- Rahul Madhavan:
University of Puget Sound ‘08 Seattle, USA
A school providing children a world-class education, in a clean, safe, and beautiful environment abundant in greenery, with proper labs for the sciences, books of all sorts, nutritious and delicious meals five times a day, clean and spacious dormitories, a caring and loving staff, committed and highly intelligent teachers, and programs ranging from art to computer science, all for free. Seems unreal? Far from it. I can personally vouch for the amazing work being done here at
Shanti Bhavan, and am entirely pleased that you are taking the time to learn more about this noble endeavor by reading these volunteer reports.
Most of you reading this report have already heard of nearby Bangalore in its glitz and glamour as being the Information Technology hotspot from the turn of the century. The benefits from the modernization that has occurred in this city, not far from Shanti Bhavan, have hardly trickled down to the villagers in the rural periphery. Rather, it is as though the development in the Bangalore region exhibits a ripple effect, with the global capital-infused city serving as the epicenter. Spreading towards the outskirts of Bangalore, though significantly weaker as it goes, are the new living structures, shops, factories, and schools springing up.
Shanti Bhavan is itself a unique epicenter, potentially one which the ripples of effects ideological, cultural, ethical, ad societal, will extend far beyond any distance imaginable. The school, along with other nearby projects of The George Foundation, serves as a constructive force aimed at balancing the drastic disparity that exists between the poor, rural sector and the nearby booming metropolis by providing education, healthcare, job opportunities on farms, and aiding the empowerment of women.
The nature of the foundation’s mission, to provide opportunity to those that would have otherwise been denied it or had no access to it, was almost immediately apparent as I first made the turnoff onto the road towards the school and other projects of the foundation. Set amidst the vast scenery of rows after rows of crop, ranging from huckleberry to banana trees, Shanti Bhavan is truly a haven of peace, as the name translates to. As we entered the gates of the school I first noticed the colorfully painted buildings that were staff and volunteer living quarters, classrooms, offices, and dormitories. Inside the guesthouse, the rooms are spacious and clean.
The excited greeting the children gave me pleasantly surprised me as I entered the dining hall that evening itself- a precursor to the warmth and energy the children would continue to radiate. Trust that the children will know, or will immediately want to know much about you upon your arrival, if you are a volunteer here. The first question they asked me was how long I was staying- to which my answer of two months did not satisfy them. Rather, they were already prodding me to stay longer!
I informed Mrs. Law, the principal of the school, ahead of time that I would like to teach English and perhaps Geography. I taught English language, literature, creative writing, Geography, coached a few tennis, basketball, and baseball lessons, and taught the tabla (an Indian percussion instrument) to children in the sixth, seventh and eighth grades. In my free time, I helped organize the library and on a few occasions helped the kitchen staff cook for the two hundred students. I also had the pleasure of reading bedtime stories to children in the kindergarten through fourth grade.
Through various interactions with the children in different settings, the children impressed me with what all they know. One child asked which presidential nominee I preferred during the 2004 elections while we played a game of basketball- the child was only in the fourth grade. During an English literature class, I presented William Wordsworth’s Daffodils. The seventh grade students chimed in and one child talked of how poetry is the ultimate “human platform for expressing emotion, be it admiration, love, lust, distaste, or sorrow.” They then proceeded to offer insightful commentary stanza by stanza. What this said to me, and what I am trying to convey, is that Shanti Bhavan has offered a continually solid, world-class education to these children that were fortunate to have come across such means and access to a bright, gifted and talented present and a surely successful future, all from a destitute past. These children come from extremely poor families that pursue jobs such as ragpicking, being coolies, quarry workers, and sometimes work as bonded laborers. Some children used to call home a small hut in a filthy and disease-ridden village, and some sheltered under old blue tarpaulin atop rocks. Here, at Shanti Bhavan, they are offered a world of opportunity in a safe and clean environment.
On a daily basis, the children are given the world news, and, most of the time participate in delivering the news after having read the paper or being given summaries by their teachers. Therefore, the students are socially, nationally and globally aware, at least certainly more so than other children of their age. Speaking of the news, New Delhi Television (NDTV), a premier Indian news channel came to campus during my stay here to do a report on the school. Other exciting news includes the near future visit from Indian President Abdul Kalaam.
I cannot seem to deviate from talking of the generosity and warmth of the children. Another instance that occurred shortly after my arrival to Shanti Bhavan was in the sixth grade classroom as I sat aside to let the primary teacher distribute class material. I was still a bit jetlagged, so I must have looked tired. A student approached me and noted in a quiet whisper that I was “looking a bit bored.” He offered me an English grammar book, and said “read this!” At first, I thought he was being sarcastic, but the smile on his face was indicative only of the pure pleasure he had in being able to share his reading and learning material with a volunteer.
As an American citizen, I was able to celebrate the 4 th of July with the children and teachers of Shanti Bhavan. On that day, the children had made little flags and pinned them to roses. They had practiced playing the Star Spangled Banner for us American volunteers to sing to.
I come away from Shanti Bhavan both impressed and touched by the confidence and security exhibited by the students, a progression made possible by the staff and faculty that are so dedicated to enriching these students’ lives on a continuous basis. They serve as fitting role models for the children that they both teach and take care of. This may surely be a “haven of peace”, as Shanti Bhavan translates to, but hardly peaceful are the minds of these intelligent, curious, and witty children that seize any opportunity to further their skills in language, math, science, computers, art, and music, as they all the while enrich the lives of those around them.
