Dear friends,

We want to thank you all for your continued support of the Shanti Bhavan Children’s Project in our effort to provide a loving home and quality education to the impoverished children of India. Many things have been happening with us and we would like to keep you informed on what has been going on during the last few months.

In this newsletter:

What’s Happening at the School

The ICSE 10th Grade Exam…yes, it is that anxious time of the year again, and Shanti Bhavan’s second batch of 10th Grade children stepped up to the challenge.  If the pressure of passing the exam was not enough, SB’s current 10th grade could not escape the fact that their previous seniors all passed last February’s ICSE exam with first class marks.
The ICSE curriculum is considered one of India’s most challenging and prestigious, generally only taken by students who have the resources to get out-of-classroom assistance.  Shanti Bhavan is privileged to be accredited by the Indian Council, adhering to our philosophy of providing the highest education possible for our select group of students.  Results will be posted at the end of May and we are all crossing our fingers that the hard work of both the students and staff will once again yield favorable results for all the boys and girls of the 10th grade.

Throughout the last few months, the volunteers did a wonderful job of not only teaching, but doing all the fun things they do for the children, each in his or her own way. They put on shows like The Students Show and The Billy Elliot Show where all the children from KG to 11th grade performed dances, pantomimes, plays and songs. Then there were two Volunteer Shows in which the volunteers demonstrated martial arts, piano, singing, dancing, and a special Funny News by our Canadian volunteer, Jacques, which had everyone in fits of laughter. The volunteers also sponsored a Magic Night by a professional magician.  The term ended with a Going Away Show of songs and dances by the children.

The 11th Graders were invited by Mr. Thomas Pantleon, Managing Director of Daimler Mercedes Benz Research Institute, for a visit to their facility at Bangalore. The MD himself made a presentation to the children about the process of making a Mercedes Benz and answered their questions. The CSR Team then took over and showed the children around the facility, demonstrating some complicated research projects and answering questions. Members from different departments had a session with the children about higher studies and careers. They presented the children with 5 big framed photos of Mercedes cars. But the highlight of the day was a drive in the Mercedes C series.

The 10th and 11th Graders were invited to EFD Induction Limited in Attibele, Bangalore (on two separate days) for an exciting factory visit.  Mr. Hubert Rielard, the MD, welcomed them and personally took them around the factory, showing and explaining how induction heating works, how machine parts are hardened by heat at specific load bearing points and the different types of heating and cooling machines that EFD manufactures. The children were amazed at how a specific part can be heated to red hot temperatures in seconds, while the rest of it can still be held by hand.  The children also interacted with customers present in the factory. Mr. Hubert and his team of senior managers then held a session answering questions on engineering, marketing, development, finance and accounts.

The children have gone home for a 5 week holiday and will be back on the 31st of May 2009. During this break, the Facilities Department quietly go about their work of maintenance, painting and repair to keep Shanti Bhavan spick and span before the children return.

Acclaimed Photojournalist Receives Prestigious Photography Award for Shanti Bhavan Pictures

Recently a very close friend and member of the Shanti Bhavan community was honored for her incredible work while at the school. Photojournalist Amiran White documents events and people through her camera lens, capturing stories in still pictures. One of these stories was about Shanti Bhavan. White visited Shanti Bhavan to take pictures of the children, the teachers, volunteers and staff and ultimately show what life was like at the school through the people who made it such a special place. White’s photo of a young student named Manjula, intently practicing piano in solitude, was honored recently with the Sony World Photography Award. We recently had an opportunity to talk to White about her experience at the school and the incredible photo she took that received international acclaim.

What made you interested in coming to Shanti Bhavan? How had you heard of the school or the work that The George Foundation was doing?

I first heard about Shanti Bhavan through a dancer who told me about ASTEP, which I thought was a great organization and then when researching more, I found out about the school and as I was planning to be in India for a few months, I thought it would be a great idea to look into the school more- I then proceeded to contact those involved.

Tell me about your experience upon arrival, what were your first impressions about the facilities, the children, the staff?

