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David Gee, UK Cop raised funds for building proper schools in Punjab

 

UK cop raised funds for building proper schools in Punjab

Seham, Jalandhar, January 12, 2008
Darshan Sahota

In 2001, David Gee, retired as head of criminal investigation department, Derbyshire, UK went to Punjab along with his Sikh NRI friend Balbir Singh's native village Seham in Jalandhar district. He was shocked to see the dilapidated government school. He said, "The elementary school building was virtually falling apart. There were no desks, chairs or writing implements in the school. He decided to raise money in England for Punjab children.

Gee with the help of Ravinder set up an NGO - National Youth and Education Development Organisation, Pb to construct a new building for the school and provided furniture.

Mr. Gee raised more than $80,000 in UK including by a group of mountaineers. He is also advisor to the home office on rape and sexual offences and homicide in UK.

Ravinder Singh Kang, who is in charge of the Seham elementary school said, ""Gee is considered a godsend and is very highly respected in the area." The children love him and he is addressed as 'gora' (white man) in the village.

Two more schools in the surrounding villages of Awanchaharmi and Kang Sahboo are being constructed and should be operational very soon

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Dilapidated and crying for basic infrastructure, these schools were adapted by Gee who, apart from raising the infrastructure, also provided for the required number of teachers in the school.

The task of improving school education in rural Punjab to the extent possible has now become a mission of his life. Residents and NRIs from these villages have also started chipping in with their share after being motivated by the efforts of a “Gora” (White man as children call him).

He is now advisor to the home office on rape and sexual offences and homicide in UK.

“I was appalled to see the building of government school in Seham during my visit here with my NRI friend Balbir Singh from this village and I decided to do something for the children here,” he recalled.

First he mulled the idea to adapt one poor but intelligent child for sponsoring his education but it enlarged into adapting the entire school. Apart from contributing from his own pocket, he started raising funds for the school by forming an NGO “Village Seham School appeal,” he told TOI.

He got constructed a new building for the school and provided furniture and fans, etc. In fact, what started as an effort for one school, soon took the neighbouring school also in its hug. The NGO, now named Child and Youth Development Organization, is collaborating with a local NGO “Reach” and schools here have already received funds to the tune of about Rs 40-50 lakhs from UK.

“My mission in life is that every student should get proper education and financial constraints should not hinder their growth. Education should be available to all without any consideration for the paying ability of the student,” he said adding that he was trying to motivate NRIs to contribute in this endeavour.

It is not just the infrastructure over which he has invested. He also employed teachers wherever required and also started giving scholarships to poor children. “Their families should have no reason to withdraw the children from the schools,” he said. Gee teaches basics of English and mathematics during his visits here.

“My parents were not very keen to let me continue studies, but as I am getting scholarship of Rs 200 per month, they have no qualms about my continuing in the school,” said Pooja Rani, daughter of a daily wager and a student of standard VI in elementary school in Singhpur Dona.

“Strength of students in our school has now risen and people are more aware about educating their children,” said Rakesh Kumar Aggrawal, a teacher in elementary school at Singh Dona. “Gee goes from door to door motivating residents of the villages to send their wards to school regularly,” revealed Baljit Singh, another teacher.

 

 

 



UK Cop, David Gee raised funds for building proper schools in Punjab

  • Gee goes from door to door motivating residents of the villages to send their wards to school regularly