Gagan Deep's story

Gagan Deep Singh is a special needs teacher in the district of Jaisalmer in Rajasthan, India. He received training at the National Institute for the Visually Handicapped, India’s leading training centre in this field.

Every child is different and I enjoy creating a development programme that is unique to that child.

Gagan’s role includes counselling families to ensure they fully understand the potential of their child, and how they can provide support at home. This certainly worked in the case of twelve-year-old Jetha, whose father Sujan Ram didn’t realise he could send his blind son to school.

Gagan’s role includes counselling families to ensure they fully understand the potential of their child, and how they can provide support at home. This certainly worked in the case of twelve-year-old Jetha, whose father Sujan Ram didn’t realise he could send his blind son to school.

But ensuring they go to school is just one part of our education work. In order to flourish children need supportive families and specially trained teachers, as well as learning equipment such as Braillers and low vision devices.

Getting the right support

Before he was identified by our partner Urmul Marusthali Bunkar Vikas Samiti (UMBVS) with whom Gagan works, Jetha stayed at home all day while his brother was at school. Gagan taught Jetha skills such as how to use a white cane. He also helped Jetha’s father understand how his son would benefit from an education.

Jetha now goes to his local school, which he really enjoys. He likes reciting his times tables to the rest of his class. Gagan visits him every week to provide support. “There’s no reason why Jetha cannot progress in his education further once he leaves primary school,” he says. “I’ll be there to help him.”