Mother Miracle School

January 15, 2021

Sometimes it takes a tragedy to remind you what is really important in life. Four years ago, while playing with my 11-year-old son, I fell down the stairs, broke my collarbone, and injured my back.  Due to my immune deficiency, I then contracted severe and debilitating shingles.  Soon after, I lost my job, and because I could no longer afford my mortgage, I lost my home. I was devastated.  As I began the long process of recovery, I realized that the Universe was telling me to slow down and pay attention to myself.

I had worked in the High-Tech Industry for over 20 years, putting in long hours and neglecting my health and well-being.  I began thinking about what I was doing with the life I was blessed to have.  That led me to realize that I was unsatisfied in my corporate jobs, and 20 years from now, if I did nothing to change the course of my life, I would likely still be unsatisfied.

I began thinking about what I was doing with the life I was blessed to have. That led me to realize that I was unsatisfied in my corporate job. I asked myself, What would you love to do? I loved doing non-profit work and specifically, I loved helping children. I began volunteering with Keep Children in School (KCIS) to help rebuild and renovate schools in Iran, where I am originally from.  We were able to renovate and upgrade three schools.

By chance, I met a visionary woman, Shahla Ettefagh, who had given up everything to go to India to help impoverished children by building a school. Mother Miracle, a non-profit 501(c) organization, provides free K-12 English education with an emphasis on technology, all school materials, “all you can eat” lunch, free healthcare, and extra-curricular activities like dance, music, yoga, meditation, art, and sports. Today, there are 700 students studying at the school. This school is the result of Shahla's 17 years of hard work, dedication, and love for these children.

Educating Impoverished Children of India to Become Leaders in the Digital Age

Google, Apple, and many other companies have moved away from requiring a university degree. So, the urgent need for advanced computer skills in today's workforce has become undeniable. Realizing this opportunity, Shahla decided to shift the school’s focus to educating impoverished children to become leaders in the digital age by providing free cutting-edge technology training that sets her students apart from others. To implement this vision, she expanded the equipment to 124 computers in 4 labs, with one lab dedicated to small children.  Many K-12 students in India have never seen computers, and yet at Mother Miracle in the small town of Rishikesh, 700 students work daily in the labs as part of their education. It is an incredible sight to see!

Students had been taught Computer Science (CS) since kindergarten, but did not have practical hands-on experience in the lab. Now, with 124 computers, they had started coding JavaScript in the lab using Crunchzilla, but did not understand the fundamentals of computer science and programming.

I began to teach the 4th to 9th graders the fundamentals of CS and programming with hands-on practice in the labs. I incorporated fun Learning Environments, such as Code Combat, that make learning to program fun. They were thrilled to be learning in this new way.  I realized that in order to implement the vision, we needed a whole new curriculum that included theory and practice simultaneously.

But in the little town of Rishikesh, there are no teachers to teach programming and the more advanced material. So, I created a comprehensive High-Tech curriculum that included theory and practice with online classes and certifications that could be taken individually and advanced at the student’s own pace. I also began working with the companies offering these classes and certifications to give us access for free or at significantly reduced cost.

The curriculum also included a 6-month soft-skills training after graduation, including office protocols, learning how to work with Western companies, resume building, salary negotiations, interview skills, problem resolution, and team building skills.

Unfortunately, COVID-19 came to India, and we had to evacuate.  So, we were unable to implement and test the curriculum.  It was at this point that I realized what a great opportunity this time is for me.  I can go back to school and learn the theory and practice of curriculum design and technology.  While I understood the eLearning environment for adults in corporations, I did not have the same knowledge about children’s specific learning needs and the different methodologies for building an extensive curriculum.

I believe I have finally found my calling!  I have changed careers many times, from a Finance and Accounting undergraduate degree from Berkley, to learning technology on my own and becoming a network administrator, to getting my MBA and working in High-Tech as a Marketing Manager.  None of these fields satisfied my yearning to make a difference in this world. I have always loved working with children, and this degree would allow me to address the educational needs of many impoverished children and communities in the world. What a privilege it would be to use all of my expertise to help these children.