- Mira John:
USA
Volunteering at Shanti Bhavan has been such an incredible experience from beginning to end. During my stay (about a month), I taught mathematics and chemistry to the middle school classes. I also helped fifth graders with math during their prep (homework/studying) periods, and gave individual violin lessons to students who had started with previous volunteers. More importantly, however, I feel I gained a lifetime’s worth of memories and experiences from working at this amazing “haven of peace”, where teachers from all over the country and volunteers from all over the world work together to give children from the worst circumstances a fantastic education upbringing, so that they may learn how to become diligent, honest, and compassionate members of society.
When my dad and I arrived in Bangalore, a senior member of The George Foundation picked us up and took us to the school. Shanti Bhavan is about 2 hours away from Bangalore, close to a small village called Ballinganapalli in Tamil Nadu. The road was quite bumpy, but the sights along the way more than made up for the turbulence. Once we arrived, we were greeted by the school principal, Mrs. Law, and were treated to a very tasty lunch. She then introduced us to the rest of the school in a special assembly. (Normally, assemblies are after their third class. The students themselves present current events around the world to their fellow classmates, and in the process they develop a unique perspective and understanding of global events—I mention this because I think American schools could definitely benefit from such a system). Afterwards, she gave us a tour of the campus and finally showed us our rooms.
The next day, after my dad left, I moved upstairs and shared a room with two other volunteers for the duration of my stay. The facilities here are more than adequate. Each bedroom in the guest quarters is very spacious and comes with a desk, cabinet, overhead fan (very handy against mosquitoes!), Western bathroom and shower, mosquito netting on the windows, and a gorgeous view of the nearby coconut trees. We had a slight problem with ants during my last week, but nothing that we couldn’t handle. (I recommend bring bug poison and mosquito coils for the room anyway, just for precautionary purposes.) The meals are absolutely delicious (better than what I get at home!) but spicy. Mrs.Shanti (the facilities director), however, is more than willing to arrange a milder dish for those with sensitive taste buds. Meat is only served on Sundays, but to ensure that non-vegetarian teachers/volunteers don’t suffer from a protein deficiency, the kitchen serves hardboiled eggs to eat with breakfast. Nutrition is not a problem at Shanti Bhavan; snacks usually consist of mangos, custard apples, or some other fresh fruit, and every meal comes with rice and a savory vegetable curry.
By the end of my second day, Ms. Beena, the vice-principal of the school, had put together my schedule. I was lucky in that I was able to be with both the older students and younger children; in many cases, the volunteers end up spending more time with one half (usually elementary school) than with the other. At first, I assisted the teachers in my classes and helped the students with their classwork, but by the end of the month, I was teaching whole periods at a time by myself. I wish I knew ahead of time what I was going to teach (or that I was going to be teaching, rather than just assisting). I could have brought more supplies and books for the school, notebooks and pencils for daily use, beginner music books and extra violin supplies for my violin lessons, and perhaps prepared some sort of lesson plan for my classes. I am very grateful to the teachers for all that they have done to help the volunteers adjust to living at Shanti Bhavan and teaching and interacting with the students. I’m sure this has been said thousands of times by numerous volunteers, but the Shanti Bhavan teaching staff is incredible. They present a very rigorous but enriching curriculum to their students and maintain a very steady academic discipline within the classroom. Academic excellence is a must at this school, and the teachers work extremely hard to ensure that their pupils receive a sound, sturdy education that will help them as they grow older. The teachers, however, are also great companions and friends outside the school building. They’re more than willing to recommend restaurants and shops to visit in Bangalore or Hosur (another nearby city), spend time with volunteers during the weekends (my roommate has many thrilling tales of the expeditions she and the teachers had in Bangalore and Hosur), or even demonstrate how to cut open a mango without splattering mango juice everywhere. I can’t imagine life at Shanti Bhavan without them.
The students, however, are the crown jewels of the experience. They’re intelligent, curious, extremely creative, and so eager to learn both in the classroom and outside. Like all children, they can be mischievous monkeys at times, but they are so kind and polite and well-behaved, it’s hard to believe that they are still in grade school (especially when you compare them to their American counterparts). These kids love to talk and debate about everything, from current events to the merits of balancing chemical equations to favorite movies and even to what’s going to happen in the 7 th Harry Potter book. To illustrate just how much you can do with them, I’ll talk about our activities last weekend. After hiking around the banana farms with 5 th grade while having a “magic duel” with some of my math students, I spent Saturday evening working on the school newsletter with the 8 th grade while they told me about their various escapades and fond memories at Shanti Bhavan. Sunday morning’s activities included bumping a volleyball with the girls, learning how to spin tops (popular pastime, very hard to do) with the boys, attempting to climb a tree with sandals (bad idea, but still fun), learning how to dance in the dorms, and watching a movie with everyone until lunchtime. The students love spending time with volunteers and asking us about our likes, dislikes, life in the US, our hopes, etc., but they, like all children, also like to have fun and goof around when they’re not studying. They’re so vibrant and enthusiastic no matter how old they are or what you teach them. They truly are a joy to teach and to be with. It’s very hard to say good-bye to them, even if it’s only temporary.
Unlike other regions in India, the climate around Bangalore is very mild. You can wear whatever you want and be very comfortable, though I recommend bringing a sweater to ward off mosquitoes at night. The school has a laundry service, but clothes are handwashed, so don’t be surprised if your bright green shirt comes back slightly faded (but very clean). One of the downsides at Shanti Bhavan, though minor, is the lack of Internet within the campus. The school has managed remarkably well without it- they have rooms full of reference books, up-to-date textbooks from all over the world, video and DVD supplements, a National Geographic magazine collections that goes back to the 1960s, 2 computer labs, posters, and boxes and boxes of donations (that we volunteers organized and arranged for them). However, the addition of Internet would definitely aid both teachers and students. Other than that, and not knowing what to bring for my classes, I felt perfectly at home here.
