Bibek Maity is one of Dakshini Prayash’s youngest staff members at the age of 21. Bibek was originally a sponsor student who, after completing his studies, returned to work at the school. He completed the vast majority of his studies at Dakshini Prayash, from nursery all the way to Class 8. While he was a student at this school, Bibek recalls that he loved all his classes but was particularly strong in Geography. In his spare time, Bibek’s clear passion was football, and he would spend hours competing with other students in the field just outside the main school in school-organised competitions.

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Since Dakshini Prayash only offers schooling up until Class 8, Bibek received support in transferring to a government school for the next two years and finished 11th and 12th at a semi-government school. After completing his college education, he began his work at Dakshini Prayash, and he is now responsible for sales records and customer handling. He hopes to be able to pay it forward by sponsoring another underprivileged student and to give them the same resources he received.

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For Bibek, what excites him most about the school is the environment, as both the staff and students alike are very warm and respectful. While he is not always in the work mindset, spending time at the school doesn’t seem like work as his interactions with all of the community’s members are friendly. Because of Bibek’s age and therefore work inexperience, the Dakshini Prayash community remains very patient towards him! Coming back to the school is a familiar sight as many of his former teachers, such as Anubhuti Prakash—who taught him Hindi from Class 6-8—continue to work there. Dakshini Prayash has become an integral, irremovable part of Bibek’s life through the financial and emotional support it has given him since his first days at the school as a young boy, and the connections he has built with so many of its members are sure to stay with him for the rest of his life as he continues to pay it forward.

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