Pilot Project Overview — October 2025 to April 2026
TAP Charity partnered with TSEC NSS students to deliver online Spoken English classes to 7th grade students from rural villages in the Jalgaon district of Maharashtra, through the GEF (Guruji Education Foundation) network. The primary goal was not grammar mastery, but building confidence and basic communication skills, addressing a real barrier these students face in academic and career growth.
Background
GEF supports students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, many from rural schools where fear of spoken English is common and limiting. TSEC NSS students, actively seeking meaningful volunteering opportunities, were a natural fit; they brought energy, relatability, and a genuine mentoring spirit to the classroom.
For the TSEC volunteers, this program offered a consistent teaching and leadership role, direct exposure to the challenges faced by rural students, and a chance to practice empathy and patience in a real-world setting. For the beneficiary students, it meant confidence-building and access to role models closer to their own age.
About NSS
The National Service Scheme (NSS) is a Government of India initiative launched in 1969 to encourage college students to participate in community service. Its motto — “Not Me, But You” — reflects the spirit of selfless contribution. NSS provides students hands-on experience in education, health, rural development, and social awareness, while building leadership and a sense of national integration.
About TSEC NSS
TSEC (Thadomal Shahani Engineering College) was among the first engineering colleges in Mumbai University to establish an NSS unit. TSEC NSS organizes health camps, environmental initiatives, and community outreach programs — all aimed at student development and societal impact.
The Team
TSEC NSS volunteers Aayush, Disha, Prashant, Karan, Pratha, Rishabh, Vedant, Harsh, Krish, Ritwik, Mihir and Moazam led the classes under the guidance of Dr. Gauri Shukla. During exam periods when the NSS students were unavailable, TAP members Kunal Shah and Sheela Nain Shah stepped in to keep the program running without interruption. The enthusiasm from both volunteers and students was what made this program a success — GEF partners noted that “the classes went very well, way beyond our expectations.”
Curriculum and Structure
Classes followed the UDAAN material, split into three modules. Sessions ran twice a week, 60 minutes each, generally after 6:00 PM to accommodate students using their parents’ mobile phones. Group size was capped at 12 students per batch, with a recommended team of 2 teachers per batch for flexibility.
Teachers were encouraged to understand Marathi, Tamil, or Kannada to build rapport with students and bridge vocabulary gaps. Methods were left to the teachers’ discretion — the goal was fluency and confidence, not a rigid syllabus.
Current Progress
Topics covered include Introducing Self, Family and Friends, Greetings, Hobbies, and Favorite Movies. Later sessions moved into verbs, adjectives, prepositions, and conjunctions.
Current Requirement
The project is currently seeking 2-3 volunteer teachers for the Tandulwadi school batch in Jalgaon.
If you understand Marathi and have a passion for teaching, this is a great way to contribute your Talent through TAP.