As I wrap up my volunteer report, I’d like to once again stress just how incredible of an opportunity it was to work at Shanti Bhavan. The overall atmosphere is so welcoming and happy, that you feel as if you have lived your whole life on the beautiful campus. Dr. George has truly created something phenomenal, giving such bright children the chance to thrive and shine. Finally, I want to express my gratitude towards Mrs.Shanti, Ms. Beena, and the other staff for all their help, the other volunteers for their teamwork and friendship, Mrs. Law and Dr. George for allowing me to work here, and most importantly, the children for being such wonderful students and friends. It’s been such a privilege to volunteer at Shanti Bhavan, and I can’t wait until my next visit.
- Derek Etkin:
Postdam, NY, USA
My name is Derek Etkin. I am from Boston. After my college graduation, I worked as an engineer for a couple years before I found myself looking for a chance to take whatever skills I had acquired at school and in the workplace and using them to help children who were not given the same opportunities I had been given. After a friendly and direct correspondence with Principal Law, it was clear to me that Shanti Bhavan would be a fantastic opportunity for such work. I worked there as a volunteer from January to April 2006, and the task could not have been made more rewarding or enjoyable by everyone at the school, especially the children.
For the first few weeks I alternated classes with the math and science teachers for the middle grades. Although both women were highly qualified to teach the curriculum, they eagerly sought an outsider’s approach to give their students a fuller education. I was impressed by the lab facilities for the Physics, Chemistry and Biology programs. Although they still lack some equipment, I found the teachers resourcefully using available materials from around the campus, including the extraordinary biodiversity of the area. For an hour every morning before breakfast I led students in physical education. This was mostly basketball or baseball, neither of which I was particularly qualified for other than having played both back in America. The children were quite cooperative and usually quite good sportsmen about everything. After class, the children were allowed to have free games for about an hour for which I usually showed up. We played cricket, field hockey, four square, and lots of village games which the children were eager to teach me. Near the end of my stay some lacrosse sticks arrived in a donation container which I helped put to use. There is a lot of donated sports equipment, some of which are just waiting for a semi-qualified volunteer to use with the children.
After a month of my stay the administration asked me to teach the computer class. The computer lab is impressive, with a few more than a dozen Pentium PCs with Windows 2000. Although they do not have a network or the internet, there are many opportunities for teaching computer science, applications of common software (Adobe Suite, MS Office, Games), and research (Encarta). Most exciting for me was the electronic newsletter I helped the middle grades produce using Adobe PageMaker. I felt that my rudimentary skills with computers went a long way at Shanti Bhavan. Anyone who uses Excel or imaging software in the workplace would be tremendously useful as a volunteer to this school. Someone with an education in computer science would also be a very big help for the burgeoning computer science classes. I found the school administration very receptive to any initiatives that I was willing to take at the school. The school is eager to provide their students with a global perspective and exposure to foreign culture and academics.
Living at the school is great. Although the food could be a little boring sometimes, I felt healthy and strong the whole time I was living there. Plus, I never did my dishes, made my tea, or prepared or bought my food. On the weekend, there was always a vehicle to take me to either Hosur or Bangalore for a good restaurant meal, some shopping, a film, and the internet. My room was spacious and cleaned by the staff whenever I asked. The toilet and shower is as Western as you want it to be. Also they picked me up straight from the airport, just like they promised. The administration was very accommodating when I requested some time off to visit friends and travel around India. As long as I told everyone a couple weeks in advance it was quite easy for me to take leave of the school or a couple of my classes.
Shanti Bhavan is a fantastic and safe environment to learn about India, make use of skills you did not even know you had, and spend time with eager and inspiring children who need your help. The school could use all types of volunteers, but in my experience the following qualities are most in demand: sports skills, computer science education, mathematics, science, literature education, history education, current affairs interest, library skills, and finally male. Although young women have done a lot for the school as volunteers, and no doubt will continue to, I would encourage more young men to do the same. There are very few male role models for either the boys or the girls.
Please contact me in Boston if you have any questions. I love talking about Shanti Bhavan. dereketkin@hotmail.com 315-212-9615
- Felipe Arratia, Kerith Dilley and Irene Tse:
Wharton Business school, Philadelphia , PA, USA
We are Wharton Business School students who spent two weeks at Shanti Bhavan as part of a student nonprofit, Wharton International Volunteer Project. Although we came to teach business principles, teamwork, communication, leadership and SAT preparation, we left with so much more. We have made new friends, in addition to knowing the school leadership of Dr. George, Mr. Jude, Mrs. Law, Miss Shanti, Miss Hasina, Auntie Nancy and Pradeep.
We found the food at Shanti Bhavan delectable: all organic and completely fresh. We ate chapatis, pongal, rice and dosas on an almost daily basis. We didn’t really find the food very spicy, and the juice and fruit were amazing. We all worked at using only our right hands when eating, as everyone in India does, but we struggled when we needed both hands to pull apart the steaming alu parrota.
Since Kerith forgot to bring malaria pills, Irene and Kerith were lucky enough to have Vivek, our house lizard, protecting us from malaria by gobbling up all the mosquitoes at night. We only wish he could protect us from all the mosquitoes outside, as our feet were freckled with love bites. Too bad we didn’t bring Vitamin B-12!
