The passionate teacher and social worker leads a transformative journey for children, especially girls, through the Subah Trust
Mohammad Alamullah | Clarion India
PUNE — Yasmin Junaid, a passionate teacher and social worker, is on a mission not just for social work, but for social upliftment. Through her trust, the Support of Brotherhood and Humanity (Subah Trust), she is striving to make a significant impact on the lives of children, particularly girls, by focusing on their education and overall empowerment.
Yasmin’s journey into the world of education and social work is an inspiring one. Despite achieving success in her career and personal life, she felt something was missing. “Even after working for such a long time, there was a feeling that something was missing,” she told Clarion India over the phone. After moving to Pune and gaining some free time, she decided to pursue her passion for teaching — a dream she had put on hold due to family responsibilities.
“After my father’s death, I had to focus on supporting my family, and my passion for teaching took a back seat,” she explained. Yasmin continued her education while juggling small jobs and later returned to college after 16 years. “I took the step towards fulfilling my passion by doing a BEd,” she added.
Yasmin’s determination to make a difference led her to teach at various schools, starting with WR Khan Sahib’s school in Ram Tekdi, a slum area. She has been working at her current school, an English-medium institution with over 800 students, since 2014. “Many of the children come from underprivileged backgrounds. Parents want their children to study in English medium schools, even if they don’t speak English themselves,” she said.
She recognised that simply teaching academics wasn’t enough. Yasmin felt it was crucial to understand the challenges each child faced. “I wanted to know why the child is upset, what kind of situation they are facing,” she shared. To offer more support, she started a library in her school. “I wanted the children who weren’t in my class to come and talk to me during recreation period,” she said. With great effort, the library now boasts a collection of 1,400 books in various languages, including Hindi, Marathi, English, and Urdu. Yasmin mentioned, “Many children take Urdu books for their mothers, as they know only Urdu.”
Her efforts extend beyond the classroom. Yasmin encourages children to read and engage with books actively. “I proposed to the principal that every child should read at least two books a year and write a comment on one to present to the class. This will help the child study the book carefully and build confidence to speak in public,” she explained.
Yasmin also advocates for the correct use of technology, especially artificial intelligence (AI). “Even educated people fear the expanding scope of AI. My team and I visit schools to counsel children that there is no need to fear AI. By understanding it, we can use AI properly,” she said. Yasmin believes that education should nurture a child’s thinking ability, not just their textbook knowledge.
Her work doesn’t stop at teaching; Yasmin also addresses broader issues in education. “I want teachers to understand that each child has a unique ability,” she said, advocating for a more personalised approach to teaching. She emphasised that children should not be pressured to follow predetermined career paths, especially when their interests lie elsewhere. “For instance, if a child is interested in the arts, then do not push him towards medicine or engineering,” she said.
In her quest to improve education, Yasmin has initiated training programs for teachers to better understand the problems children face, such as learning disorders like dyslexia and dyscalculia. “If teachers are trained to recognise and address these issues, they can better support their students,” she explained.
Through Subah Trust, Yasmin’s commitment to education extends to addressing the needs of children who dropped out of school during the pandemic. She, along with the Bharjak Foundation, organised a campaign to help these children complete their 10th grade. “We arranged for free exams for children who were unable to attend school. Ten children passed the SSC exam and are now continuing their studies in college,” she said.
Yasmin’s vision for Subah Trust is clear: “We aim to equip poor children with the jewel of education, with the help of like-minded NGOs,” she stated. She believes that the solution to many societal problems lies in education, and she is dedicated to ensuring every child has access to learning, no matter their background.
Yasmin’s work also includes authoring books based on her experiences in the field of education. “I have seen that some children can write but cannot read. We need to focus on improving reading skills,” she said. Her work continues to inspire both children and teachers, showing that education is a tool that can break down barriers and transform lives.
Through her efforts, Yasmin Junaid proves that education is not just about learning — it’s about shaping better futures, one child at a time.
