Shree Raj Ashram Shala

Our place is right on the Veraval Kodinar Highway in Prabhas Patan. It's been here a good while now and people around Veraval know where to find us. Living and learning in an ashram shala is different than a regular city school because we spend so much time together. The traffic on the highway goes by all day but inside the gates it's mostly just the sound of kids talking or doing their chores. We don't have fancy stuff here but we make do with what we've got. The morning starts early for everyone. Sometimes the dusty wind comes off the road and we have to sweep more often than we like. It’s a simple life for the students and the staff. We look after the grounds and try to keep things orderly. People stop by sometimes when they’re heading towards the temple area. We just focus on the daily routine. There’s always a lot to do, like fixing a leaky tap or making sure the kitchen has enough grain for the week. It’s not a quiet place because there are always voices around, but it feels like a community. We’ve seen many kids come through these doors and move on to bigger towns. It's just a regular part of life here in this corner of Gujarat. We do our work, the sun sets over the highway, and we get ready to do it all again tomorrow. It isn't always easy, but we're here every day.