Tag: Yusuf Meherally Centre

What does it take to build an e-bike? Money? Resources? A fancy engineering degree? What if I told you that a 14-year-old boy from a small village in Kutch built one with no formal training, no expensive tools, and barely any resources? Meet Rizwan, an 8th-grade student from Bhadreshwar, Kutch, whose passion for innovation turned his simple bicycle into a self-made e-bike. A boy who had every reason to say, “I can’t,” but instead chose to ask, “How can I?” This is the story of skill development in Kutch, where young minds turn curiosity into innovation. This is Rizwan’s story. A Childhood of Struggles, But a Mind That Never Stopped Dreaming Rizwan’s life was never easy. His single mother, who worked as a domestic help, spent her days washing dishes in different houses in Bhadreshwar to make ends meet. Money was tight. There were days when affording a meal was difficult—owning an electric bike? That was a dream too big to even think about. But Rizwan was not an ordinary child. While most kids were busy playing, he was busy fixing things. His mind was always searching, always hungry to learn. But where would he find the knowledge? Who would teach him? Well, YouTube!  When most kids are all about cartoons, anime and games, Rizwan used youtube to learn about building things like e-bikes, drones, etc. After learning about motors and technical stuff individually, now was the time to study digital skills in a collaborative environment and shine. That’s when an opportunity came as a blessing in disguise-Yusuf Mehrally Centre! A Life-Changing Opportunity: Discovering the Power of Community Learning Rizwan’s friend, Parth, who had won the Best Student award a year ago, introduced him to the Yusuf Meherally Centre—a place that provided free computer education and digital skills to students like him in a community learning environment Excited, Rizwan enrolled. Thanks to Apni Pathshala’s sponsorship of personal computers, Rizwan got access to something he had never touched before—a computer.  At first, he explored Microsoft Office, becoming an expert in Excel and Word. But his heart was in something bigger—he wanted to create something with his own hands. That’s when he decided: “I will build my own electric bicycle.” The Birth of an Idea Most kids dream of owning a fancy cycle. Rizwan? He wanted to build one. His inspiration came from a simple thought: “Why should I pedal every day when I can make my cycle run on its own?” He had seen electric vehicles in cities, but in his village, they were rare. If he could build one, it could change the way people commuted. The idea was exciting. But how do you build something without money, training, or proper tools? The Struggle: Failures and Unstoppable Determination Coming from a household with financial issues. Living in a village with few resources. Surrounded by people with little technical expertise. Of course, building an e-bike wasn’t easy. Problem #1: No Guidance There was no one in his village who could teach him about electric bikes. Even at the community learning center, they taught about advanced “digital skills” and not mechanical engineering stuff. So, what did he do? YouTube became his teacher. He watched video after video, studying how motors work, how batteries store energy, and how wiring is done. His self-taught journey highlights the importance of accessible learning and structured skill development in Kutch to nurture young talent. Problem #2: No Money for Parts Motors, batteries, controllers—these were really expensive. But Rizwan didn’t let money stop him. He started collecting old electronic parts, picking up whatever he could find. Slowly, he gathered: Problem #3: Trial and Error The first time he assembled everything, it didn’t work. He rechecked the wiring—still nothing. He tested the battery—dead. For weeks, he kept failing.  Again and again. Any other kid would have given up. But not Rizwan.“I knew it would work. I just had to find the mistake.” And then, one fine evening—it happened! The wheels finally moved on their own. Rizwan had done it. “Whose E-Bike Is This?” One morning, as the coordinator of the Yusuf Meherally Centre walked into the centre, he saw an electric bicycle parked outside. Curious, he asked, “Whose e-bike is this?”  “Sir, it’s mine,” Rizwan answered. At first, nobody believed him. I mean, I don’t blame them- How could an 8th grader build an e-bike? But when he explained the entire process–how he sourced the parts, assembled them, and fixed every issue on his own, everyone was left speechless. Rizwan had not just built an e-bike, he had built a future for himself. What’s Next?  Rizwan isn’t stopping here. They are not wrong when they say that you just need to taste success once, you’ll get addicted. Now that he has built his own e-bike, his mind is racing with bigger ideas: And his ultimate goal? To become an engineer and build solutions that help people. “I don’t just want to build things for myself. I want to create things that can make life easier for others.” May it be working on building drones or making sensors that help prevent accidents, this is just the beginning of his journey. His success story showcases how early exposure to skill development in Kutch can transform dreams into reality. Why Does Rizwan’s Story Matter? Rizwan’s story is not just about building an e-bike. It’s about proving that talent is everywhere—but opportunity is not. At Apni Pathshala and Yusuf Meherally Centre, we believe in giving every child a chance to dream, learn, and create in a community learning setup. We believe in promoting skill development to every part of the country- From Kashmir to Kanyakumari. From Assam to Kutch. And if Rizwan’s journey has inspired you, here’s how you can help more kids like him: Contact the team at ApniPathshala! Because when we invest in a child’s future, we don’t just change one life, we change generations. And who knows? The next big innovator might just be a kid waiting for one