I have nothing but positive things to say about the school, the children, the teachers and Dr. George and his son, Ajit. From day one, they have all been welcoming, supportive and very open about the school. I thought the place was very well run and the accommodation was perfect for me.
During the assembly, after I arrived, I was introduced to the school and the children and teachers were all told why I was there. The kids peppered me with questions and were very excited to have a new visitor!

What did you hope to accomplish while at Shanti Bhavan?

I went there with a very open mind as to what I might achieve, but hoped to be able to document the daily life of the school, and understand where the children came from and where they wished to go.

How long did you stay at Shanti Bhavan for?

I was there for about 10-days the first time, and then popped down about 3 more times for just a few days at-a-time in order to meet the parents, meet Dr. George and see a production put on by the kids and volunteers.

Many of your shots are very candid, showing the children in their daily school activities and even glimpses of really personal moments. How did you manage to remain almost invisible while taking your photos?

It was really down to the children, who learned to ignore me and allowed me into their lives that gave me the images you see. Documentation is always challenging and at a school, more so, as there are fewer ‘unique’ moments, and lots of similar images from children in the classrooms etc… So, it was definitely a challenge for me to try and get different and unusual images. Like in any place, some kids were very upfront, others were more shy- that’s life and I tried to be as aware as I could to not intrude and leave alone those who did not want the limelight.

What would you say, if anything, differentiated these children from typical school children from the States or Europe?

In the end, kids are kids the world over, respect of them goes a long way. If there are any differences, it might be because they are used to seeing people (mainly volunteers) from all over the world and I think they are well adjusted because of that.

As a photographer yourself, what did you think of the arts education at Shanti Bhavan?

I would say that because of the volunteers, the arts are not ignored, but it is not huge on the curriculum as the Indian education system demands high academic study. But the school has been able to introduce the arts to the children, giving them a chance to see and use what they might be good at. They are very interested in photography and the photographic process.

In terms of behavior, how were the children?

The children are very well behaved and an absolute pleasure to be around.
The families were very welcoming to me- they are proud of their children at the school and I think were rather proud of my visits- which was a little tricky for me, as often I was the center of attention and I didn’t have enough time to get deeper images of their lives- it was tricky not getting posed images- everyone wanted their picture taken- I think it was seen as a sort of honor. I would have liked to spend longer in the villages so that I could get better images.

In reference to your picture, what were the families of these children like? Did you find them encouraging of their children being at Shanti Bhavan?

The winning photo, was just a quiet moment I found as I was wandering around one evening. The light and thus the image just worked well. I think Manjula’s a very quiet, studious girl and so in some ways, the image reflects her well (the name is wrong on the cutline with the Sony Awards, unfortunately, and I couldn’t catch it in time before press) She was practicing and I photographed the moment as I have been doing every time I go to the school.

Your photography definitely helped to showcase the face of Shanti Bhavan, but in what ways did the school shape you and your work?

I think I was able to get a good story at the school. I learnt a lot about the children and teachers which has led me to want to help where I can. I hope the photographs can be used to not only bring attention to them, but some much needed funding. I never know from day-to-day what my next plans will be- but if I’m in India, I will definitely visit and I would very much like to be there for the graduation of the current 11th graders. I was able to show a few images that I had shot during an assembly before I left. I was happy to show what I had been shooting and I think the children enjoyed seeing pictures of themselves.

It was an amazing experience for me, and because of the time I was given at the school, I was able to get images that seem to have taken my photography to another level- I was just in Cannes for the awards and was able to show the pictures to a few editors, who were very interested in them- so hopefully the story will get some good play this year. Like the children, all I can do is work to the best of my abilities and remain open to all possibilities- I think one of the reasons Manjula’s picture was so well liked was because of the hope it showed… despite ones history/background, anything’s possible and the map in the background perhaps could lead the viewer to believe that the world is Manjula’s. And I think you can say that to/about all the children- through this amazing gift that Dr. George has given- they all have dreams and aspirations and the world really is theirs- all I can say is keep working, keep dreaming- anything’s possible! (Even for me- who would ever have guessed I’d be on stage in fancy clothes and high-heels accepting a photo award with some amazing peers in photography in the room!)

To see Amiran White’s full gallery of Shanti Bhavan, click here.

