In the heart of Delhi’s densely populated slum clusters, a volunteer-run initiative called Pehchaan – The Street School is quietly transforming access to education for marginalised children without a single classroom. Founded in 2015 by social entrepreneur Akash Tandon and a group of young volunteers, the initiative began with just five children and a blackboard in an open space.
A decade later, it has reached more than 5,000 children over the years and currently supports around 1,600 students across more than 10 centres in the Delhi-NCR region. Classes are conducted in community spaces such as temples, parks, or areas under flyovers, and are led by a growing network of hundreds of volunteers.
Despite operating without formal infrastructure, the initiative reports a 94% pass rate among students appearing for board examinations and has helped several learners pursue higher education.
The grassroots model is increasingly being recognised as a powerful example of how community-driven education can bridge systemic gaps especially as the world observes the International Day for Street Children and reflects on the barriers faced by children living in urban poverty.
Where Streets Become Classrooms
Pehchaan operates on a simple yet radical idea: education should reach children where they are, even if that means turning streets and public spaces into classrooms. The initiative conducts weekend learning sessions in slum neighbourhoods across Delhi-NCR, including areas around Indraprastha, Rohini, Dilshad Garden, Mukherjee Nagar, and Noida.
In these sessions, volunteers sit on the floor with small groups of children, often teaching two or three students at a time to ensure personalised attention. Lessons cover not only academic subjects such as mathematics, science, and languages, but also creative arts, emotional well-being, and life skills aimed at building confidence and critical thinking.
Founder Akash Tandon has often recalled that the idea emerged after witnessing stark inequalities in central Delhi. Just metres away from government offices and international institutions stood slum clusters where children had never attended school. “We realised that whatever you do as a social group, the day you stop contributing, the whole initiative ends.
But with education, even if you tell somebody something once, that knowledge will stay with that person forever,” he said while explaining the motivation behind the initiative. What began as a few hours of teaching on weekends soon turned into a structured volunteer-driven model with hundreds of mentors working together to ensure consistent learning for children who would otherwise remain excluded from formal schooling.
Five Children, Thousands Impacted
Pehchaan’s journey over the past decade reflects the power of collective action. When the initiative first started in 2015, classes were conducted with basic resources mats on the ground, donated books, and a portable whiteboard. Within a month, the number of children attending the classes grew from five to more than 30. By the end of the first year, around 100 students were regularly participating in the programme.
Today, the organisation reports that more than 5,000 children have been impacted through its programmes over the years, while around 1,600 students currently attend sessions across multiple centres in Delhi-NCR. Supported by a large volunteer network, the initiative has maintained a strong academic record, with approximately 94% of its board-exam students successfully clearing their examinations.
One of the most inspiring examples of its impact is the story of Deepak Kumar. Growing up in a slum community with limited access to resources, he became the first child from his neighbourhood to complete Class 12 and secure admission to college.
According to the organisation, mentorship and consistent support from volunteers played a crucial role in helping him continue his studies, even during disruptions such as the COVID-19 pandemic when online education created new barriers for underprivileged students.
Beyond academics, Pehchaan also focuses on holistic development. Programmes often include mental-health sessions, skill-building workshops, and extracurricular activities such as art and storytelling to nurture confidence and emotional resilience among children growing up in challenging circumstances.
The organisation’s leaders say the goal is not only to help children pass exams but also to give them a sense of identity and dignity something reflected in the name “Pehchaan,” which translates to “identity.”
As the initiative marks more than a decade of work, it continues to rely largely on volunteers, crowdfunding, and community support rather than large institutional infrastructure. This approach, supporters argue, demonstrates that education initiatives can thrive even with limited resources when communities come together with a shared purpose.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Pehchaan’s journey is a powerful reminder that education is not defined by buildings, uniforms, or elaborate infrastructure. It begins with people who choose to show up teachers who sit on the floor with their students, volunteers who give up their weekends, and communities that believe their children deserve more than the limitations imposed by poverty.
While grassroots initiatives cannot replace systemic reforms in public education, they play a crucial role in reaching children who are often overlooked by formal systems. As India continues to grapple with educational inequality in urban slums and informal settlements, models like Pehchaan demonstrate how compassion, community participation, and consistent mentorship can open doors that once seemed permanently closed.
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