Srinagar: When the whole world was battling with COVID-19 pandemic, people from various backgrounds, professions stood up to play their role to help the poor, needy and underprivileged.
Kashmir was no exception to that, one such example is Shayista Mukhtar Reshi, the daughter of soil who came up with a plan to help poor students by applying modern advanced technological interventions for teaching students from economically weaker sections of the society.
Shayista, an English teacher by profession, was approached by many students and sought her help amid COVID-19 pandemic.
It was then an idea popped up to launch an educational Youtube channel to help the poor students.
Though she had to face many challenges, especially uploading and downloading lectures was very difficult with 2G internet speed, but she still did it for a noble cause.
“Last year in April 2020 amid COVID-19 pandemic when I launched my Youtube Channel “Grab Knowledge With Shayista Reshi”, I tried to upload my lecturers on English prose, poetry, grammar, writing skills and motivational videos to keep the spirit of students high,” says Reshi, who is currently working as an English teacher in a private school in Gupkar area in Srinagar.
Today she has 1.47K subscribers and has uploaded 75 videos so far.
Hailing from central Kashmir’s Srinagar district Sonawar area, Shayista confesses that running a Youtube channel was not easy for her, as she had no expertise on the subject and had not enough knowledge of online teaching tools.
“Initially I started with just using pen and paper for teaching. As the time passed, I brought changes in my teaching methods,” she says.
She gradually used power point presentations and animated apps also.
Then she used social media platforms to provide free textbooks and study material to poor and needy students.
“I didn’t confine myself to only teaching. Rather I launched a campaign on social media for collecting and donating free textbooks and study material,” she says.
While expressing her gratitude to the students, friends, colleagues and Aakash Institute for making it happen, Shayista says their contribution in collecting and donating textbooks and study material is worth mentioning.
“Without their support it was not possible to provide free books to underprivileged students,” he said.
She claims that “her YouTube lectures were very fruitful for the students as they could watch the same lecture many times.”
Shayista has done her schooling from Woodland at Shivpora Srinagar, and finished her Bachelors in Business Administration from Sikkim Manipal University Kolkata. She pursued her Masters in Commerce from IGNOU, and B.Ed from University of Kashmir.
Reshi was also approached by a few females for guiding them in improving communication skills.
“Since Jan 2021, I am also taking their online classes free on Zoom app,” she says.
Not limiting herself only to teaching, she is currently working on podcasts.
“My podcasts are based on “motivation” and are available on “Spotify and Anchor,” she says.
She is also planning to conduct workshops on “Lifeskills”.
“People at times may encourage you, but then there will be those also who will also try to discourage you. All you need to keep in mind is to work for the betterment of society without vested interests,” she said.
“People always blame authorities for not taking initiatives. Have we ever tried to do anything for the betterment of society?” she questioned.
The multi-talented female says people should stop blaming and start working.(RK)
