Empowering Futures: Sananda Dey Sarkar's Journey in Education

Social worker like Sananda Dey Sarkar, chairperson of Future X Academy Trust for 15 years, is focusing on the education of children from underprivileged families in Kolkata, she is inspired by what Nelson Mandela had once said: "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." She also believes “Every student can learn just not on the same day or in the same way.”- George Evans.

Sananda is focused on expanding the FutureX Academy. She also wants to expand the franchise under it which is the Abacus Learning franchise. She aims to extend its reach across various regions in India and internationally, providing affordable Abacus training. This initiative is dedicated to fostering children’s cognitive development and ensuring that high-quality education is accessible to more families. Ultimately, her vision is to see her institution grow and thrive, spreading the impact of education and showcasing the success story of Future-X Academy Trust as a role model for others in society.

Introduction:

Sananda Dey Sarker graduated and completed formal computer education from NIIT, after that, she worked in several computer-related jobs. Eventually, she became a coordinator at an ICSE School, where she had significant responsibilities. However, she felt a deeper calling to connect with students on a more personal level. Driven by her passion for working with children and teaching, she decided to start her preschool. To further enhance her teaching skills, she also completed Abacus training, allowing her to teach Brain Math to her students. This journey has allowed her to fulfill her dream of making a meaningful impact on young minds, nurturing their growth and development from an early age. Sananda is pursuing a PGDM in Learning Disability to understand and support children with diverse learning needs. 

When she was seven years old, she was sent to a hostel. As a timid child, she gained only fear from the learning experience, which led her to believe that learning should never be fearful. This encourages her to continue in the field of teaching. 

She believes that “First, if a student is not comfortable in the classroom, how can they receive any education effectively? Second, every child's ability to understand and process information is different, so how can a one-size-fits-all approach to education work for everyone? Third, we often compare children and decide early on what they can or cannot do. How can we predict anyone's future abilities or potential based on their childhood? Degrees do not determine careers. I've seen many talented individuals without formal degrees. We can never fully know someone's potential until they are given a chance”. She added “As teachers and members of society, we should be careful about the comments we make about children. Her own experiences drove me to this profession”. 

Driven by this passion, she decided to start her institute, launching an Abacus franchise called Key Miles. On 1st January 2010, they were honored as the highest prize winner for achievements. By 2012,  and 2013, Future-X Academy launched its brand of Abacus and partnered with several English medium schools in Kolkata. Every month, they began training approximately 1,500 students.

To further her mission of supporting education for underprivileged children, a big milestone, she registered a trust dedicated to providing English-medium schooling for those who cannot afford it. This commitment led her to purchase a decent piece of land where they are building a new school, offering these children a chance at a brighter future, which was a big milestone and achievement for her in this journey. Through these efforts, she aims to make a meaningful impact on young minds, nurturing their growth and development from an early age.

Challenges and Achievements:

As the trustee of Future-X Academy Trust, to run a Primary school and abacus classes, Sananda and her team have faced several significant challenges over the years. One of the biggest challenges was the COVID-19 pandemic. This period tested their resilience but also taught valuable lessons in remote learning, training teachers in technology, and adapting the methods to ensure continuous education for their students.

Another ongoing challenge for Sananda is securing finance, to support underprivileged kids. Providing school supplies, and uniforms, and covering other expenses requires substantial funding, and it's a constant effort to find sustainable financial resources. Additionally, they are in the process of constructing a new school building, which adds another layer of financial need. They are actively looking for donors and exploring various avenues to raise funds for this project. Despite these challenges, their commitment to providing quality education and supporting their students remains unwavering.

In 2010, she embarked on this journey, and where she stands in 2024 tells the story of her dedication and passion for education. Today, their academy teaches over 50 children in their primary school, where there is no discrimination between privileged and underprivileged children. Their vision is education without barriers for all children.

