No Resource Is Waste If It Can Help Educate a Child
No Resource Is Waste If It Can Help Educate a Child No Resource Is Waste If It Can Help Educate a Child June 17 , 2026 Open Eyes Foundation Where It All Began The idea behind Open Eyes Foundation did not begin with an office, a project, or an organization. It began with a question. While working as a teaching intern in a government school in Bhiwani, Sandeep Kumar noticed that many children wanted to learn but lacked basic educational resources. Some students did not have notebooks. Others did not have pens, pencils, or study materials. When teachers asked them to write, many remained silent, not because they were unwilling to learn, but because they simply did not have the resources. Wanting to help, Sandeep started supporting a few children from his own pocket. But as he interacted with more students and families, he realized that the problem was much bigger than he had imagined. Many children want to learn but lack basic educational resources. Usable books often become scrap or remain unused after the academic year. Old books, notebooks, and study materials can still support learning. Raddi Se Shiksha gives educational resources a second life. The Birth Of Raddi Se Shiksha After completing his internship and returning to Chandigarh, Sandeep continued seeing the same reality in schools and underserved communities. Then one simple question changed everything: What happens to books after the academic year ends? The answer was surprising. While many children were struggling to access educational resources, thousands of usable books were being sold as scrap or left unused in homes. One side had children who needed books. The other side had books that needed children. The gap between the two led to the beginning of a small effort that would later become Open Eyes Foundation. As Sandeep started collecting books from homes, he realized that educational resources do not lose their value simply because their first purpose has ended. A book does not become waste because one child has finished reading it. A notebook does not become waste because an academic session has ended. As long as an educational resource can help someone learn, it still has value. This simple realization gave birth to a belief that continues to guide the work of Open Eyes Foundation today: No Resource Is Waste If It Can Help Educate a Child. What may seem old, unused, or no longer needed in one home can become a source of knowledge, opportunity, and hope for another child. A storybook can spark curiosity. A notebook can support learning. A reference book can help a student continue their educational journey. The value of an educational resource is not determined by its age, but by its ability to continue supporting learning. This belief eventually led to the creation of Raddi Se Shiksha, an initiative that gives a second life to used books and educational resources by connecting them with children who need them. What started as a small effort gradually grew into a movement supported by volunteers, donors, schools, and communities. Today, the mission remains the same: to ensure that educational resources continue supporting learning instead of becoming waste. Because sometimes a book saved from scrap is more than a book. It is an opportunity. It is knowledge. It is hope. And sometimes, it is the reason a child continues learning. “ “Every book saved from being discarded creates another chance for a child to learn, dream, and build a brighter future.” Blog & News Others Blog & News SEE ALL BLOG & NEWS
When Children Could Not Reach Books, Books Reached Them
When Children Could Not Reach Books, Books Reached Them When Children Could Not Reach Books, Books Reached Them June 08 , 2026 Open Eyes Foundation A Library On Wheels In 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic brought the world to a standstill, schools were closed, children were confined to their homes, and education moved online. While many children continued learning through digital devices, thousands of children from underserved communities were left behind. They had no access to online learning and, more importantly, no access to books. This reality raised an important question: If children cannot reach books, can books reach children? At Open Eyes Foundation, we had already been working with children through educational resource reuse initiatives. During the pandemic, we saw that many children had no books at home beyond their school textbooks. Storybooks, comics, biographies, science books, and general knowledge books were simply absent from their lives. Without access to books, children had fewer opportunities to develop curiosity, imagination, reading habits, and independent learning. The answer led to the birth of Gyaan Ka Safar, a mobile library initiative designed to take books directly to children. What started as a response to a crisis gradually evolved into a long-term educational initiative. Instead of waiting for children to visit a library, the library began visiting children. Today, Gyaan Ka Safar operates through two mobile libraries carrying more than 4,000 books. Every month, the mobile libraries visit schools, NGOs, and underserved communities, providing