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Dr. Sunita Gandhi, Founder of DEVI Sansthan, is leading a global education shift through the ALfA (Accelerating Learning for All) vision. This powerful approach helps learners master foundational literacy and numeracy in just 45 days—yes, really!
At DEVI Sansthan, ALfA is more than a method—it’s a movement rooted in dignity, equity, and innovation. With peer-to-peer learning and joyful engagement, ALfA empowers every child to learn fast, learn well, and thrive.
Literacy changes lives. Be inspired by some stories to understand the difference our program has made in the lives of vulnerable children and adults.
Samaira and Naziya, two girls from Jawaharnagar who lived with their aunt who made them do all the household chores and refused to let them study for her convenience. After persistent efforts of the DEVI team she finally agreed and they both started coming to the class. After 45 days, they started reading the words , Samaira confidently read the prices of the materials and no shopkeeper could charge them more than the written price. Their aunt now knows the power of literacy when their nieces can do all the bank work which once was a difficult task for them.
Zikra - a girl from Jawaharnagar living with her grandmother and helping her out in household chores, and never dreamt of studies. Once she hesitantly joined DEVI’s learning camp and soon enough started enjoying it, especially Maths. Breaking all the stereotypes she excelled in Maths and other sports. 6 months later, she got enrolled in Class 5 at Jawaharnagar Government School, where she is thriving. Zikra’s story tells us that every child can thrive if given the opportunity of education.
Sufia, 40, doubted that she would ever be able to learn to read at her age. We encouraged her to get through the struggle of the first few lessons, which was compounded by the embarrassment of others watching on. As it turned out, Sufia was one of our fastest learners ever – she went from unable to recognize letters, to reading sentences fluently in just one month. At the next parent-teacher meeting the teacher offered her an inkpad to make a thumb impression, but Sufia reached instead for a pen, with a big smile on her face!
The first students to become literate using DEVI Sansthan’s program were three cousins. Each one of them had their own struggles with school, which had kept them from literacy. Inama was a diligent student but found it difficult to rote memorize the letters. Heena was a quick learner but spent most of the day doing domestic chores, and thus had little time for study. Meanwhile Muskan suffered from a liver ailment which kept her from attending school. Despite these difficulties, each of the three girls learnt to read in just 1 to 2 months. Their efforts showed us from the beginning that the dream of literacy for all is really possible.
Rehana is a 7 year old girl from a very poor family. They’ve seen great misfortune in their lives, and rarely gets the attention she needs, so she often skips school and has terrible behaviour. However, when we started the literacy program with her, her attention was focused, even though she could only recognize two letters at first. Since then, her focus has been amazing – though it took her three lessons to understand how to join letters together, today she is reading fluently.
Shania, 9, was not enrolled in school when we first met her. Her father often drank, so family finances were tight. Shaniya’s mother also doubted her ability to learn well in school. But Shaniya learnt to read swiftly using DEVI Sansthan’s literacy materials – just a daily 15 minute session several times a week over 3 months. Impressed with this improvement, Shania’s mother enrolled her in the local school. Five years on (at the time of writing) Shania is now a confident young woman in Grade 8.
Ranjan, just six years old, was a tiny shadow in a classroom full of bustling kids. His parents, seeking a moment's peace, sent him to school, but even there, he was overlooked. Teachers, convinced he was "different" and unable to learn, barely tried. So, Ranjan sat, a silent fixture at the back, fading until it was as if he wasn't there at all.
I saw this beauty through these kids and their efforts to become more than they are now. Despite the challenges they may face, they never forget to smile.
This indispensable experience of mine was made possible by the constant efforts of Dr. Sunita Gandhi through OneTara. It became a grooming ground for me, enhancing my leadership qualities, management skills, and strong will to do something good for society. All the credit goes to the project and those who worked with me especially Team Alfa.
I will always be grateful for the opportunity and would love to work again in the future.Ayush Pratap Singh
From my initial encounter with One Tara School, what stood out was approachability and Professionalism of everyone I met.
Everyone behaves so sweetly with us that I feel a belongingness with the school. The methods of teaching of the organisation are so much helpful that it has not only boosted my confidence of teaching but also it has helped in the enhancement of my skills.
I am Wholeheartedly thankful to the One Tara School that they gave me such a beautiful opportunity to provide knowledge and education to the needful students so that they can have a better future.Artika Singh
As a volunteer with One Tara school, I have witnessed firsthand the incredible impact they have on education. This organization is dedicated to providing quality education to underprivileged children, ensuring they have the appropriate resources and support needed to succeed. They create a nurturing and inclusive environment where every child feels valued and encouraged to reach their full potential. Through their innovative teaching method, ALFA (Accelerated Learning For All), One Tara School is transforming lives and communities. Their teaching method builds up confidence in every child.Aditi verma
The experience of working with DEVI Santhan has been truly enriching. The team is outstanding, with colleagues who are both skilled and incredibly supportive, making the work environment inspiring and collaborative. Through my involvement with the OneTara project, which is dedicated to providing literacy among the underprivileged children, I have had the privilege of meeting remarkable people, visiting slums, and gaining a deeper understanding of diverse life experiences. This opportunity has significantly boosted my confidence, refined my skills, and taught me professionalism in a workplace setting . I am profoundly grateful for this internship; the lessons learned will benefit me both personally and professionally. I am confident that OneTara will continue to thrive and fulfill its mission of #TransformingLives.Rishika Gupta
Working with an esteemed organisation like DEVI Sansthan has been a matter of utmost privilege. Within the one year that I have spent with the organisation, I have had a plethora of experiences from vising slums every morning and gathering students to visiting IAS officers to invite them to our events and collaborate with them on our projects. Being a part of the organisation has not just developed my personality but changed me as a person as a whole! Working closely with the founder, Dr Sunita Gandhi, I have had the opportunity to witness her dedication towards her goal of eradicating illiteracy and it is nothing less inspiring. With the right support and approach, DEVI Sansthan has the potential of change the literacy landscape of the world.Bhuwan Jaiswal
I am writing this testimonial as I had got this golden opportunity to do this wonderful job i.e., to educate our upcoming generation who are not privileged somehow to go and study. I believe that every individual has the right to study and grow in life.
At the outset, I was a little bit nervous when I received this great offer. A lot of thoughts were running into my mind like how will I manage all the students, will they listen to me, will I be able to complete my assigned task i.e., to educate them. So yes I was nervous. Moreover, I knew that a teacher plans a very crucial role in a student's life so I had to do this right & also this was my first experience. One Tara has given me that platform through which I was able to overcome that nervousness inside of me.Anchal Verma
We are privileged to have had hundreds and thousands of school and college students volunteer as part of the Each One Teach One campaign. Here are some of their testimonies.