The accommodations were comfortable, even with the cold showers…oh wait! Felipe didn’t have cold showers. Irene and Kerith kicked him out of his own room every morning the last week so they too could have hot water.
The education at Shanti Bhavan is truly top-notch. The students are incredibly knowledgeable about history, international historical leaders and current world affairs. Their critical thinking skills are excellent, and when we facilitated discussions about teamwork, leadership, and business in general, their contributions were often more insightful and relevant than those of many of our cohort-mates at Wharton.
Kerith taught them SAT basics and everyone shared their college admissions experience. It’s no exaggeration to characterize these kids as among the best and smartest kids Kerith had ever taught SAT in her 6 years of teaching SAT. This is all the more impressive when you remember that the SAT tests are for American 11th graders and the Shanti Bhavan students had just completed the 8th grade!
We know that all the students loved the SAT and especially their SAT friend, Joe Bloggs, the best! Actually, their favorite part was the Bottle Game, which Felipe taught them. The Bottle Game was a team-building exercise that taught the students the importance of verbal communication. We were not the only ones doing the teaching. The kids taught us how to say Tamil and Hindi words and we all learned how to scratch out our names in both languages.
During the second week, we emphasized our major ongoing project with the kids, a mock business plan competition. We divided the students into teams of 5 and each of us Wharton volunteers served as a team advisor. Each team came up with a creative business idea: a car that becomes a boat, space shuttle rides and a community modeled after Shanti Bhavan set in Los Angeles.
Each team followed a basic outline of a business plan but each plan was marked by the distinctive personalities of the team. We reveled in seeing how quickly the teams applied the real-world business tools and ideas that we taught them during the process. We hope the students enjoyed experiencing business and that these lessons will stay with them regardless of which profession they choose.
The two-week experience culminated in a business plan presentation to a few teachers, Baldev Farm management and Foundation staff leadership. The audience acted as Venture Capital Funders, who would evaluate the business plans and make funding decisions. Each team fared well in front of the Venture Capital Funders, and every team was invested in. However, the worst part about the business plan competition was knowing that we had to leave shortly thereafter. Saying goodbye was so difficult. Each of us said a few words to the group about how we hoped we opened their eyes to new ideas and urged them to stay in touch.
The staff insisted we stay up on stage while 3 students separately spoke about our individual contributions to the 8th grade class. They gave each of us a card and a little gift. We were all so touched. The students and staff had inscribed different famous quotations that suited our personalities. The staff also brought a delectable cake from Bangalore. We experienced the tradition of being fed cake! It was the third cake of the day, as we had eaten cake before the business plan competitions for two students who were celebrating birthdays.
We stayed and took pictures with the 8th graders after the formal thank yous concluded. We can’t begin to describe the sadness we felt. The most important thing we said to the kids as we tried to say goodbye was that they should hold fast to their long-term goals and stay in touch with us. We left hoping the students can take away what we tried to share about goal setting and achieving and the general optimism about their futures than our scintillating discussions about the nuances of the 5Cs and 4Ps and how it applies to cars that transform into boats, luxury housing developments or space shuttle rides for the rich.
These kids have so much potential to revolutionize rural India and bring to life Mahatma Gandhi’s dream of eradicating the caste system. We are inspired and looking forward to the future when Shanti Bhavan students will make their contributions toward that dream. We are so appreciative of the warmth and hospitality shown to us by the entire staff, and especially Miss Shanti, Miss Hasina, Dr. George, Mrs.Law, Nancy, Pradeep, the Aunties and, each and every one of the 8th graders at Shanti Bhavan.
We hope to make it to Shanti Bhavan again soon. Felipe will be able to show off the latest card tricks, Kerith can share her bhangra moves and Irene can have yummy mangoes and play board games with the kids again.
June 12, 2007
- Eduard Muntaner Perich:
Computer Science Engineer, Spain
I had wanted to volunteer abroad for a long time, but had not decided where or when. I contacted many NGOs, schools and foundations from different parts of the world and finally discovered Shanti Bhavan through The George Foundation’s website and I liked their work and philosophy very much. Seeing that in 2004 a Spanish volunteer, Montserrat, had been working there, I contacted her and, with her wonderful memories and stories about Shanti Bhavan, its staff and its children, she finally convinced me.
As a volunteer in Shanti Bhavan (from November 23, 2005 to February 5, 2006, with a brief break to celebrate Christmas with my family in Spain) I taught Computer Science (theory and practice) and also gave some students individual help in mathematics, I taught basketball, and helped in the school library and the museum.
Shanti Bhavan is a very beautiful school, with many gardens and fine buildings. The environment and the surroundings are spectacular. The school is in a remote village called Balliganapalli, quite near to Hosur and Bangalore, so you can spend the weekends there for shopping and Internet. My room was comfortable and clean, and the food was very tasty, a little spicy for the Spanish taste, but I soon got used to it. I think that an easy improvement for the school would be an Internet connection; it would be helpful for the staff, the volunteers, and of course, for the children’s education.
I am very interested in international cooperation and development, and during my stay in India I visited other NGOs and some schools for poor children in the Anantapur district (Andhra Pradesh). Shanti Bhavan is the best school I have seen so far. The level of education the children receive is incredibly high. Children in Shanti Bhavan are very lucky; I hope they will make the most of the incredible opportunity that Dr.George has given them.
