Ist Initiative | Soni Memorial Trust

My school. Somewhere in Gurgaon.

A humble start from Soni Memorial Trust
(12 A regd, 80G approval u/ IT Act)

"This is Rajiv Soni from Gurgaon. A prominent Chartered Accountant and a teacher. Now he is busy imparting free primary and secondary education to underprivileged children. In the outdoors." Aditya Raj Kapoor

1999 Jaunapur village project

1st initiative Dec 2020 Gurgaon 3 kids
This being the first initiative I personally took charge in teaching alphabets, numbers, shapes and colors; Reciting simple poems in Hindi, English, days of the week, months of the year, Drawing with crayons/ pencils; Writing names of vegetables, fruits, colors, animals...
Also organised sessions with Special Guests: Leading Dentist to discuss oral health, Special Arts & Craft teachers, Musician from Mumbai After 9 months of learning, the three are admitted into Class 1 and 2 in a regular school in DLF Ph 3, Gurgaon

Day 93. In regular school, 19th Feb. 22 First three 'bacchhas' now in regular school..
since Sept 2021 and look at the goodness n
magnanimity of lil girl Mansi who wants to
donate books we got her to those less
fortunate than her.
Day 92. Attending tuition, 7th Feb. 22 Schools are shut, but our students Mansi,
Deepak, Vikas attend tuition every day so
that there are no major gaps in learning.
Day 91. School Day, 28th Sep. 21 In less than a year of home schooling,
my 3 bacchhas are off to regular school.

Day 90. Go to school, 20th Sep. 21 Will seek participation for total costs-
once all is ready. Thank you all.
Day 86. Revision, 30th Aug. 21 Test postponed to 3rd Sept. Yaaay!
We get 3 more days to prepare, revise.
Day 85. Happy Kids, 29th Aug. 21 No tension, no stress.
In fact, I'm extremely nervous as 31st Aug.

Day 84. Test preparation, 26th Aug. 21 Preparing for the Test at end of the month.
Day 83. Preparing, 25th Aug. 21 Preparing for the Test at end of the month.
Day 82. Homework, 23rd Aug. 21 Homework as Classwork...and then
again Homework! Not fair, is it!!!

Day 81. Daily classes, 20th Aug. 21 Daily classes these days...preparing for the
Test at end of the month.
Day 80. Lots of Homework, 19th Aug. 21 Table of 2, Opposites, Colors.
Lots of Homework.
Day 79. Preparation, 18th Aug. 21 Preparation ongoing...colors, numbers,
opposites and more....

Day 78. Fix in Memory, 17th Aug. 21 Learn, Repeat, Fix in Memory = Useful for moving to the next step
Day 77. Back to work!, 16th Aug. 21 After a bit of a break, we get back to work!
75th Independence day, 15th Aug. 21 More truthful, hardworking, corrupt-free,
socially equitable and patriotic nation...

Day 76. Checking work, 13th Aug. 21 Start with checking homework. Then shapes, days of the week, and a bit of Math.
Day 75. Mass Bunking ??, 12th Aug. 21 Mass Bunking ??
Nevertheless, class must go on!
Day 74. We keep moving, 11th Aug. 21 We keep moving...gotta crack the entrance test end Aug.

Day 73. Shapes, Dates.., 10th Aug. 21 Dates..Learning for the first time. Have to step up the hard work till 31 Aug.
Day 72. Tablet, Internet, 9th Aug. 21 Tablet, Internet driven. Now we can do an
online class in the evening too.
Day 71. English, Hindi, Math, 7th Aug. 21 English, Hindi, Math. Chugging along....

Day 70. Entrance Test, 6th Aug. 21 Teaching as per Syllabus for Entrance Test at August end
Day 69. Need to be enrolled, 5th Aug. 21 The 5 children of a poor farmer. Now need to be enrolled into formalized schooling.
Day 65. Serious study, 22nd Jul. 21 Today's class. Serious study.
Educator: Monisha Sharma

Day 64. Today's class, 16th Jul. 21 Today's class taken by Monisha Sharma.
We're getting back into the routine
Day 63. 'My School' reopens 14th Jul. 21 Ok folks...'My School' reopens. Thank you Monisha Sharma for joining in!
Day 62. Home work. today, 15th Apr. 21 We started with sentences. I am (doing). Walking, Running, Sitting etc.

