When we entered the class of 60, which consisted of 6th, 7th and 8th graders, we were a bundle of nerves. All of us were volunteering from ILP to help SSA and IRCDS conduct a summer camp for the children of brick kiln workers. The main aim of the camp was to motivate children from various age groups to continue schooling as well give them a reason on why education is so vital for all of us.
The headlines read, “Construction booms as India heads towards a Global Industrial Giant Status.” But behind this construction is the pitiful plight of the back breaking labor of thousands of brick kiln workers and their children. By its very nature, work in brick kilns is seasonal, – December through August, and 90% of its labor pool are migrant workers from neighboring areas (source districts). Workers pledge their labor and get an advance of Rs. 45,000-70,000 from middlemen, at the time of employment. Brick kiln workers usually stay inside their work places for the entire season (7-8 months) and work around 12-14 hours per day, including 7 hours of nighttime work. Bonded labor is not uncommon in this line of work.
Are we trying to solve a problem with another problem? So it appeared to me when I recently visited schools in some of the remote Jharkhand villages with a group of India Literacy Project (ILP) volunteers. As we drove past extensive paddy fields, we enjoyed the lush green landscapes and monsoon rains. On the first day, we stopped by six villages in Lohardaga along with our partner NGO LGSS, led by Mr. C. P. Yadav and his staff. The entire NGO team is highly committed to improving the education scene in the Kairo block of Lohardaga district.
For quite a few months, I have been dwelling on this thought on how to teach values to children (through ILP’s MDLS program we work a lot with High school children and hence that was the focus area). No, I am not an epitome of good values which gives me the right to teach someone values (by the way, no one is an epitome of values and nobody should teach values and I will come to that in a bit), but I couldn’t think of an alternate word for it back when I was thinking about it. I knew values were not about good or bad or right or wrong and I had my own perspective on it, but somehow, it was neither topic enough to engage children nor was it a universal thought… it was just my take on life.
Tenth standard results came out last week and this year (2012-13), 9 students of our ILP Puraskara scholarship program appeared for SSLC and their results have been heartening and inspiring. We had a 100% pass percentage with 3 First class, 3 Second class and 3 pass class. Irrespective of their ranks and distinctions their accomplishments are important for all of us because all these children have done themselves proud against all odds.
The Anugoonj Education Program, jointly organized by Mahila Samiti and ILP is showing encouraging results with increased enrollment and consistent attendance in the Chhatarpur District in Madhya Pradesh.Mahila Samiti is an NGO (non-government organization) committed to the empowerment of women and children in the Chhhatarpur District in Madhya Pradesh. India Literacy Project (ILP) has partnered with Mahila Samiti since 2009, working together in 9 villages in the Bijawar block of Chhhatarpur District.
Kids assemble in the Gubbi Learning Center on Sundays, from the nearby villages some as far out as 18 Kms. The subject matter for today’s session was Environmental Awareness. In the spirit of keeping the sessions participatory, the day kicked off with a quick warm up session with kids sharing their ‘guri’ or goal in life- (‘guri’ is Kannada for goal). The energy that was pouring out of each of them when their turn came to share their life ambition was inspiring- names complete with the details of initials followed by stellar dreams- lots of aspiring doctors, engineers, policemen, army men, district collectors, with only one aspiring dancer, teacher and very interestingly only one software engineer!
India Literacy Project supports a community library for children in Yeshwantpur, Bangalore, India. Our Bangalore chapter volunteers conducted a drawing and painting session based on the theme of the upcoming Christmas festival on Dec 13th 2009 at the Sunnadagoodu library.
How easy it is to label things and get carried away by the implications of that label. A ‘Partners Meet’ must clearly be for our NGO ‘Partners’. The themes and discussions must be beneficial to their work and from a development perspective. It would probably help them to work more effectively for the marginalized sections of the society. Ergo, if you are not a partner or working in this field, this might probably be of little relevance. I think this attitude probably sums up why problems never get solved in our country. .. Because we never think of ourselves as part of the solution.