When Scarcity becomes Strength: Ram ji’s efforts towards Education

For two years, Ram Ji Rai saved the small money his family gave him for breakfast. Not to eat extra food, but to repair his bicycle whenever it punctured on the rough roads between Ballia and Sikandarpur. Tuition fees were another struggle; even five or ten rupees felt like a big deal. His education completed, but the scarcity stayed with him, shaping how he saw children facing similar barriers.

Years later, that ache was reflected in his decision to remain in Ballia rather than take up a job elsewhere. He wanted to do something for children who had dropped out for various reasons. The real opportunity came through the organisation SPEED, where Ram Ji began taking extra lessons for children. ‘Shiksha samajik parivartan ka mool hai’ (‘Education is the foundation of social change’), he recalls Dhananjay from the organisation telling him - words that further lifted his spirits. Together, they started a tuition centre with no fixed fees, inviting children who had dropped out back to learning. It was not easy. Communities tested him, questioned his motives, and children sometimes stopped coming. COVID-19 made the work harder - schools closed, many students were at risk of dropping out. Yet, Ram Ji remained, coordinating efforts through the organisation, distributing books, keeping students engaged at home, and making sure that no children was forgotten.

Even as he worked, he felt a distance between himself and the society he served. His own struggles in education gave him insight, but he wanted more: to understand the social fabric, to grasp why things were the way they were, and to build sensitivity to societal issues. 

That understanding came through WTPA training, in collaboration with Speed. The sessions on fundamental rights sparked something inside him. Afterward, he was assigned to conduct awareness in some schools or colleges, explaining the Preamble, the Constitution, and fundamental rights. In Ballia, he realised that students learned about topics like reservation but lacked sensitivity or context. “WTPA training gave me sensitivity to issues, because they combine both heart and mind in their facilitation,” he reflects. In his sessions, Ram Ji began connecting constitutional ideas to students’ real experiences, bridging knowledge and lived reality.

After the training, his work reached new dimensions. As a master facilitator with SPEED, he guided participants in villages to take responsibility for development. Working with Gram Pradhans and GPDP, he emphasized that progress is not just infrastructure; health, climate, and children’s well-being matter equally. “We are not just giving training, we are shaping the village’s future. If even one person remains unaware, progress is not possible,” he says. He encouraged leaders to see themselves as an active citizen of the community, to act with commitment, and to integrate climate and health issues into local planning.

Through multiple layers of work such as teaching children, supporting women’s groups, and facilitating trainings, Ram Ji bridged the distance between his own understanding and the realities of the community. Every effort traces back to his childhood, when scarcity taught him patience and problem-solving.

Today, Ram Ji works as a master facilitator. While facilitating, he brings both heart and mind to the process, opening spaces where children, women, and local leaders can engage with awareness and sensitivity. His classrooms, villages, and workshops reflect a balance he always sought: connecting education with society meaningfully, translating learning into action, and ensuring that no one is left unaware or unsupported. His work becomes a living reflection of persistence, learning, and the desire to connect education to society meaningfully.

The above story has been written and published with the explicit consent of the individual involved. All facts presented are based on WTPA's direct interaction with the individual, ensuring accuracy and integrity in our reporting.