Alam Islamic English School

Alam Islamic English School is right in the heart of Baigawadi on Road Number 13 in Govandi West. We are at Plot Number 34, Line J, using Room Numbers 1 and 2. It’s a very crowded area in Mumbai, and space is hard to come by. Our school is small and the rooms are packed with benches and blackboards. You can hear the noise of the street all day long—rickshaws, people talking, and the general buzz of Govandi. We have to be very organized to make sure everyone fits and can hear the teacher. The kids come from the local lanes and they know the way around perfectly. We don't have a playground, so the children mostly stay in the rooms or stand in the corridor during their breaks. The walls are painted white but they get dirty quickly because so many people are moving through. We keep our records in metal cupboards to keep them safe from the damp. The teachers are mostly women from the neighborhood who understand the struggles of the families here. We teach in English because that’s what parents want for their children’s future. It’s a humble place, and we work with what we have. There are no fancy gadgets, just books, chalk, and hard work. We are part of this community and we see the same faces every day at the gate. We just keep going.