Events in the United States

Save the Date: Shanti Bhavan Mixer on May 21st at the Leela Lounge:

To celebrate the beginning of summer and the graduation of three members of the Shanti Bhavan community (Dimitri, Vivian and Vidula), we are holding a mixer at the Leela Lounge at 6:30 PM on May 21st. Shanti Bhavan’s founder, Abraham George, will be there to talk a little bit about Shanti Bhavan and it will be a great opportunity to have fun, socialize and meet our large and diverse community of volunteers, friends and supporters. Ticket prices are $20, which includes a free drink and appetizer for those who arrive during the first hour. Our goal is to raise $1,500 for the night—a full sponsorship for one child for the year. So come out and join us at the wonderful Leela Lounge!

Shanti Bhavan Sponsored in NYU Dance Showcase

Saturday, February 7th marked an incredible evening filled with singing, music and dance. NYU’s premiere South Asian dance team, Nasha, which in Hindi means “intoxication,” did precisely that to the audience after delivering an eclectic number of performances that ranged from hip hop, modern dance and traditional Indian forms including bhangra and bharatnatyam. The evening was especially important to Shanti Bhavan, the sponsored charity for the event.

The event kicked off around 7:30 pm with an informal reception held for the families and friends of Nasha. Event-goers nibbled on tasty hors d’oeuvres, read profiles on each of the dancers, stopped by the Shanti Bhavan booth to pick up brochures, checked out Amiran White’s beautiful photos from the school and met some of our volunteers. Soon, it was time for the main act, and Nasha came out in full force performing powerful dance routines that were consistent with their theme of the evening “Blueprint.” The overall show reflected the different definitions of “home” in the South Asian context and each individual dance set was dedicated to a different part of the home including the foyer, the living room and the kitchen.

Midway through the show, Shanti Bhavan’s own Vivek George took time to talk a little bit more about Shanti Bhavan, the work we do and how important it was for audience members to get involved in helping us any way they could. Everyone responded so positively to Vivek’s moving words, applauding at the mention of the children receiving high marks on the ICSE examination and being particularly inspired after watching a feature done on the school by acclaimed New York Times journalist Thomas Friedman.

By the end of the evening, Shanti Bhavan was able to garner plenty of support from the NYU community and through ticket sales, raised enough money to sponsor two children for one year. We would like to thank Nasha for featuring and supporting Shanti Bhavan and to everyone who was able to attend the event, making it such a success.To learn more about Nasha and find out about their upcoming performances, please visit www.nashadance.com.

Ajit George of Shanti Bhavan Speaks at NETIP Event About Education in India

The Network for Indian Professionals, also known as NETIP, hosted an event on Saturday, March 14th which highlighted some of India’s leading NGOs and informed NETIP members of how they too can get involved in non-profit work. After a morning reception, the event kicked off with three different panels tackling central issues that today’s NGOs are addressing in India including Education, Health and Development. Ajit George of the Shanti Bhavan School spoke on the first panel, which concentrated on the importance of education reform and awareness in India. Ajit mentioned not only the necessity for all children in India, regardless of income level or social status, to have access to education but also the importance that their education is of a high quality and competitive, opening the door for students to pursue career paths that will enable them to break the destructive cycle of poverty they and their families are trapped within. Particularly inspiring was Ajit’s explanation of the danger in thinking that giving a poverty-stricken child a mediocre education is enough. This thought process creates a glass ceiling for the poor, Ajit explained, and encourages the idea that education, like so many other aspects of life in India, also has a caste system.

After a gracious address from Dr. A. M. Gondane, Deputy Consul General of the Indian Embassy in New York, the networking feature of the event commenced. Shanti Bhavan set up a booth where we were able to talk to interested well-wishers about how they could get involved with our school and gave them a chance to meet some of our volunteers to learn first-hand what it is like to volunteer in India. NETIP was also an incredible opportunity for Shanti Bhavan to learn more about what other organizations are doing to tackle the crisis of poverty in India. Shanti Bhavan would like to thank NETIP for allowing us to participate in such a wonderful event and would like to encourage you to learn more about NETIP at www.netip.org.