Day 61. Etiquette, 15th Apr. 21 The three most powerful words.....
Day 60. A hot day, 13th Apr. 21 Ye humari class hai, ye hum hain...aur yahan padhai ho rahi hai.
Day 59. A bit diff. today, 9th Apr. 21 We started with sentences. I am (doing). Walking, Running, Sitting etc.

Day 58. expressing gratitude, 7th Apr. 21 Goodies, masks come in for the kids. I think they're hangin in there, learning with enthusiasm.
Day 57. A hot day, 5th Apr. 21 But we must study! We have to. The long
desolate path on the way back.
Day 56. motivational clip, 2nd Apr. 21 A short 5 minute motivational clip at the beginning of each class. Then study.

Day 55. Days of the week, 30th Mar. 21 Then we move to Days of the week, Months in the year, 15 animals.
Day 54. Homework concept, 28rd Mar. 21 Today we start with months in the year.
We also start with the concept of Homework.
Day 53. Upcycle/Recycle Art, 26th Mar. 21 Upcycle/Recycle Art....making kids learn. My motive is to teach them about colors, art, n environment.

Day 52. On our way, 26th Mar. 21 On our way, slowly but surely. Prodding on.
One class at a time.
Day 51. Move on to Months, 23rd Mar. 21 Move on to Months of the year. Pronunciation
is a huge issue.
Day 50. A milestone for me, 19th Mar. 21 For your continued encouragement, support
and blessings!

Day 49. class on Alphabets, 17th Mar. 21 After the usual class on Alphabets,..yea we're
still not 100% there...
Day 48. Alphabets day, 15th Mar. 21 Davinder Kaur of Trash2Table (and of Lets Walk Gurgaon fame).
Day 47. Change of strategy, 12th Mar. 21 Segregated kids, made them sit with my assistants to write alphabet from memory.

Day 46. Pronunciation day, 10th Mar. 21 Trying times...months of the year. But I'm not giving up so easily!
Day 45. Days of the week!, 8th Mar. 21 We are progressing, slowly but surely. Thank u everyone 4 your support and encouragement.
Day 44. Alphabets, Spellings, 5th Mar. 21 Days of the week. Then, Fun Time, thanks to
Ravi Sharan, my dear college mate!.

Day 43. English to Math, 3rd Mar. 21 Thank you Shantanu Kaul for the Mobile Screen enlarger, and Wireless speaker.
Day 42. routine home work, 1st Mar. 21 Education supplies sent by friends, well
wishers & supporters being put to good use.
Day 41. adding numbers, 26th Feb. 21 Joined by my student, CA Finalist Shruti Malik who then takes on the teaching all.

Day 40. English to Math, 24th Feb. 21 Kids have gone to the village for few days. But the show must go on, even with one student!
Day 39. routine home work, 23rd Feb. 21 Learning outcomes improve.And that is very reassuring.
Day 38. adding numbers, 17th Feb. 21 My lil ones said, "Lets make our own videos"
And I said, "Ok, guys...lets go for it!"

Day 37. English to Math, 15th Feb. 21 Using a different approach to teaching the alphabets. Study, Revise, Test.
Day 36. routine home work, 12th Feb. 21 Balaji Singh, good friend n excellent photographer, captures the many moods..
Day 35. adding numbers, 10th Feb. 21 Bright sunny day, and we have visitors.

Day 34. First lets study, 8th Feb. 21 Then we play favorites with the teacher, posing. Don't miss the body language!
Day 33. routine home work, 6th Feb. 21 Thank you both so much...for your time and for the books you brought for them.
Day 32. adding numbers, 5th Feb. 21 Bright sunny day, and we have visitors.

Day 30. English to Math, 28th Jan. 21 Back to routine of English and Math. And children are learning alphabet. And now some increased homework.
Day 30. routine home work, 28th Jan. 21 1 hour of study in the morning. Children are learning addition and do home work.
Day 30. adding numbers, 28th Jan. 21 One white board and addition some values and children are doing its own.