With reference to the children of Shanti Bhavan (the most important part of the school), they are lovely, smart, very friendly, and more disciplined and respectful than most European children. I really enjoyed teaching them as well as playing basketball with them or simply talking. I think they enjoy studying and living at Shanti Bhavan, and their spectacular bright eyes and permanent smiles are proof of their happiness and health.
In Shanti Bhavan there are daily assemblies where students talk about national and international events. In fact students are educated as global citizens and taught to “think globally”, but of course without forgetting their rich and beautiful Indian culture. I think most European and American schools could learn a lot from this kind of education. All the staff at Shanti Bhavan is very professional, they are very kind to the volunteers, and lovely to the children. I think all the teachers, aunties, facilities managers, etc. enjoy working at Shanti Bhavan and are happy contributing to Dr George’s dream.
I am very lucky because during my stay I had the opportunity of taking part in different celebrations and events: an enjoyable campfire, a picnic in Krishnagiri, the Christmas celebration, the Pongal celebration, Republic Day, and also sports day. I am also very fortunate because I coincided with another Spanish volunteer, Sara. She is an incredible person, children love her very much, I think we will continue being good friends from now on. I also coincided with two more volunteers: Derek and Halee, both from the USA. Derek was my roommate, a good friend with whom I had the opportunity to improve my poor spoken English. I also had the honor to meet Dr George, the founder of Shanti Bhavan, a very intelligent man with a dream that has come true. His talks to the children and the staff were amazing, inspiring, and a good opportunity to understand the philosophy of his Foundation and to learn about future projects which he has in mind.
During my stay, many visitors came to Shanti Bhavan. The children have the incredible chance to meet and get to know people from different countries, schools and universities, with different skills, jobs, religions, thoughts and ideas. In my opinion this is very beneficial for the children’s education and upbringing.
After mentioning all these things, I think is obvious that I recommend the experience of volunteering at Shanti Bhavan to anyone who wishes to help poor children and has a desire to live a fine experience in a beautiful place and country. I can affirm that my stay in Shanti Bhavan was fantastic and unforgettable. I will try to repeat it in the future, at least as a visitor.
I would like to thank the entire staff, and specially Dr. George, Mrs. Law, Ms Beena, Mrs Shanti, Tommy, and of course the children of Shanti Bhavan. I also would like to thank the volunteers: Sara, Derek and Halee for their friendship and camaraderie.
April 2006
- Patrick William Fitzgibbon:
Michigan State University, Michigan, USA
My stay at Shanti Bhavan has been a wonderful and rewarding experience. The work that Dr. George is doing is nothing short of amazing. I feel very honored to play even a small role in the work of The George Foundation.
The best part of my time at Shanti Bhavan was getting to know the children. They are the most well behaved, clever, and curious children I have ever known. It is unbelievable to think of the types of living situations these children come from when you see how happy they all are at Shanti Bhavan. Of course they are not angels. They can be mischievous, moody, and even mean to each other at times, but in general I found them to be delightful. Without their parents being around I feel the teachers, house mothers and even volunteers to a degree, develop a special bond with the children and play a more important role in each others lives than would be at any other school. I actually grew much more attached to the children than I had planned on. When I saw how well they are doing and how nicely they are growing up, I wanted nothing more than to help out and push them along in whatever way I could. I will miss the children very much when I leave.
I came to Shanti Bhavan as a music volunteer. I also help out with games and sorting donated goods but my main responsibilities were teaching the piano students, singing classes and helping out with the choir, I also taught some students guitar and tabla. For a musician or music educator who wants to volunteer their talents, Shanti Bhavan is the place to be. There is currently no music teacher, so the music program is basically pushed forward by volunteers whenever they come along. However, music is still a daily part of life at Shanti Bhavan. When volunteers are not there the students still sing song all the time, there is still a choir, and the piano students still practice everyday. This is thanks to some very dedicated staff members who are not musicians but have an interest in music and can make sure the children continue practicing. Without a music teacher, any other school would have just let the music program die out. I am very thankful that Miss Ruth and Dawn are there to make sure this does not happen.
Every single student wants to learn music or at least has an interest; this makes the volunteer's job so much easier. In America I constantly deal with children who are forced to learn music. I spent very little energy motivating the children to practice, even the forth grade piano students have fairly good practice habits. I'm sure that when there is no volunteer they are not quite as enthusiastic about practicing which is expected with no music teacher, but everyone has done a good job of making the best out of the situation. I feel very lucky to have found Shanti Bhavan and was able to share what I know with the children.
As far as accommodations and food my stay was quite comfortable. I had my own room, which included a bathroom, toilet and shower. There is not much more I could ask for. The food, of course, was spicy for me at first, but I got used to it within a couple weeks. The meals were not always great, but I always had enough to eat, nothing to complain about. Also, on the farm, they grow the best bananas I have ever tasted. Another great thing about Shanti Bhavan is the campus itself. It is a beautiful place with many different types of trees and plants. After a trip to Bangalore or Hosur, you really appreciate the cleanliness of Shanti Bhavan. It is also a secure campus being completely gated and having security guards on duty around the clock.
Being a closed community, there are a number of conflicts and problems that arise, which I feel are unavoidable. All the staff members stay on campus at least five days a week, most of them far away from their families. With so many people living and working together, it is expected that there be some tension and occasional arguments. The administrators have become very good at dealing with these problems and there are plans to make the living conditions more comfortable for the staff. I think that the benefits the children receive from being raised and educated in a closed community are worth all the problems.
