam and his mother. He talked to them about the hostel, and insisted that Nizam join the hostel. As a result of his successful advocacy, Nizam has now started studying again at the age of 15, and stays at the Bhadreshwar hostel with Isha.
Now the academic year is over, all the children but Isha have gone home to enjoy their summer vacation with their parents. He says, “I enjoy myself more in the hostel than in Randh Bandar, and these days when we have a vacation and do not have anything to study, I take extra classes in English from my teacher, Mr. Devendra”. He has passed him exam for the 7th grade, and will attend 8th grade class in Bhadreshwar high school. With great difficulty in hiding his pride, he says, “I am the first person in my family who will climb the steps of a high school.”
