In a small village near Godgobindapur, Sheikh Shajahan,
a dedicated educator, has been a beacon of hope and
progress for his community. Since founding a school
in 2005 with his funds and the support of local farmers
and workers, Sheikh Shajahan has tirelessly worked to
provide quality education and promote hygiene among
his students.
“My name is Sheikh Shajahan. I live in the neighboring
village. I built the school in 2005 with the poor workers
and farmers. I built the school with my own money. I did
not get anything from the government’s end,” he shares,
highlighting his commitment and personal investment
in the school. Over the years, the school has seen many
students graduate and succeed in their lives. “A lot of
students from the school have graduated and become
successful in their lives. We went and did a function
with the successful students. I am very happy with the
students of the school,” he adds with pride.
One of the significant improvements in the school has
been the installation of proper sanitation facilities,
thanks to the efforts of WaterAid. “I am very grateful to
WaterAid for doing this project. In school, we used to
teach students to wash hands with hand wash. But they
did not know how to do it without having tap water. The
students are very happy. We had a toilet earlier in the
school but it lacked facilities. The boys are very happy
to be able to use these new toilets,” Sheikh Shajahan
explains.
The impact of these new facilities has been profound.
“The students try to wash their hands the way they have
been taught in the tap water now. They try to maintain
their hygiene. They also drink the clean water that is
available now. We are very excited and happy to have
all the school facilities, and we thank WaterAid on our
behalf,” he says. Previously, students had to drink water
from a tubewell, which often caused sickness. Now, with
access to clean water, they can maintain better health
and hygiene.
Sheikh Shajahan notes that the students have
become ambassadors of hygiene in their homes and
communities. “They have learned how to wash hands
and the technique of it and they have taught people
at home as well. Whatever they learned here, they
eventually spread the word, and the entire environment
has become much cleaner. As for the sanitisation of girls,
they have also been taught well how to use things, follow
the rules, and maintain their hygiene,” he explains.
The introduction of proper sanitation has particularly
benefited adolescent girls, who previously faced
significant challenges. “Toilets were there before but
those were not usable. Especially for adolescent girls, it
became difficult for them to use the toilets. It became
a very big problem for them, especially during their
periods. But they have been trained well and now they
explain it to others as well,” he says.
The school’s environment has improved remarkably,
making it more conducive to learning. “Everyone has
started taking responsibility. The entire environment
has changed and it has become more inclusive and
engaging. They are more interested in studies now.
Even the attendance in school has improved. We keep
the place very clean and hygienic now,” Sheikh Shajahan
observes.
Despite challenges such as privatisation and economic
hardships, the school has managed to maintain a decent
number of students. “Most of our students are from
the interiors of the village and from very economically
suffering households. Parents used to come and
complain to us regarding the lack of clean water and
the lack of a proper toilet. Even the parents of these kids
used to come to school and tell us about the problems
with the toilet especially for adolescent girls. But we
did not have the means to do anything. Now with this
initiative, it is much better,” he explains.
Sheikh Shajahan also emphasizes the importance of
instilling social responsibility in students. “Along with
studies, we teach them about society as well. We teach
how to improve society. It is not always necessary to
do a job right after finishing education. But building a
better society for the betterment of their families, their
neighborhood, and their village,” he says. The students
are taught to spread whatever they have learned about
hygiene and social responsibility to their families and
communities.
Reflecting on his journey, Sheikh Shajahan expresses
his deep connection to the school he built. “I built the
school. I am very much involved with the school. I know
where every brick is in here. When we got some grants
from the government, I got very excited. When I got to
know about this, many things were going to happen. I
was very happy. When people from WaterAid came to
work, I saw them and how much effort they put in. Even
in the winter, they used to stay back till 8 or 9:00 p.m.
in the night and I liked to spend time with them and
engage in conversations,” he recalls.
Sheikh Shajahan’s dedication and the collective efforts
of the community and WaterAid have brought about
significant positive changes in the school and the lives
of its students, ensuring a brighter future for the village.