Another problem that Shanti Bhavan faces is that there are not enough male role models for the children. There are some new male teachers who are excellent role models but it is still a very small percentage. Also, I wish there was a music teacher, but it is so hard to find a musician willing to come and live outside the city. Volunteers can help with both these problems, but there is only so much we can do because our time is limited. I know the administrators are working on this, so in the mean time I will try to get more volunteers to come and help out in whatever way they can.
Volunteering for The George Foundation has been really good for me. It is inspiring to see Dr. George's vision coming to life, and even more so to be a part of it. I feel that in a small way I was able to make a difference and that gives me great pleasure. It has been a great part of my life and after some time I plan on paying another visit to Shanti Bhavan.
31 August 2005
- Orly Friedman:
Yale University , USA
My name is Orly Friedman. I am from Bethesda , MD and will be going into my junior year at Yale University . I spent the month of June volunteering at Shanti Bhavan. My responsibilities included teaching fifth grade world geography and eighth grade civics and literature. I also taught violin in the afternoons to a few talented musicians and played group-bonding sports activities with the seventh and eighth graders. On Fridays I would read to the kindergarten and first grade class in the library and on the weekday evenings I was allowed to read bedtime stories to the second and third graders.
The kids were a constant source of energy and inspiration and the staff was also encouraging and friendly. It was a wonderful atmosphere to work in as well as a physically beautiful setting.
At first being so disconnected from home and technology was a bit of a shock. However, the administration was very accommodating about finding rides into Bangalore on the weekends so I could get my internet fix. I would definitely recommend taking advantage of weekends to explore Bangalore or other surrounding cities. I learned so much at Shanti Bhavan, but I learned an equal amount outside of the school's gates, walking around Hosur with teacher's as my guide or exploring Bangalore each weekend until I finally felt a sense of recognition and belonging. All of that was very exciting and was a completely different experience from working at the school. It was also important for me to see the local public school and village to truly understand and appreciate what Shanti Bhavan is providing for the kids.
Before coming to Shanti Bhavan I knew I would be teaching violin and hoped that I would have some other tasks, but did not have any idea what they would be. Once I arrived at the school and Mrs. Law asked me what subjects I felt comfortable teaching about I was ecstatic that I was being given such a wonderful opportunity to actually teach kids on my own. I was allowed to make my own lesson plans and come up with activities and books that I thought would be pertinent. I was really happy for the opportunity to test my teaching skills, but a bit disappointed that I had not been informed before arriving that I would actually be teaching classes on my own. I felt like if I had been told what courses I might be teaching before arriving at Shanti Bhavan I could have had more time and resources to plan really fabulous lesson plans, especially since my mother is an elementary school teacher who would have plenty to offer.
I would definitely tell volunteers to bring books. Shanti Bhavan has a full library, but it definitely has room for more. I know from sorting through appropriate eighth grade reading material during my first couple days that high school textbooks and class sets of books are two of the school's largest needs in terms of educational material. The kids are avid readers and it is really encouraging to see how excited they are to check books out from the library.
Shanti Bhavan does a good job scheduling a full, well-rounded day of class, sports, arts, etc. Teaching group-building games with the seventh and eighth graders was a fun way to goof around with them outside of the classroom. It was great to have that time together and to go straight from sports to teaching violin where the same kids I had previously been playing tag with showed me their complete respect and attention during violin lessons. The school has done a wonderful job instilling respect, obedience and confidence into the kids. The best attribute is their forthrightness and eagerness to ask questions. I was constantly impressed with their thoughtful nature and the intriguing questions they would ask to teachers and visitors alike. I would definitely recommend to volunteers to sit with the kids at meals. That was a really rewarding time for me. I was able to get to know kids I did not have in class and learn more about their lives and interests as well as hear every riddle they know.
I would like to thank Mrs. Law for trusting me and giving me such a wonderful opportunity to learn so much. I'd like to thank the kids for all the jokes they taught me, and the teachers for allowing me to take over their classrooms and always being helpful and friendly. I would also especially like to thank the staff for teaching me a few Indian dance moves, and my neighbors in the teacher's quarter for understanding my fear of geckos. I would also like to thank Shanti for always checking in to make sure I was comfortable and well fed, and being so accommodating to the needs of a volunteer. Working at Shanti Bhavan was at times challenging, always rewarding and never boring. I cannot wait to come back.
30 June 2005
- Rachel Wolfe:
Duke University, North Carolina, USA.
Shanti Bhavan has been a wonderful experience. From the start, I have been treated with the utmost consideration and attention. When Jean and I arrived in Bangalore , there was no one at the airport to meet us and I began to worry. Finally, a man approached us asking, “Rachel? Jean? I am Mr. Jude” After confirming that we were in fact the new volunteers, we got into the car to head out to Shanti Bhavan. It was only after a little while that I realized that this was not a driver or even a teacher, but the CEO of the George foundation. Apparently there had been a vehicle breakdown and Mr. Jude had been called at 5 in the morning to pick us up. He was nothing short of amazing.
Upon arriving, Mrs. Shanti (the facilities manger) showed us our accommodations, which far exceeded my expectations. It was large sized triple room with desk and wardrobe as well as our own bathroom (complete with western toilet and shower). The campus was equally as amazing: tree-lined drive, well manicured shrubbery and flowers that fit the curves and bends of the land, and brick paths leading to every area of campus. After arriving, they allowed us to rest and get over jet lag and were very accommodating with the food. As a girl who cannot handle spice, I was a little worried about what I would eat here; however, the food was not a problem. There were spicy dishes, but there was typically a non-spicy option. And had we wished, Mrs. Shanti would have been more than happy to give us peanut butter sandwiches or whatever we had needed. In fact, Mrs. Shanti supplied us with fresh fruit (mangos, figs, etc) and had the cooking staff prepare an egg for us each morning. I would still bring some power-bars and/or a jar of peanut butter: something for protein because the meals are vegetable and carbohydrate heavy.