Future X also provides Abacus classes to around 1,500 students as part of their school routine across leading schools in Kolkata. Additionally, they have expanded their franchises beyond their city to Mumbai and Pune.

In every step they take, they are committed to working on meaningful causes for society. Additionally, they established their education trust, and they are proud to have earned ISO9001 certification in education, a rare and prestigious recognition. They have also purchased land for their future school and are in the process of landscaping, bringing her closer to realizing her lifelong dream of owning and running a school. Through these efforts, she aims to create a meaningful impact on young minds, nurturing their growth and development from an early age.

For her entrepreneurial skills, she won the Global Fame Awards 2024, the Best Social Women Entrepreneur Awards on 1st February 2024, and Ek Nari so pe Bhari, Social Entrepreneur of the Year on 9th February 2024.

Personal Insights:

Maintaining a balance between career and personal life is not a skill to master in a day. It is a continuous process of growth and adaptation. Each day brings new challenges, and it's up to us to understand how to navigate them. Every high and low offers a unique lesson, and it is crucial to keep an open mind to learn from these experiences.

Raising her son single-handedly while managing the business was not easy. She had to make choices about priorities and determine what was most important at any given time. Since she couldn’t spend a lot of time with her son, she focused on providing quality time instead. She worked diligently on instilling a strong value system in him, believing that quality outweighs quantity. She ensured he understood the importance of making good decisions, even in her absence. She gave him the freedom to choose what he wanted to learn, and never compared him to others, recognizing his unique individuality. Now, as an adult with a job, he embodies the values instilled in him during his childhood and is poised to help others.

In her workplace, she also invests in training the teachers and taking care of their personal and professional well-being. She sees them as the pillars of the institution and believes in giving them the freedom to work effectively. She emphasizes integrity and empathy, as these are key to nurturing children unconditionally. She is an integral part of her team, always available when they need support. She visits all schools to ensure everything is running smoothly.

To achieve balance, she merged her personal and professional worlds. Her son respects the teachers in the academy, and the teachers care for her son. Over time, this integration has made balancing the two aspects of her life much easier. By aligning her personal and professional values, she has created a harmonious environment where both can thrive.

Impact and Vision:

Sananda’s leadership style is collaborative and empathetic. She believes in working closely with the community, understanding their needs, and involving them in the decision-making process. She strives to create an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and heard. Empowerment is central to her approach; she aims to build the capacity of her team and the community members so they can take ownership of the initiatives. Fostering a sense of shared responsibility and encouraging open communication, can collectively drive meaningful change and improve educational opportunities for the children served.

Sananda is now working on the following project:

• Enhancing Their Preschool with Technology: Sananda is focused on transforming her existing preschool into a technology-rich environment. This involves integrating advanced educational tools and resources, ensuring teachers and students become proficient and comfortable with modern technology. Their goal is to create a dynamic learning atmosphere that prepares students for a tech-driven future.
• Developing Future School Campus: Sananda and her team are diligently working on developing the future school campus. This includes comprehensive landscaping, innovative design planning, and securing necessary funding. Finding one or multiple donors to support this significant project is crucial, and they are actively seeking partnerships to bring this vision to fruition.
• Elevating Quality Standards: Following the recent achievement of ISO9001 certification for process improvement, they are dedicated to maintaining and enhancing their quality standards. This certification underscores their commitment to excellence, and they continuously strive to refine the processes to provide the highest quality education.

Conclusion:

Sananda's advice to young women who want to pursue a career in social work, particularly in the field of education for underprivileged children, is to stay passionate and resilient. This work can be challenging, but it is incredibly rewarding. Always remember that every small effort counts and can make a significant difference in the lives of the children you serve. Build strong relationships with the community, seek continuous learning, and stay empathetic. Dedication and perseverance can create lasting change and inspire others to join the cause. Connect with kids, and know each kid as each kid is different. One degree is not enough to teach every kid. Every day is a learning day. "Problems are a part of life, but how you face them is the art of life."