These past 3 days have been us checking out the local schools in the area. We have two Aussies here representing an organisation call Partners in Aid. They sponsor around 200 children to go to school either here at SEDS or to their local schools. Its eye opening seeing how not only schools are different to australia, but also to each other.
One primary school had the mayor funding the repair of a fence, while another primary school was so deteriorated that the bores had dried up and there was no drinking water for the children, and the fence was broken so wild animals could come in and out of the school. And the toilets didnt work as there was no water. gosh, problem after problem. How could anyone learn in an environment like that? Another primary school was built right next to a main road with no fencing to stop children. Some consisted of one dark hot room where 30 children would sit, and with 2 teachers teaching prep - year 5, all in the one room. Did i mention that no one has a desk here? My goodness what an eye opening sight. What we take for granted back at home.
We then went and checked out some other schools in the area, those which were good i guess compared to the other schools. There were high schools which were thriving, one with 496 students, while another had over 200, with around 15 teachers each. It was good to see government initiatives happening (toilets for children, running water). Yet one initiative that didnt really work was that the government supplied computers and a generator for children to learn how to use a pc, yet they didnt supply funding for a teacher. so we saw a computer lab just sitting there for 3 years collecting dust. a thought came through my head that maybe i could teach them computer stuff…something to keep in the back of my mind. At this place they demonstrated to us the game Kabbadi. Its a rough and physical game (i doubt they’d let us play it in Aus without signing some sort of contract) where one team tries to tag the opposition in one breath, while the opposite team tries to tackle them so they cant get to home base to breathe. I played Kabbadi at the SEDS school, and unfortunately my knee bent the other way as i tried to tackle a student, so i was hobbling along for a few days.
At another school, we were treated like royalty. they assembled the entire school and they sat on the dusty ground while we all sat on chairs. Rajen is like a god in this area, so the principal was so elated to have him come to his school. he asked us all to do a speech, and Ian (one of the aussies) set me up to demonstrate what a kangaroo does. I had to jump with a sore knee. ahhh ian, i’ll get him back soon! the school demonstrated to us some of their dances and performances they were going to do for Independence Day that was coming up on Saturday.
Going around the schools, helped me see how privileged the children are at SEDS. not all schools teach english, not all schools have 9 teachers who can speak some english (and a ratio of 1 teacher to max. 4 students), not all schools have running water, not all schools have fences, not all schools have computer classes (SEDS does). So wot an eye opening experience that was today.
Later one of those nights i went to the main village and with the help of Rashna (daughter of rajen and manil) i brought a traditional indian attire, called a kurtha, as independence day was coming up. unfortunately its a little big atm so i might ask the tailor to tighten it. Its really thin and breezy which makes it so suitable for this hot dry weather.
On the friday i went to SEDS school to help prepare for the big independence day celebration. Also later that day i heard the horrific stories of the staff and children that come to seds. Some kids were sent by their parents to beg, and if they didnt come home with any money they didnt get dinner. another child belonged to a nomadic family that would just travel around and live in the forests. one staff member was the victim of domestic violence - she would get beaten so badly by her husband. others had husbands who died - so the wife had to work and raise a child too. One child had their father pour sand into his food.
Theres alot of pain here thats hidden behind every person’s smile. its heartbreaking, yet there’s Hope.
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| something i need to learn asap! |
Yes it's true Australia is a lucky country and we take so much for granted. I'm so proud of all those kids for turning up to class in such poor living conditions. I hope they get funding from the government or from some other sources to improve the facilities.
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