The Voice of Shanti Bhavan – Fall 2008

At the end of last year, the children put together the fifth issue of their fantastic newsletter, the Voice of Shanti Bhavan. The Voice features articles, drawings, poetry, and pictures created by students from kindergarten, 11th grade, and every grade in between. You can find the new addition at Voice of Shanti Bhavan – Fall 2008 and you can find all of the publications from Shanti Bhavan at Shanti Bhavan Publications. You can also stay updated with the children by reading their blog here: sbchildren.blogspot.com.

Volunteer Profile – Suparna Gupta

How did you get involved in Shanti Bhavan?

My high school friend, Derek Etkin, had gone in between working and grad school.  He visited me when I was in Delhi and told me a lot about the school.  It was always in the back of my mind.  He had read about it from Thomas Friedman’s article in the New York Times and that’s how he got involved.

When did you first go?

I arrived in July of 2008.  I was there for 5 months.

What did you teach there?

My schedule changed, but overall I taught English language and literature for 9-11th and 5th grade.  I also taught dance to an 11th grade girl.  I had learned Indian classical dance for over 10 years, and I hadn’t danced for a while so it was nice for me to start it again.  I emailed Ms. Law (the principal) and told her I studied English in college and that I had danced for a while.  I told her if anyone was interested I would be happy to teach them.
Bina, an 11th grade girl, had been dancing for a while and had a talent for it.  She had taken a basic class in Bharatanatyam, a South Indian dance, and I continued classes with her.

What else would you have to do?

My classes would change.  At first I would teach 3 grades, then 4, then 2.  The second week I was there they asked me to teach physical training to the second graders.  I thought that wouldn’t be that hard, because they were so well behaved.  I even thought the teacher was a bit too strict, but the next day it was chaos!  It took almost half an hour to get them in line.  Then I understood why the teacher was strict.  Every new task would be a challenge.
We also took on our own initiatives.  We would organize a Halloween party or a dance.  Things would always come up, so we always had to be prepared to help everyone out.

What are your fondest memories?

There are a few things that stick out in my mind.  Every time we left Shanti Bhavan, say for a day trip or even just for a few hours, and the car or rickshaw would pull up to our building, there would be this group of boys on the roof of their dorm welcoming us back.  They would always run out and yell “HI! HI!”, “You’re back!” as if we’d come back from a long trip.  I turned to my roommate and told her we’d never get this kind of welcome again.

Another thing, I would visit the 3rd and 4th grade boys’ dorm and they’d be so excited when I would read to them. They were so cute and crazy. They would be quiet around their auntie (house-mother), but when I got there they would go crazy and make all sorts of noise and start jumping around and asking millions of questions.

Some of the most satisfying parts were when I was teaching.  Every now and then we would go through a poem and the class wouldn’t like it.  Afterwards however someone would come up to me and say they actually “got it” after the discussion, and that was such a satisfying feeling.

How was the culture shock for you?

My family is from India, and I’ve been going every 2-3 years ever since I’ve been young.  But I’ve always been to cities, and I’d never been to the south.  My parents are from Calcutta, and the cultures vary a lot between states and towns and family to family.  Still, I felt I was much more culturally aware than others, but it was really good for me to see the difference between how my cousins grew up and how these kids are growing up.  I usually have a driver, a cook, and I’m always in the city, but this was rural. Sounds at night would freak me out. Crickets and rain and wind would scare me. I could fall asleep to sirens, but not crickets. The culture is really different because it’s a rural place. The volunteers that go there and the teachers also have unique personalities; you have to adjust to a lot of different personalities and people. You have to understand there are a lot of different cultural norms. Some you accept and some you can try to change, but it can be tricky.

Did the volunteers clash with local staff?

The volunteers that went there were generally very idealistic, but the aunties (house-mothers) would be taking care of 30 kids at once and were acting as parents.  My roommate went and thought arts education was the most important thing, but she was put into academics.  Once she started teaching, she changed her mind and now believes that academics are most important and arts, second.  It was a bit frustrating to me because I had to stick to a syllabus, but at the same time this is what they would be tested on and I had to teach that so they could do well.

