Pehchaan The Street School is now helping more than 100 children from its Noida centre continue their education in formal schools, marking a new phase in its work with underserved children.
The organisation, earlier featured by Pulse of Noida for its grassroots education work across Delhi NCR, continues to provide free learning support through its centres. It is now also helping children move beyond community learning spaces by supporting their access to mainstream schooling.
The latest update includes formal school education support for 100+ children, a Sponsor a Child initiative, a computer lab with more than 15 systems, a 45-day summer learning programme, and growing partnerships with institutions and community groups.
Pulse of Noida had earlier reported on Pehchaan’s journey of bringing education to children from underserved communities.
Read the earlier feature:
Noida Change Makers: How Pehchaan The Street School is Transforming Lives Through Education
Supporting Formal Education For 100+ Children
One of Pehchaan’s most significant recent developments has been the sponsorship of formal school education for over 100 underprivileged students from its Noida centre.
For many children from low-income communities, access to education is not only about attending classes. School fees, uniforms, books, stationery and regular academic support can all become barriers.
Pehchaan is trying to address this gap by helping children move into mainstream schools and ensuring continuity in their education.
This means the organisation’s role is no longer limited to classroom support at its learning centres. It is now working to create a longer education pathway for children, from foundational learning to formal schooling.
Sponsor a Child Initiative
To make this support sustainable, Pehchaan has introduced a Sponsor a Child initiative.
Through this initiative, residents and individual donors can sponsor the education of a specific child. The support helps cover school fees, uniforms, books, stationery and other learning needs.
According to Pehchaan, sponsors are connected with a specific student and receive periodic updates on the child’s progress. This allows donors to directly see the impact of their contribution.
For Noida residents who want to support education in a practical and personal way, this creates a clear route to help.
Instead of a one-time donation, the initiative allows a sponsor to become part of a child’s longer education journey.
Computer Lab At The Noida Centre
Pehchaan has also established a computer lab at its Noida centre with more than 15 computer systems.
The lab is helping students gain exposure to basic computer literacy, digital skills, typing, internet awareness and technology-driven learning.
This is an important step because the digital divide continues to affect children from underserved communities. Many students may be attending learning sessions regularly, but still have limited access to computers, laptops or guided digital learning.
The computer lab gives children a chance to become familiar with technology in a structured environment.
However, Pehchaan says the demand is much higher than its current capacity. The organisation is seeking support in the form of additional computers, laptops and digital infrastructure.
45-Day Summer Learning Programme
During the summer vacations, Pehchaan is conducting intensive 45-day learning programmes across three centres.
More than 200 student volunteers from institutions such as Amity University and Delhi University are participating in the initiative.
These volunteers are helping children through academic support, mentoring, personality development activities and engagement sessions.
The programme also highlights the role young volunteers can play in local education work. For children, it creates continuity during the summer break. For student volunteers, it becomes a direct way to understand community needs and contribute to grassroots learning.
Pehchaan’s model has always relied strongly on volunteers, and this summer programme continues that approach.
Eleven Years Of Pehchaan
This year, Pehchaan completed 11 years of its journey.
According to Pehchaan, what started in 2015 with a handful of children studying near a drain in a Delhi slum has grown into a volunteer-driven movement reaching more than 1,600 students across multiple centres in Delhi NCR.
The 11-year milestone is not only a celebration of scale. It is also a reminder of the long-term nature of education work.
Children need regular classes, patient mentoring, family support, learning materials, digital access and continuity. Pehchaan’s latest updates show how the organisation is trying to move from basic learning support towards deeper educational continuity.
25+ Partnerships In Three Months
According to Pehchaan, it has collaborated with more than 25 organisations, brands, educational institutions and community groups in the past three months alone.
These partnerships have helped provide educational resources, stationery, digital learning support, hygiene products, books, skill-building opportunities and experiential learning activities for students.
Such partnerships are important for grassroots organisations because they help bring resources and exposure to children who may otherwise not have access to them.
For companies, institutions and resident groups, they also offer a structured way to contribute to education and community development.
Where Public Support Can Help
Pehchaan is currently seeking support from residents, donors, volunteers, institutions and CSR partners.
Residents can support the Sponsor a Child initiative by helping cover the education expenses of a child. This can include school fees, uniforms, books, stationery and other learning needs.
Individuals and organisations can also donate laptops, computers and digital infrastructure for the computer lab.
Volunteers can contribute as teachers, mentors or skill trainers. Organisations can support educational material, infrastructure needs or CSR-based community initiatives.
Pehchaan is also open to introductions to potential donors and CSR partners who may want to support children’s education.
Founder’s Message
Speaking about Pehchaan’s journey and its current focus, founder Akash Tandon said:
“Eleven years ago, Pehchaan the street school started with a simple belief that every child deserves access to education, regardless of where they come from. Today, beyond teaching children, we are helping them enter schools, learn digital skills, build confidence, and dream bigger. The journey has been possible because of thousands of volunteers and supporters who chose to believe in these children. We hope more individuals and organisations join us in creating opportunities that can transform lives for generations.”
Why This Matters For Noida
Noida’s growth story is often told through expressways, high-rises, offices, malls and infrastructure projects. But another story is unfolding inside classrooms, community centres and volunteer-led learning spaces.
For children from underserved communities, access to education remains uneven. Admission to school is only one part of the journey. Staying in school, keeping up with lessons, accessing digital tools and building confidence are equally important.
This is where organisations like Pehchaan play a role.
Pulse of Noida has been documenting similar community-led education efforts through its Change Makers section.
Read more Change Makers stories
Also read:
- SADRAG Ugta Suraj:
From Community Classrooms To Formal Schools: SADRAG’s Ugta Suraj Programme In Noida And Greater Noida - UshaKiran Study Center:
How a Noida Educator is Bridging the Gap for Underprivileged Children Through Community Classroom Initiatives
Together, these stories show that Noida’s education ecosystem is not limited to formal schools. It also includes volunteers, community educators, non-profits, donors and local residents who are helping children stay connected to learning.
How To Support Pehchaan The Street School
Residents, donors, volunteers and organisations who want to support Pehchaan The Street School can use the following details:
Phone: 9711718972
Email: pehchaanschool@gmail.com
Website: https://pehchaanstreetschool.org
Donation link: https://pehchaanstreetschool.org/donation/
Support can be offered through child sponsorship, laptop or computer donations, volunteering, educational materials, infrastructure support or CSR partnerships.
For Pehchaan, the next chapter is about helping more children move from learning support to formal schooling, from limited digital access to computer literacy, and from difficult circumstances to wider opportunities.
Source note: Information and photographs for this story were shared by Pehchaan The Street School with Pulse of Noida.
