The passion of a teacher
Mrs. Sushila Charles is a graduate teacher at the Project Help Slum Centre. She is a very hardworking lady and an inspiring teacher. Her dedication towards her work is undeniable and can be seen very clearly by everyone in the community . She gives her all so that her students can face the challenges of their lives and society. Her teaching methods are also very unique and amazing, and the other teachers learn a lot from her too.
Sushila was our first teacher when Project Help started in 2012, but due to the unhealthy environment of the building she got a severe infection in her body. So she worked with us for just one year. She returned in 2018 and now works as a permanent teacher again in our Kotdwara Slums Centre.
Sushila is married to Mr. Sanjay Charles. He is a daily wage driver by profession. If there is no driving work he does not get paid. They have two kids, Anubhav (15 years) and Samarth (5 years). The family of four lives in a single room with a small kitchen. It’s Sushila’s income that sustains her family. Her husband’s work is inconsistent and the little he earns is spent on his personal interests and pursuits, and because of this here has been a great deal of conflict and tension in the past. During the COVID lockdown the family suffered greatly as there was no work for Sunjay. The only money earned was by Sushila (all of our teachers continued to get paid throughout the lockdown) and this was used to pay the children’s school fees. All of their food and essential supplies were provided by the distribution of Project Help ration packs. Therefore during the entire pandemic the family was totally dependent upon Project Help.
Sushila’s family count Project Help as their guardian angel and thank God for it. Sushila says she always prays for the organisation and their beloved sponsors. She says that she has received many blessings by working for Project Help. She also prays for her beautiful students and has the dearest hope that they may achieve their goals in the future. She says this is why she works hard. The students love her dearly and some say that she is a perfect teacher.
Doug and Rowena Thomas (from Australia) with some of the Project Help staff visiting Sushila and the cook at the Slums Centre (in February, 2022).