Education is like a torch to me

Raju is 17-years-old and lives in a slum area in Delhi, where Plan works in conjunction with a local partner as ‘CASP-Plan Delhi’. His father is a cycle rickshaw puller and his mother a housewife. He has three sisters, one of whom is sponsored with Plan.

Raju has been an active member of the Bal Panchayat (Children's Parliament) for the last five years and is currently a reporter for their children’s magazine. He is still at school and working hard to realise his aspiration to become an engineer.

Recently, Raju was interviewed by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). “I was very thrilled to give the interview. I never imagined  that one day my interview will be taken by the world’s no 1 channel. In the excitement, I think I forgot to say many of the things that I wanted to.”

Raju's BBC interview (April 2004):

Q. Why is education important to you?
A. Education is like a torch to me, which is lighting up my life. Every person wants to succeed in life and wants a different life from each other. But education binds us together. So, if we want to achieve something in life we should travel on the right path.

Q. What does it mean for your parents?
A. My parents have faith in me. I want to make them proud by achieving what I want and by being successful in life.

Q. How did you manage to get educated?
A. I am a member of the Bal Panchayat and CASP-Plan has supported me in continuing my education.

Q. What do you want to become?
A. I want to be an engineer in the future. Though I know that there are some financial limitations and the entrance for engineering courses is tough, but I have faith in myself that I will be successful.

He strongly feels that discussing various problems affecting adolescents is not enough and that everyone needs to act on them in order to initiate change.