Nurturing dreams at an educational trust

Natalidita Ningthoukhongjam *

Right at the edge of Khangshim Village, Kakching Lamkhai, a group of young boys and girls are currently poring over gigantic books in their respective hostels. They are preparing for all the All India Pre-Medical Test (AIPMT), which is to be held in May.

It was a gloomy, rainy afternoon when my friends and I visited them at Ascension Educational Trust (AET). Bright pieces of paper—stuck to bed posts and windows—fluttered in the cold March wind, livening up the otherwise Spartan environment of their rooms. On each piece of paper, the students had written a quote. Although the contents of those quotes varied in form, they all spoke the same message: success can only come with perseverance.

The atmosphere at the centre was charged with excitement, yet calm, too. When we gathered at the classroom for a chat, the students trooped in and took their seats with silence that had more to do with shyness than anxiety. They introduced themselves, and I got to learn that they come from different districts—Tamenglong, Chandel, Senapati, Imphal, Churachandpur. The class was almost a microcosmic representation of the state, huddled together and working towards a common goal.

"So, why do you want to be a doctor?" I asked them.

As I listened to their responses, I was reminded of the countless answers I'd already heard in the past. Those answers had come from the lips of high school students who had their lives mapped out, or had been written on scrapbooks, next to the subtitle "Aim in Life".

Some wanted to serve the society. Others wanted to follow their parents' footsteps. There were still others who simply hadn't been introduced to alternatives, and so went with the most popular, most obvious choice when asked to share what their career plans were. It can be a cruel thing to pose this question to adolescents; at that age, most of us don't know what we really want to do with our life.

The students of AET belong to the category of aspirants who are fully aware of the reasons behind their choice. For them, becoming a doctor comes with additional social responsibilities. "I want to spread awareness about health," quipped Ch. Philemon, a student from Shingra, Tamenglong. "We don't have any doctors hailing from our village. I would like to help my people." His reply wasn't unique.

AET primarily accepts applicants from villages that haven't produced a doctor/engineer/high ranking civil service officer, or a student pursuing MBBS/BE/B Tech. The youths it takes under its wings tend to be driven by motivations which rise from concerns beyond the personal.

"If not for AET, I'd have applied for military service due to lack of options," Philemon added. A few of the male students nodded their heads at this. I asked them if the lack of options was due to financial constraints. "Not just that," said Kt. Korungthang (Leibi, Chandel).

"There is no one to give us proper guidance. Here, we have a motivational class every day, and we're free to approach the staff to discuss any issue. We also don't have coaching centres where we live." This prompted me to find out if anyone in their batch had sought admission at the well-known coaching centres based in Imphal. Some of them raised their hands. "Why did you eventually come to AET?" I said.

The students cited several reasons, such as the inability to fully grasp the medium of instruction or to openly address their doubts. The considerable class strength at such centres is another complication. "At AET," said Thangneibong Serto (Utonglok, Chandel), "the number of students in the class is fewer. It's easier for us to communicate with our teachers. Since we live here, we can also access the facilities whenever we need them. It's just like a second home."

Outside the classroom, three kids were playing football in the compound. "We're building a bigger hostel here," Dr Thyelnai Dawn Khaling, the founder of AET told us. "It's only a matter of time now."

Time, indeed, is playing a major role in shaping the future of AET. At Dr Khaling's home, we discussed the funding sources and expenses of the trust, details of which are regularly uploaded to the official website. "The trust was set up and registered in 2013," he said. "We need to complete three years from the date of registration in order to be eligible for government grant-in-aid. Till then, we'll be trying our best to continue providing the students all the basic necessities."

These necessities include accommodation (currently arranged at Dr Khaling's family's properties), food, study materials, computers with internet connection, a good staff of teachers, and a warden to look after the everyday needs of the students. "Presently, we are relying on the generosity of our donors," he explained. "The current batch of students is AET's second. It certainly won't be the last. This is only the beginning."

Classes had been suspended for the session, since the students wanted to revise on their own. Armed with a study-plan that Dr Khaling helped them prepare, they were settling down with their books at the time of our departure. "None of our students from last year's batch cleared the test," Dr Khaling said as we walked out of the boys' hostel.

"Some have successfully gone on to pursue bachelor's degrees in nursing, agriculture, and horticulture. We hope to attract more applicants. Right now, we depend on social media and newspaper ads, but we still need to spread the word."

A lot of hopes and dreams are wrapped in AET's vision. Though it is still in its nascent phase, the fact that it has given its students the opportunity to cultivate those hopes and dreams is admirable. Quantitative success will follow resolution and determination. As Thangneibong has scrawled on her piece of paper: "Forget all the reason why it won't work, and believe in the one reason why it will."