Mrs. Law worked very hard to develop a schedule for me that included all the elements that I wished to do while here. I taught chemistry, singing, piano and dance. The teaching staff here is wonderful and they can adequately provide the proper academic education without the help of volunteers; however, in the English classes and all the arts and extracurricular activities, the volunteers can really useful. The teachers are also one of the highlights of this foundation. They were very welcoming and willing to help whether it was being our tour guide when we went into the city, explaining customs or foods to us, or taking time to teach us how to tie a sari. I could not have asked for better companionship while here.
Although the teachers are great, the kids are the real joy on campus. They are eager, adventuresome and above all want to learn and succeed (something that you do not see as often in American classrooms). The students listen to what you say and learn well what you choose to teach them. The piano students are amazing; they incorporate every correction and idea that you give them almost flawlessly by the next lesson. Sometimes the children can be a bit overwhelming because they are so excited about you and what you are teaching them, but it not really even a problem.
The only caveat I have is that you should not come expecting to be busy from dawn till dusk. They schedule a lot of free-time and rest-time for the volunteers which is a mixed blessing. However, you can find things to do to help fill in that free time such as reading in the library with the kids or my personal favorite of reading bedtime stories to different grades at night. Jean and I read the book Matilda to the third grade, which I think was both of our favorite experience.
If you are use to physical activity, I suggest bring sneakers and appropriate clothes. I played soccer in the morning with the older grades and then was able to run laps around the field. Granted that laps are monotonous, I was glad that I had packed running shoes and clothes. In terms of clothes in general, I would pack things that you do not mind getting stained and not well washed. Although the school washes your clothes for you daily, the clothes just do not get machine-washed clean (that is not to say that the washing they do is futile, you can tell the clothes have been washed). As long as you cover your shoulders and knees, anything is fine. It is not as hot as you would expect for India , so I would be sure to bring at least one long sleeve shirt (especially for walking around at night with the mosquitoes).
Overall, my experience has been positive. The principal, Mrs. Law, is a true gem and it is an honor to work with her. The teaching staff is inclusive and friendly, and the children are of course wonderful. Although Shanti Bhavan is in a remote area, I had little trouble communicating with my family and friends. The staff will help you procure a phone card to call home (don't bring one from the states, it probably won't work) and the connection is not great, but very usable. I was able to check my email each Sunday and communicate that way as well.
As a pre-med student, I had come planning to spend most of my time at the Medical clinic (Baldev) but found that working on the campus with the children was far more rewarding and fun. I cannot say that I did not enjoy the times that I was allowed to go to the clinic and villages, but they are nothing in comparison to the time I got to spend teaching and playing with the children. You cannot help but realize, the more time you spend here, just how incredible this school and Dr. George's vision is. It's been a blessing to teach and to learn here at Shanti Bhavan.
14th July, 2005
- Jean Koff:
Duke University, North Carolina, USA.
I only spent a month as a volunteer at Shanti Bhavan, yet I am already looking forward to my return to this school, though that opportunity may not present itself for many years. Each aspect of Shanti Bhavan combines to offer a truly rewarding experience: the campus is serenely picturesque, its buildings open and inviting as well as practical; the faculty and staff extend a similar candor and friendliness—I remember feeling at home by the third day of my stay. Then there are of course the children, an assembly of students who consistently amazed me with their positive energy, bright talent, and zeal for learning. It is often hard to believe that these children, thriving under the George Foundation's mission to provide them with instruction and nourishment of the mind, body and spirit, hail from the poorest of poor families in neighboring villages. Such an enthusiastic group of learners within this “haven of peace” creates a near-utopian atmosphere for volunteer teachers.
I arrived at Shanti Bhavan unsure of what I would teach; I had listed my topics of interest and expertise in my application, but the administrators had not specified in which subjects they would need my services the most. Although I coped with the materials available, I feel that I could have developed much more comprehensive lesson plans had I been able to prepare them in advance in the United States and bring over helpful teaching tools. Since Shanti Bhavan relies heavily on charitable donations for school supplies, there are some gaps in the materials teachers have at their disposal. For instance, the school had no middle school biology textbooks yet, though I believe it will receive some in an upcoming shipment. Items such as computer programs, CDs, videocassettes, DVDs, sheet music, and of course, books, all would have been easily packed into my suitcase had I known of the school's need before my departure. This is not to say that Shanti Bhavan's facilities are ill equipped: on the contrary, I was impressed by the selection of books (reference and literature) in the library and by the computer labs that students use every day. I quickly adjusted to the absence of internet access (one must venture an hour by bus into the town of Hosur during the weekend to surf the net), and I am told that the school should obtain wireless access within a few months.
