Going to School in a Mud Desert
Ganatar, Little Rann of Kutchh, Gujarat

"This desert makes walking children look like giants!"
Ramesh, age 22

Every year, the monsoons turn the desert into a sea. Water levels rise as high as you and me. When the rain stops, the water slowly sinks into the ground, leaving salt behind. Saltpan workers and their families move into the desert to make salt. They build houses and install pumps to bring salty water from under the ground into surface basins; water that will crystallize into six-sided salt cubes. Children move into the desert with their families and while their families work, they go to school.

Going to School in the Dark
Barefoot College, Tilonia, Rajasthan

"You might not know that children go to school in the dark."
Gamlesh, age 12

When other children go to school, many girls in India stay home to look after their younger brothers and sisters; they help with the housework and in the fields. As the sun sets, they emerge from their houses to walk each other to school in the fading light. Electricity here is erratic at best, and the girls go to school lit by the light of solar lanterns. All the girls who go to school here are members of an elected children's parliament - the girls run their own schools and decide what their school can be.

Going to School on Wheels
Sanchar, Kolkata, West Bengal

"My wheelchair can fly into the sky!"
Haider, age 12

Haider goes to school in his wheelchair. Every morning, Haider's friends arrive at his house 30 minutes before school begins. Deciding who gets to push Haider today, they tip the wheelchair back onto its two big black wheels and are off! Haider lives one kilometre away from Raspunja Free Primary School. One kilometre was a long way for Haider, when he didn't have wheels. In fact, one kilometre was so far that Haider didn't go to school until he was given a wheelchair. Now he wheels wherever the boys take him, and they take him everywhere.

Going to School on a Mountaintop
Save the Children UK & Leh Nutrition Project, Leh, Ladakh

"Skarma means Skarma, it also means star."
Skarma, age 9

Going to School on a Mountaintop means you have to be able to climb. Skarma knows how to climb, so does his friend Sonam - it is how they get to school. You have to be able to climb if your school is nestled in the mountains. There is no electricity in this school or in the village, but in the summer months this does not matter - school moves outside where there is plenty of light. Today, high in the mountains where India touches Tibet, 29 children are learning about their world and playing hide-and-seek in the bright, cold sunlight.

Going to School in a Tribe
Tarjasinghi Village, Gajapati District, Saura Tribe, Orissa

"Saura people live high in the hills away from the town."
Sagarika, age 10

The children of the Saura tribe go to school in their village on the hills. They learn to count with sticks and use an abacus made of mud. All the tribal children know how to use a bow and an arrow, so even at school they learn to identify letters by throwing an arrow on the correct letter on a string. They are taught trading in the market place.

Going to School on a Boat
Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh

"When I step on the land, I still feel I am on the sea...the land wobbles!"
Veera Veni, age 8

Veera Veni, Durga Devi and Dana Laxmi live on a boat in coastal Andhra Pradesh. It's their home, their family lives on it, it's where they cook, eat and sleep. Every morning they ride on the boat to go to school on the mainland. School is under a thatched roof and has no walls. Today they are learning how to post letters in the post box and how to make dolls out of coconuts.

Going to School in the Lake
MPS School Koli Mohala, Kashmir

"Of all the things in the world, I love Kashmir the most."
Zahida Jahaan, age 12

Zahida lives on an island in the middle of a lake and her school is also in the middle of a lake, in a small village. Everyday Zahida goes to school with her sister Masarat in a Shikara. They learn how to keep the lake clean and about things that live in the water. They even have Shikara races in School.

Going to School on the Streets
Butterflies, Old Delhi

"Everyday I save Rs. 10 in the Butterflies bank. It is good to save!"
Ramesh, age 12

These street children live in a shelter in Old Delhi and go to school from 8 am to 1 pm. After school, Ramesh goes to a newspaper meeting where they make a newspaper with articles to make street children aware of their rights. They also write stories about these children. Everyday they save the money they earn in the bank run by the organization that provides them shelter.

Going to School in a Monastery
Ladakh

"Buddha said that it was best not to swear, you should never kill and please don't throw stones at glass windows."
Lobzang Namgal, age 10

Lobzang Namgal lives in a monastery in Ladakh. It is his home and his school. At school they learn Buddha's teachings, other subjects and they play too. The children even take part in preparing the meals, serving food and washing dishes.

Going to School in a Bus
Doorstep School, Bombay

"My school is in a bus! It is a big white car with its name written in blue."
Saddam, age 11

Saddam lives on a corner on a busy street in Mumbai - he lives under a plastic sheet with his mother and three brothers. But he loves going to school. Saddam goes to school in a bus - Saddam's school actually is in a bus! Every morning, it arrives at the market across from where he lives. At school he reads books, solves puzzles, and plays on musical instruments with his friends. When he grows up he would like to be a movie star, but right now, he's going to school.