So we are back in the city after our three day trip to the school 8 hours from here. I had heard about Indian driving and Indian roads, but nothing could have prepared me for the experience!! Along the way we saw two overturned buses, a motorbike caught underneath another bus, and had a few 'close calls'. Nonetheless the road trip was a lot of fun and it was so nice to get out of the city and see some of rural India.
I struggle how to begin to describe the visit to the school. In a way it was like the climax of this trip for me. It is one of many Dalit schools that are being/have been built in the last 10 years. After hearing so much about this project it was very special to actually visit one of the schools. I was hugely impressed by it in every way. The management and teachers are a very fine group of men and women from different backgrounds. The children are from varying backgrounds too - some from the families of Sri Lankan rubber plantation workers, some Muslem children and others from the surrounding area. There are 400+ children in the school in total. None of these children would ordinarily have access to education and their parents are illiterate.
I was struck by the contrast between the kids I have seen in the slums and the kids in this school. The kids in the slum are often malnourished and with a vacant look on their face. This is due to lack of stimulation, poor nutrition and many traumatic experiences, I am sure. They are very vulnerable. The kids in the school have such a spark in them and are extremely polite, keen to learn, and full of vision and ambition for their future. One wants to be a scientist, another a pastor, another a teacher. I LOVED seeing this in them! Receiving an education is a such a life transforming thing, which brings dignity, confidence and a future. Something which we in the West take completely for granted.
The teachers on our team had brought a lot of materials and taught the children in lots of creative ways. They were definitely the biggest hit with the kids! The Indian teachers were able to learn new teaching skills from them also. Some of the team painted beautiful murals in the classrooms and outside. Matt and I were extremely busy carrying out health screening on the children, teachers and some others who were brought along. It was fun.
The staff at the school looked after us incredibly well with constant drinks and fantastic food. Oh how I am going to miss having curries twice a day!!
The school is set more or less in a clearing in the forest, with palm trees and rubber trees all around. The climate is tropical. 30-35 degrees and extreme humidity. Like being in a steamroom all the time - I have never sweated so much!! It is a very lush and beautiful mountainous area with some exotic birds, monkeys and HUGE bugs.
We were talking to one of our Indian friends about the Hindu idea of reincarnation, and someone asked him what is the worst thing you can be reincarnated as. The answer was not a worm or an insect, it was:
A Dalit.
Dalits are not considered human beings.
For us that is simply an incomprehensible way of thinking, but it is very much part of Indian society.
That's why I love the transformational work that is going on here, among the children and the women in particular. It is about restoring dignity and justice for these beautiful people who were made in God's image.
It is possible to sponsor a Dalit child by registering here.
I was struck by the contrast between the kids I have seen in the slums and the kids in this school. The kids in the slum are often malnourished and with a vacant look on their face. This is due to lack of stimulation, poor nutrition and many traumatic experiences, I am sure. They are very vulnerable. The kids in the school have such a spark in them and are extremely polite, keen to learn, and full of vision and ambition for their future. One wants to be a scientist, another a pastor, another a teacher. I LOVED seeing this in them! Receiving an education is a such a life transforming thing, which brings dignity, confidence and a future. Something which we in the West take completely for granted.
The teachers on our team had brought a lot of materials and taught the children in lots of creative ways. They were definitely the biggest hit with the kids! The Indian teachers were able to learn new teaching skills from them also. Some of the team painted beautiful murals in the classrooms and outside. Matt and I were extremely busy carrying out health screening on the children, teachers and some others who were brought along. It was fun.
The staff at the school looked after us incredibly well with constant drinks and fantastic food. Oh how I am going to miss having curries twice a day!!
The school is set more or less in a clearing in the forest, with palm trees and rubber trees all around. The climate is tropical. 30-35 degrees and extreme humidity. Like being in a steamroom all the time - I have never sweated so much!! It is a very lush and beautiful mountainous area with some exotic birds, monkeys and HUGE bugs.
We were talking to one of our Indian friends about the Hindu idea of reincarnation, and someone asked him what is the worst thing you can be reincarnated as. The answer was not a worm or an insect, it was:
A Dalit.
Dalits are not considered human beings.
For us that is simply an incomprehensible way of thinking, but it is very much part of Indian society.
That's why I love the transformational work that is going on here, among the children and the women in particular. It is about restoring dignity and justice for these beautiful people who were made in God's image.
It is possible to sponsor a Dalit child by registering here.
Class Nina, God seems to be doing a lot in your heart, it's lovely to see. It's so lovely to know that there is hope for these people. Love the pictures. Xo
ReplyDeleteLaura
It's all so very familiar, like a little bit of home. So glad you are experiencing so much while you are there, and glad you survived the driving! It certainly increases the intensity of your prayers!! Looking forward to chatting to you about it all,
ReplyDeleteBronagh x