Here is a sample of the responsibilities Deepak has at Hunar Ghar….

1) General manager- making sure staff turn up, work etc.

2) Planning lessons for 8 classes (110 kids) with the teachers.

3) Training teachers on Saturdays & organising external training.

4) Liaising with community and sorting out any issues they raise.

5) Supply teacher

6) Purchaser of firewood to cook with (more difficult than it sounds)

7) Purchaser of food

8 ) Purchaser of teaching materials for kids

9) The face of Educate for Life in India- networking with some of our friends in the country.

10) Accountant

11) Volunteer co-ordinator

12) Building work supervisor

13) Payment officer

I think a few things are apparent from this list (which, I should point out doesn’t include his responsibilities toward himself, his family or friends)…

1) He has more work than is humanly possible to do well.

2) He works ridiculously hard and needs support.

3) He’s good at taking on responsibilities but not delegating them.

4) Related to the above, perhaps the rest of the staff aren’t taking enough ownership of the project.

We’ve been trying incredibly hard to find people to support Deepak over the past few years, but up till now haven’t had much sustainable success. Over the coming weeks we’ll be working with two staff members who are already familiar to the area and our work- Preeti & Gopal.

Preeti is one of the teachers who we see a lot of potential in. She’s just had a baby, so it seems like a good opportunity to shift her role a little on her return. As she’s very organised and quite reliable we feel she could be in charge of account keeping, making sure all the rooms & kitchen are tidy and fully stocked, as well as helping with the teaching.

Gopal has been a staff member of RBKS for many years in the area, but due to a restructuring of some of RBKS’s projects is now available to shift over to us. We know that he’s capable and hard working, and Deepak already has a strong relationship and friendship with him as they worked together before Deepak joined Educate for Life- so hopefully the move will be positive. We’re hoping that he’s another who can take on a significant proportion of what Deepak does- purchasing food, wood, classroom materials etc. Going on home visits, helping support Deepak in managing the teachers, overseeing building work etc…

This means that hopefully Deepak, along with Ina and Ruhani who are joining over the coming weeks, will be freed up to focus their attention on the educational side of things- this is what Deepak’s good at and enjoys & it’s about time he gets to focus more fully on that.