Under Delhi's Flyover, Teen Athlete Payal Creates Open-Air School for Migrant Children
In the bustling heart of Delhi, where dreams often collide with harsh realities, a remarkable story of resilience and education is unfolding beneath the Geeta Colony flyover. At just 17 years old, Payal—a state-level athlete with aspirations of building a life beyond her neighborhood—has become an unexpected beacon of hope for children who have even fewer opportunities than she does.
From Running Track to Teaching Space
Payal should have been spending her evenings training on a running track, pursuing her athletic career after securing admission to Miranda College. However, when college fees proved too high, she made a choice that would change not just her own life but the lives of dozens of children. Despite having studied only till Class XII and currently pursuing a web designing course, she stepped forward when Delhi Police head constable Than Singh, who runs the NGO Than Singh Ki Pathshala, asked for volunteers to teach migrant children during a blanket distribution drive in January.
Since January 15, an open patch of land under the flyover has transformed into a unique open-air school. Without walls, without a roof, and without even basic washroom facilities, this makeshift classroom has become a sanctuary of learning for 34 enrolled children, with around 30 attending daily.
The Students: First-Generation Learners and Migrant Daughters
The children who gather here daily represent some of Delhi's most vulnerable populations. They include:
- Daughters of migrant labourers from Jharkhand
- First-generation learners
- Students for whom formal school attendance has never been certain
At least five girls do not attend regular schools because their families' transient lifestyle as migrant workers makes consistent education impossible. Others walk nearly 10 minutes every day just to reach this unconventional classroom.
Daily Routine and Community Spirit
Classes run from 3pm to 5pm each day, covering essential subjects like science, mathematics, and English. Children from nursery to Class VIII sit together in batches, guided by Payal and other young volunteers including Komal (20) and Anjali (19), who travel from different parts of the city to assist.
"We come from far, but it's worth it," the volunteers say. "All the parents here want their children to study. They send them no matter what."
The children themselves take ownership of their learning space. They clean the area, set up the blackboard, and line up their slippers neatly. Each day begins with smiling faces greeting their teacher with "Radhe Radhe, Didi."
Extraordinary Responsibility: Sakshi's Story
Among the students is 10-year-old Sakshi, a Class IV student who has taken on an unusual responsibility. Since many children in the area lack watches or mobile phones to track time, Sakshi goes door-to-door calling her classmates when it's time for class.
"I like studying," Sakshi says with a smile. "And I like studying with Payal didi even more." She dreams of joining the Army one day, a goal that seems more attainable through the education she receives at this open-air school.
Challenges and Simple Requests
The learning space faces significant daily challenges. The most pressing issue is the lack of washroom facilities, forcing children to step into nearby bushes when needed—sometimes barefoot, sometimes accompanied by a friend for safety.
What the children ask for most is remarkably simple: a room. "It's cold in winter, extremely hot in summer, and during the monsoon this place often gets flooded," they explain. The children often tell Payal, "Didi, hum khud room bana lenge (we can build our own classroom)."
Payal reminds them that every school starts small. She points to another school supported by the same NGO near Red Fort that began in the open and took years to develop proper infrastructure.
A Testament to Resilience
Until that day comes for proper facilities, the children continue to study under the flyover—proving that learning finds space even in the most unlikely places. Payal's journey from aspiring athlete to community teacher serves as a powerful reminder that dreams find ways to survive and adapt, creating ripples of change that extend far beyond individual aspirations.
This open-air school under Delhi's Geeta Colony flyover stands as a testament to what can be achieved when compassion meets action, demonstrating that education doesn't require four walls—just determination, community spirit, and someone willing to stand before those who need guidance most.
