First Step School

Our little school is tucked away near Uma Char Rasta in the Waghodia area of Vadodara. It’s a busy intersection, so there is always something going on outside our doors. We called it First Step because that’s really what it is for the kids who come here. Most of them are quite young, so there is a lot of running around and crying in the mornings when they first arrive. You get used to the noise after a while. We spend a lot of time just sitting on the floor with them or helping them with their lunch boxes. The building isn't huge, but we make the most of the space we have. It feels more like a house than a big institution. The staff here are mostly local ladies who know the families in the area. We don't use any high-tech gadgets or complicated systems. It’s just pens, paper, and toys. Some days are harder than others, especially when it rains and the road outside gets messy. But we just keep the doors open and wait for the kids to show up. We like it this way. It’s honest work and we see the children grow up before they move on to the bigger schools in the city. There is a lot of satisfaction in seeing a kid finally learn to write their name or share their snacks. It is a simple place where the day goes by quickly while we look after the little ones.