Diaries

Under the harsh sun of rural Haryana, where many children trade textbooks for tools long before they learn to write their names, a new story is unfolding. It did not begin in a boardroom or with a grand blueprint, but on the road, through the lens of a travel vlogger who could not ignore what he saw.

For Malappuram native P T Muhammed Saqafi, better known as Vlogger Ustad, the faces of children working in distant villages stayed with him long after the camera was switched off.

Today, those journeys have taken shape as Sukoon, a residential school that is giving dozens of underprivileged children something they were once denied: a classroom, a bed to sleep in, and the simple dignity of an education. Along with children from nearby villages in Haryana, Muhammed has brought dozens of students from remote regions in Uttar Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, Delhi and Uttarakhand. Many of them were children he encountered during his travels as a vlogger. At Sukoon, students are provided free education, food and accommodation. The institution runs entirely on crowdfunding, sustained by contributions from well-wishers.

Through the initiative, Muhammed aims to offer quality education to children who might otherwise be forced into child labour, giving them a chance to rewrite their futures. He began travel vlogging nearly two and a half years ago. His journeys took him deep into remote villages across north India, where he witnessed children working in fields during school hours for meagre wages that were vital for their families’ survival.

“For many families, school was seen as a luxury they couldn’t afford. I met countless children and elderly people who could neither read nor write,” Muhammed said. Disturbed by what he saw, he and his team started a small learning centre in Dhana village in Haryana, offering free food and basic education. The initiative received strong local support, encouraging them to envision a larger residential school.

Construction of the Sukoon Residential School began in March 2025. The ambitious project comprises two three-storey academic blocks designed to accommodate up to 600 students. Within a year, the main structure was completed. A few classrooms have been made functional for teaching, while some have been temporarily arranged as residential facilities.

“At present, we have 60 students, all boys, as we currently have accommodation only for them. These children come from underprivileged villages in Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, Delhi and Uttarakhand,” Muhammed said.

Among them are five boys from a remote village in Kashmir that can only be reached after a five-hour trek on foot. The son of a visually challenged guava farmer and children with physical disabilities are also part of the school.

“For many of them, education was never even a dream. Today, I am happy that I could play a small role in giving them the most precious asset in life,” he said. While well-equipped classrooms have been set up, the school still lacks a library, computer lab and a playground. “We are hoping that more kind-hearted people will come forward to support us, so these children can fight life’s battles with education,” he added.

A disciple of Kanthapuram A P Aboobacker Musliyar, Muhammed was working as a UI/UX designer in Delhi when he began travel vlogging, an experience that ultimately inspired the Sukoon initiative.

Featured in The New Indian Express — by Lakshmi Athira

Currently, we've admitted 60 children from six states: Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Jammu & Kashmir. Among them are children who don't even have a home, some who have lost their parents, and children with disabilities. We started the school's construction work just four months ago, on March 25th. At present, only the accommodation for 60 children, classrooms, and canteen facilities have been completed. We hope to gradually complete the remaining work and admit more children in the coming years.

Two years ago, understanding the educational backwardness in the villages of North Indian states, we started the Sukoon Learning Centers. Our aim was to get children into nearby government schools. Through these centers, we've successfully brought back over two thousand children who had dropped out of school into government schools. The Sukoon Residential School was started with the goal of completely taking on a few bright but financially disadvantaged children from these learning centers and providing them with an excellent educational environment. What we've started now in Sudaka, Haryana, is just the first phase of this initiative. We need to complete the current building and soon start a girls residential school. We also need to set up a village school for the rural community.

Statistics show that 31,068 children in Haryana alone dropped out of school this year. In Nuh district, Haryana, where our school operates, only 45% of students passed the higher secondary examination this year. These figures clearly illustrate the educational backwardness in this region. In such a situation, our school has a lot to do. Your support gives me and my colleagues great hope. Your prayers will always be there. Thank you for being with us.

I will share a detailed video once the children's uniforms are ready. We can plan the inauguration ceremony after the building construction is complete.

Thanks!

Our founder & CEO, Mr. PT Muhammed, is featured in The Indian Express for turning heartfelt storytelling into real social impact. His journey led to the launch of Sukoon Residential School in Haryana — a free school for underprivileged children. What started with travel vlogs is now building futures. Thank you to everyone who has supported this cause so far. Please read the story & be part of the change!

They have become role models in the hearts of every mother. They maintain cleanliness by bathing regularly and wearing neat clothing. Their nails are well-groomed, and they carry quality bags and water bottles. They are on a positive path and are committed to making their villages proud.

Today, we felt compelled to assess the concentration of our 21 Little Hearts. Children from socially unstable backgrounds facing the challenges of poverty. They have not been exposed to organized exercises before, yet their progress is remarkable.

Despite their circumstances, these children are proving to be resilient and focused, showing potential beyond what we expected. With patience and dedication, we are guiding them toward a brighter future, where they can reach for their dreams under the shelter of hope and opportunity.

Together, we are not just fostering concentration; we are nurturing aspirations. Yes, we are under the umbrella of Dreams.

Our dream of a school in an educationally backward and underserved village has finally taken flight on the wings of hope. Months of diligent seeking have unearthed a village whose people shall embrace this vision, cradling it close to their collective hearts, steadfast in their support. Finally, a cohort of villagers, aware of the imperative for education and desirous of enacting change within their community, has been found. It’s in Haryana. A village-wide deliberation (Gramsabha) was convened, wherein the proposal was openly discussed. The villagers have expressed unequivocal endorsement of this initiative. The residential school serves local and nearby village children for daily study and offers hostel facilities for students from remote areas and nearby states. Plans can be informed gradually.

Today, I went to meet the headmaster of the government school in Andhaka village. We asked him about his views on the village and the villagers’ commitment towards education.

The people are illiterate and poor, so they go to the agriculture fields early in the morning. Consequently, children prepare themselves and come to school on their own, often without having breakfast. To address this, the government provides breakfast and a mid-day meal to the kids.

The principal’s main concern is the lack of benches and desks. They applied for infrastructure support two years ago, but have received no response yet. As a result, students are sitting on the floor.

However, he remains optimistic that development is happening slowly but surely. Let’s hope for gold.

Mosquito nets and coolers are safeguarded for the cattle, while such privileges are not extended to their bedrooms.

This picture highlights the consideration in the treatment or provisions given to cattle versus humans in certain contexts. It suggests that measures like mosquito nets (to protect from insects) and coolers (to regulate temperature) are provided for the comfort and well-being of cattle, particularly in their living areas or enclosures. However, a similar level of provision or concern may not be extended to human bedrooms or living spaces, implying that human comfort or protection from environmental factors may not be prioritized to the same extent as for cattle.

The Insight for me from this image suggests that the villagers prioritize what sustains them, such as their cattle which provide food and revenue through milk. If they understand that education can significantly improve their living conditions and well-being, they would similarly prioritize sending their children to school.