Shobha Chauhan has lived in Dyaneshwar Nagar for 10 years, but was introduced to Oasis only last year when she was persuaded by a friend to join the self help group. Initially, she was apprehensive and didn't want to invest in the Federation, but after much encouragement from her neighbours and the community workers, she gave in. Today, she is the group leader and is also enrolled in the English conversation classes run by Oasis in the community.
 
As Shobha got more involved in the community, she developed a desire to teach and Oasis put her through a teachers training programme and she continues to receive monthly input from the Oasis' Education Department as she teaches in the pre school. "The training and input provides me with good input for effective teaching" she says. "I know the importance of flash cards, repetition through songs and visual aids and to make teaching easier for the children and teacher". Shobha is happy that she is able to pass on to other children what she has learnt from Oasis.
 
Shobha enjoys teaching and hopes that one day the pre school would expand into a bigger school for older children as well. "Many of the parents are manual labourers and are unable to attend to their children. If we could begin schooling for them within the community, it would help provide a future to them" says the ambitious mother of three.