children with free access to storybooks, comics, biographies, science books, moral stories, and general knowledge books. The process is simple. Children borrow books, read them over the next thirty days, and return them during the next visit. Fresh books are then issued, keeping the reading journey active throughout the year. Books reached children when classrooms could not. Two mobile libraries carry over 4,000 books every month. Children borrow, read, and exchange books every 30 days. 60+ schools and communities now receive regular library visits. Creating Readers, One Visit At A Time For many students, the arrival of the library van became one of the most exciting days of the month. They eagerly returned previously issued books and looked forward to selecting new ones. Reading became more than an activity it became something they anticipated and genuinely enjoyed. The need for Gyaan Ka Safar became even clearer as we visited schools. In many places, libraries were either unavailable, contained very limited books, or remained locked and inaccessible to students. As a result, children rarely had opportunities to explore books beyond their textbooks. Gyaan Ka Safar was created to bridge this gap. Each year, the initiative reaches more than 60 schools, NGOs, and communities, helping thousands of children gain access to books that inspire curiosity, creativity, imagination, and lifelong learning. The impact of the initiative was recognized nationally when Prime Minister Narendra Modi mentioned the mobile library in Mann Ki Baat. Following this recognition, the State Bank of India supported the initiative by donating a Force Traveller vehicle, strengthening our ability to reach even more children with books. At its heart, Gyaan Ka Safar is built on one simple belief: Every child deserves access to books. Because when children gain access to books, they gain access to ideas, imagination, knowledge, and possibilities. Sometimes, a single book can open the door to a future a child never knew existed. “ “When children cannot reach books, books must find their way to every child..” Blog & News Others Blog & News SEE ALL BLOG & NEWS
From Beneficiary to Changemaker
From Beneficiary to Changemaker From Beneficiary to Changemaker June 02 , 2026 Open Eyes Foundation When Hope Found Sujal Sujal’s life was never easy. He lost his mother on the day he was born. A few years later, he lost his father due to illness. After that, the only person who stood by him was his grandmother, whom he lovingly calls “Maa.” His grandmother worked very hard to raise him. She served tea to employees in a bank and did everything she could to ensure Sujal continued his education. Because of her efforts, he studied in a private school until Class 5 and later continued in a government school. Sujal was an active child who loved participating in school activities. He was not a topper, but he was sincere, hardworking, and loved by his teachers. Then came the COVID-19 lockdown. Schools closed and classes shifted online. For Sujal, this was a difficult time. His family could not afford a smartphone for online classes. There were days when he felt like giving up his studies and helping his grandmother earn a living instead. But help came at the right time. The manager of the bank where his grandmother worked arranged a phone for him, and his aunt helped with the recharge expenses. Because of their support, Sujal was able to continue his education. While Sujal was in Class 9, another important moment came into his life. One day, he noticed a van entering the school campus. Later, he was called to the principal’s office. Feeling nervous, he wondered what had happened. There, he met Mr. Sandeep Kumar, Founder of Open Eyes Foundation. Through the Foundation’s Naya Savera initiative, Sujal received books, notebooks, stationery, and educational support from Class 9 until he completed Class 12. More importantly, he found someone who believed in him and encouraged him to keep moving forward. Education support helped Sujal continue his studies. One opportunity changed the direction of his life. Naya Savera stood beside him from Class 9 to 12. A beneficiary today inspires and supports other children. Giving Back To The Journey The support gave him confidence and hope. Slowly, he started believing that his dreams were possible. After completing his studies, Sujal got a job as an accountant. However, he soon realized that he wanted to help children facing challenges similar to those he had once experienced. Today, Sujal works with Open Eyes Foundation, the same organization that once supported him as a student. The child who once needed help is now helping others. His journey shows that sometimes a small act of support can change a person’s life forever. With the right guidance, encouragement, and opportunity, even the most difficult situations can be turned into stories of hope. Today, Sujal continues to spread hope and inspire young students facing challenges similar to those he once faced. His story is a reminder that no dream is too big when someone believes in you and gives you a chance to succeed. “ “Sometimes, one opportunity is all it takes to transform a life..” Blog & News Others Blog & News SEE ALL BLOG & NEWS