“Sapno ka sheher”. That’s what they call Mumbai, don’t they? In 1961, one such “sapna” was seen: The Yusuf Meherally Centre! (spoiler alert- it is now a reality).  It was started with a mission to change lives through education. Over the period of time, this dream has spread its wings- going from merely education to digital education in India, reaching the hearts of children across eight states in India. Today, it stands as a pillar of hope, especially in the small village of Bhadreshwar in Kutch, Gujarat, where it has been transforming lives since 1996. The story of hope! With a degree in mass communications and no such plan of going into the field of social service, walking on destiny’s path, Mr. Dharmendra Kumar joined the Centre in 2001. He didn’t come alone. He brought a passion with him- a passion for change. The Centre welcomed children who would otherwise be lost in the shadows—kids of salt factory workers, fishermen, migrants, and industrial laborers. For these children, education wasn’t just a right, it was like a light of hope in a world that often felt dark. Imagine a place where education is completely free, where the only cost is the willingness to learn. That’s what Yusuf Meherally Centre offers to over 3,000 students- 1,000 of whom are Hindi speakers and the rest Gujarati.  But this story isn’t just about numbers, it’s about dreams. It’s about passion. It’s about using that passion to turn those dreams into reality. Bridging the Digital Gap with Apnipathshala As we all know in today’s world, technology plays a huge role in our lives. Digital education in India is the need of the hour. Basically, it won’t be wrong to say that it has become our whole life. As the center started in their early days, they noticed a problem: many government schools had computers, but they weren’t being used. Power cuts, no trained teachers, and other issues were quite frequent. Basically, these computers were just for the show. Nothing more. To fix this, the center teamed up with Apnipathshala to bring computer education to villages where kids had never even used a keyboard before. With this partnership, they targeted a village where the population is good (around 8000) with a total of 8 schools. Initially, they only taught the government-based curriculum, but with changing times they adapted to the change- teaching about new IT skills. Discussing providing kids with access to computers, if we don’t talk about Ms. Neeta Acharya, would be a great injustice. Every day, she travels 50 kilometers to learn and then teach computer skills to kids. For 1.5 hours, these kids, in batches of 35-40, are not just learning how to use a computer, they’re learning to dream. From Co-Education to Social Message Also, Yusuf Mehrally Centre is just not limited to educating kids on computers and IT skills. They are doing work beyond that as well. In a village where co-education was not quite accepted and popular, the center is bringing in the change. They understand that these children will one day step into a world where working with both genders is a necessity. To make sure that they don’t get nervous, they brought co-education in their learning pod.  By encouraging boys and girls to learn together, they’re building a future where gender is not a barrier but a bridge. If we talk about the area, this village is like many others in India mix of communities where most parents have little to no formal education. Farming, labor work, and military service are the usual and basic means to live life. For many parents, schooling looks pointless because they believe their children will end up doing the same jobs they did. But the Centre is slowly changing this mindset. And that is where their real success lies. Every Saturday, the center becomes a place for interaction and learning. Parents come along with their kids, and there’s no formal teaching on this day. Instead, older kids teach the younger ones. It’s a wonderful exchange where building leadership and confidence in these young minds is seen as the main goal. Through these children, the organization also spreads subtle yet powerful messages about important issues like alcohol addiction and domestic violence. They’re raising a generation of kids who think beyond the walls of classes. Success Story from Bhadreshwar Success stories aren’t just about grades or certificates, they’re about real change. And that is what Yusuf Mehrally Center aims at. And, their efforts don’t go into the pits. See this example of a young boy, the son of a truck driver, who became a perfect example of what education can do. He didn’t just learn and do well at the Centre, he started teaching other students too. At the center, in his school, at his home. His success wasn’t just his own, it was a win for the whole village. Everyone celebrated him, his name was on every WhatsApp status, and his parents’ proud tears told a lot more things than words could ever say. It was a moment when people realized that change wasn’t just a dream, it was happening right in front of them! Also, he isn’t just the only one. There are five other kids like him, who once sat in the classroom as just students but now also play the role of teachers and mentors. They are living proof of what the Centre believes: educate a child, and you change a life. And when you change one life, you sow the seed of transforming many such lives. Overcoming Challenges  The road to success isn’t always easy. Challenges are bound to come, that’s inevitable. But, the real success lies in how well you manage it all. Similar has been the case with Yusuf Meherally Centre. Spreading the importance of digital education in India wasn’t that easy. Initially, they faced violent protests from villagers who feared that education would disrupt their traditional ways of life. They thought if their children would