While most teenagers today remain occupied with their social circles and leisure activities, a few believe that even small efforts can transform the future of hundreds of underprivileged children.These are students of Classes X to XII who, despite their hectic schedules, devote little time to teaching children from economically weaker sections at an evening school being run by the NGO Initiators of Change at Ludhiana’s Phullanwal.Among them is Vaishnavi Sethi, who recently passed Class XII from BCM Shastri Nagar with 96.2 per cent marks.An introvert by nature, Vaishnavi came across the NGO and volunteered to help needy students. She teaches children studying in Classes III and IV who come from underprivileged backgrounds.“I feel energetic and happy knowing that I am doing something meaningful for these children. From languages to Maths and Science, I teach them twice a week between 4 pm and 6 pm, and many of them have shown remarkable improvement. There are six to seven permanent teachers at the evening school, but I go there as a volunteer to assist them,” said Vaishnavi.Vaishnavi is not alone in her efforts to shape the future of several less fortunate children. Other volunteers, including Anureet, Drishti Sapra, Saanjh Kaur, Parineet, Rashmit and Harmanik Singh- all high achievers with over 90 per cent marks in their board examinations- regularly teach at the evening school, twice or thrice a week, turn by turn.However, their (volunteers) journey has not been without challenges. Several of their peers often teased them for “not enjoying life” like others their age.Anureet said volunteering at the evening school gives her immense satisfaction.“Whenever you are stressed, these children immediately sense it and try to cheer you up. They crack jokes and make you feel lighter. Over time, we have developed a strong bond. The best feeling is when their parents come to express gratitude because arranging private tuition for their children is almost impossible for them due to financial constraints. Some are the wards of daily wagers, while mothers of some work as domestic helpers, etc.,” she said.Gauravdeep Singh from Initiators of Change, the NGO that had also extended significant help to farmers during last year’s floods, said the evening school caters to students from modest family backgrounds.He added that buses had been arranged for the pick-up and drop-off of students from certain designated locations, free of cost.“These students, from Classes III to XII, attend the evening school regularly and are performing well with the support of teachers and young volunteers,” said Singh.