The kids want to make money, and over there it’s not a bad thing whereas here, it’s often looked down on.  I think not caring about money is a luxury for people with money. When you have money, it’s not that important of a thing.  When you don’t have any, it’s the most important thing. It’s not like here where it’s “do what you want to do.”  India has over a billion people, and it’s very, very competitive. I had a 10th grade student who wanted to be a journalist, but her parents told her to go into medicine.  There was a lot of conflict there, because there’s not a lot of money in journalism.  She even helped with the Bharath interview I did.  Ultimately, I think she will go into journalism because she’s just perfect for it. But you can see how the advice you give kids there should reflect the reality they live in.

What have you done since your return?

A lot of smaller things. One thing is preparing the new volunteers, so working on the volunteer manual and trying to find ways to make volunteers more prepared and attract volunteers that are more prepared.  We are looking for volunteers that can stay longer.  It’s not great to have volunteers that can stay only a few weeks then leave.  It disrupts the learning for the children.
I definitely want to stay more involved.  I talk about Shanti Bhavan to everyone who is interested and hopefully I will find more people to support the school in whatever way they can.

Do you plan on going back?

I’m sure I will go back, but I don’t know when. It depends on when I finish my MBA.  I feel as close to many of these kids as I do to my own family, so I know I’ll go back. I’d love to see the first class graduate. I was very close with the 11th grade so I would love to see their graduation.
In terms of teaching again, I think I have a better idea of what happens, and now that I’ve left I know what I would do differently. Now that I have the experience, I think I could do an even better job.  But it all depends on when I have time.

What would you say to prospective volunteers?

I would tell them that they should be prepared to work very hard.  They should be flexible. My classes would change from month to month, depending on how many volunteers were there or if a teacher changed. You have to be prepared to do whatever comes up.  But you can also count on being happy. Even if you have a bad day, when you step outside you see all these happy kids and it’s such a great feeling. Once you’re there, it’s a really nice environment that’s hard to explain.

They shouldn’t be scared off by thinking it’s going to be so different there. It is different, but once you go there you see that kids are really all the same. People are attracted by the exotic differences, but once you go you see that people all over are really the same. These kids love Bond movies and soccer and ice cream.

How do you view the efforts of Shanti Bhavan?

I think it’s a really good model. I looked into a few different organizations before I left, and Shanti Bhavan is unique. I think this is a really interesting model, because they’re giving a high education to a small group of children rather than a basic education to a large group.  These kids do deserve the best, even if we don’t affect as many people at first, I think the impact is greater.

A lot of the people I talked to asked about what these kids’ relationships will be like when they leave Shanti Bhavan. Like how they’ll deal with new classmates after they leave for college, being from a different background. The kids that I met were very self assured and aren’t ashamed of their backgrounds in any way. They are also polite, articulate and creative, and I think that after a little bit of adjustment, they’ll be fine out in society. I am confident that they will be able to make a difference in their communities, even if it takes time. I feel very confident about this model. It will be exciting to see how they deal with their old communities and what they accomplish.

Volunteers Needed for the ’09-’10 Academic Year

As always, our volunteers are among the most important part of the Shanti Bhavan community. They enrich our program and fulfill a vital role in the school’s day-to-day operations, teaching classes, organizing extracurricular activities and providing mentorships for the children. Our academic year runs from June 2009 to April 2010 and we are looking for motivated, skilled individuals to take up the challenge of volunteering at Shanti Bhavan. We especially need volunteers who can teach English, Math and the Sciences for the older grades, as well as volunteers able to commit to a longer stay at Shanti Bhavan.
Of course, if you aren’t able to come to India, we need your help here in the U.S. for development support, fundraising, public awareness, and so many other fun and interesting efforts! So come on out and take an active role in the community.

We Need Your Help

Of course, Shanti Bhavan wouldn’t be the place it is without your support. We have successful transitioned into a fully grassroots funded organization (and are a tax deductible 501-c-3 charity), and so it is donors like you that make it possible for us to serve all of our wonderful children in India. Please take a moment to help us continue our mission; your gift, small or large, has such a big impact for those in need. And thank you again on behalf of the children of Shanti Bhavan.

Best regards,

The Shanti Bhavan Team