Day 29. alphabets learning, 27th Jan. 21 The girls are quick. Boys, in right earnest, have to keep up with the girls.
Day 29. colorful alphabets, 27th Jan. 21 Children are enjoying and learning English using colorful alphabets.
Day 29. Alphabets day 27th Jan. 21 Tryst with the alphabets continues. They must, MUST, get totally proficient here first, before we move ahead.

Day 28. Celebrating Republic Day The girls are quick. Boys, in right earnest, have to keep up with the girls.
Day 28. National Anthem, 26th Jan. 21 Children are enjoying and learning English using colorful alphabets.
Day 28. National Flag, 26th Jan. 21 Tryst with the alphabets continues. They must, MUST, get totally proficient here first, before we move ahead.

Day 27. Song videos, 23rd Jan. 21 My cousin Akshat Pande here from Mumbai
spent time with the children
Day 26. A cold day, 22nd Jan. 21 But look at the dedication, smart turn out, and keen interest.
Day 25. Fun Times, 20th Jan. 21 A 10 yr old screen enlarger, mobile ph and Internet...and were good to go!

Day 24. We get smarter, 18th Jan. 21 Uniforms (two sets) for all provided by Mr Lalit Dumra
Day 23. Nursery rhymes, 15th Jan. 21 End of the week, it's Friday. Also reciting alphabet and numbers
Day 22. Cold day, 13th Jan. 21 But class is on time. we have Lohri Greetings...and Yaay

Day 21. Alphabets right, 11th Jan. 21 Write again, and again. From the beginning,
from the middle, last few...
Day 20. White boards, 8th Jan. 21 Thank you Suks Thomas for these wonderful white boards.
Day 18. Winter morning, 7th Jan. 21 With good samaritan Atul Kapur handing out woolen caps, sweaters, socks.

Day 17. New Classroom, 4th Jan. 21 The new classroom (if its overcast, windy). All those who want to teach here, put your hands up!
Day 16. Class on, 1st Jan. 21 Thank you Namrata Singh for the learning material you've sent all the way from London.
Day 15. Happy New Year, 30th Dec. 20 Especially a big thank you: Mrs Sunita Khanna, Aditya Raj Kapoor, Respected Mrs Louise Khurshid.

Day 14. The two books, 28th Dec. 20 "Thank you Mrs Pooja Sabharwal" is what the kids have to say for the two books- alphabets and numbers.
Day 13. Story telling, 27th Dec. 20 Story telling on Sundays. Brilliant suggestion by respected Dr. Vanishree Pathak.
Day 12. Merry Christmas, 25th Dec. 20 Thank you, Mrs Louise Khurshid and Mr Salman Khurshid. And, Merry Christmas!

Day 11. Study today, 23rd Dec. 20 "Thank you Mrs Pooja Sabharwal" is what the kids have to say for the two books- alphabets and numbers.
Day 10. Alphabet,Numbers, 21st Dec. 20 Alphabet, Numbers books all the way from USA. Thank you Lillian Kumar.
Day 9. Extra Curricular, 20th Dec. 20 Starting with oral hygiene, thanks to respected Dr. Vanishree Pathak and her wonderful daughters.

Day 8. Open Air Class, 18th Dec. 20 Then we thank DPS alumnus Rajoo Goutam in England...for sending such wonderful bright red colored school bags.
Day 7. The gifts, 16th Dec. 20 Thank you Aditya Raj Kapoor for the gifts of stationary for the kids. It's cold today...but class is in full steam.
Day 6. Extra Curricular, 14th Dec. 20 Normal studying: A-Z and numbers upto 500.
Am extremely grateful to you all.

Day 5. Happy Day, 13th Dec. 20 No study, no homework checking. Yaay! Today, Story telling day.
Day 4. Focus, 11th Dec. 20 Where would you find such focus and eagerness?.
Day 3. Their gratitude, 9th Dec. 20 Mrs Sunita Khanna retd teacher from DPS has been kind enough to give copies, pens, crayons...

Day 2. Patience, Mr Soni, 8th Dec. 20 You may be teaching Accounts to CA finalists, or Employable Skills to young adults for last 25 yrs...
Day 2. 20% increase, 7th Dec. 20 Where would you find such focus and eagerness?.
Day 1. My School, 4th Dec. 20 My school. Somewhere in Gurgaon. First day. 4 students.