As far as accommodations go, I was pleasantly surprised by the level of comfort I enjoyed at Shanti Bhavan. I shared a bedroom and bathroom (both very clean) with two other volunteers, and we remained grateful for warm showers and the agreeable climate. For the most part, screens on the windows and careful attention to quickly shut our door kept out mosquitoes, but when they did at one point become a bit more numerous, the facilities staff sprayed our room, which immediately allayed the problem. We could send in our laundry to be hand-washed every morning, and a housekeeper cleaned our room each weekend. The food served in the dining hall five times a day was, though occasionally a bit spicy, quite tasty and satisfying. If ever any of us were unable to eat the food, or felt that we were missing out on key nutrients, the facilities director was only too happy to arrange for diet supplements or less-spicy alternatives. To ensure that we received enough protein, for instance, we were served a hardboiled egg with breakfast. In addition, we were given fresh fruit (mangoes, custard apples, and figs) each week to eat at our leisure. Although we ate a LOT of rice and curry at Shanti Bhavan (and of course I often pined for the familiar food of home), I always found the meals both appetizing and gratifying.
I could pack this closing paragraph with clichés about learning as much from the children as they did from me—and they would all be true, but instead I will just reiterate what a happy, stimulating environment Shanti Bhavan provides for teachers and students alike. The kids are eager to learn whatever you are eager to teach them, which sets the stage for a fruitful exchange of knowledge and culture. I hope my time at Shanti Bhavan will not be just a once-in-a-lifetime experience, because I feel that the lives and futures of these children have become inextricably woven with my own, and I want so badly to witness their continuation on the path to growth and success. The mission of this organization is truly a noble one, and I am proud to have contributed to it in whatever small way I could.
12th July, 2005
- Lindsay Davis:
University of Utah, USA.
I worked mainly with grades 1-4, in reading, writing and grammar. I was amazed at how well the students speak and write in English, as it is a second language for them. All students were eager and excited to learn. They were inquisitive and loved sharing what they know and think. I loved their creativity and their desire to do well in their studies.
The staff was very friendly and supportive. I felt welcome from the moment I was picked up to the moment I was dropped off at the airport. All were very accommodating and went above and beyond to ensure my comfort while I was there. Many were eager to learn anything they could from me and I feel fortunate to have learned much about teaching from them as well.
The school and its grounds are well kept and comfortable. It is very quiet and peaceful throughout the campus. The food was delicious—very rarely did I find it to be too spicy. I did, however, crave foods that I am used to eating at home, and you may want to bring or buy once you arrive, a small stash of snacks.
I would also suggest that you try to find out exactly what you will be doing for the school before coming to India . I had a general idea, but I feel that I could have come with more materials to use for teaching and to leave behind for the students and staff had I been given my schedule ahead of time (and perhaps an outline of the specific topics I might be teaching).
There are things that the school can improve on, which is the case in any school. I was impressed, however, with the manner in which the administration spoke with me and the other volunteers regularly, seeking our opinion on their curriculum and overall program, wanting to hear outside points of view on what they could make better for their students.
I fully enjoyed my stay at the school and my time with the students, staff and everyone I met that has anything to do with The George Foundation. I would encourage anyone interested in spending time in India to spend time as a volunteer at the school or to at least visit the campus. It is truly an enlightening and inspiring experience!
- Brian Schofield:
Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH.
My name is Brian Schofield and I graduated in June of 2003 from Dartmouth College located in Hanover, New Hampshire. As a volunteer at Shanti Bhavan from March 22, 2005 to April 20, 2005, I taught Literature and Geography. In addition to teaching in a lecture format, I tutored students that needed extra help in Math. I was also able to help the school by sorting school supplies and books. My recommendation is to come to Shanti Bhavan with an open mind about ways that you can help the school because helping out with simple tasks such as sorting supplies is deeply appreciated.
I was also able to combine my interest in education and healthcare by volunteering at the Baldev Medical Center. Baldev is located about 5 minutes from Shanti Bhavan by a jeep ride, which is provided. The George Foundation and the Baldev Medical Project have a strong interest in improving the health of rural villagers through health education and medicines. The projects that I worked on at Baldev included providing de-worming tablets to villagers and educating villagers about AIDS. The education and medicine are focused most intensely on poorer villages. My overall impression is that Shanti Bhavan and Baldev Medical Center provided me with a unique opportunity to learn about Indian culture, teach children, and be involved with rural healthcare. Now I will speak in more depth about the issues that I have introduced.
My interaction with the school children was the highlight of the trip. The students were bright-eyed and enthusiastic. They were extremely well mannered and polite. They truly enjoyed answering questions presented during lecture. Occasionally, students need their participation restrained so that other children can have an opportunity to answer questions. The high ambition of a few students needs to be monitored, so that the rest of the class is not left behind. Outside the classroom the children love to involve you in their outdoor play activities. If you enjoy sports there are many different activities that you can play with them such as soccer, cricket, or baseball. Students also enjoy joking around or telling you about their lives. Most of the time you will see the children smiling. The children are truly the focus of The George Foundation. They are also a great source of energy and source of inspiration.
The school provides an excellent environment for learning. There is a large open hall where students put on presentations and conduct daily assemblies. The school considers international, national, and local events during assembly. The children are taught to think globally, which I feel will strongly enhance their success in the global market place. Students or teachers will present the daily news. During my stay I was able to stay updated with world events as well as learn about Indian news and culture. For example, one presentation was focused on the Tamil New Year, which I was eager to learn about. I found the emphasis on local news to be extremely important because it allows the students to remain active in their culture. The classrooms are clean and pleasant to work in. They take advantage of sunlight to light the rooms during the day, since the daylight is adequate and turning on lights is not necessary. However, in the evenings lights are necessary in the classrooms and it becomes challenging for students to study or to teach in the evening when there are power cuts. During the month that I volunteered there was only one major power cut during the evening, which effected the amount of time that I was able to tutor. I have heard that this is a challenging problem that they have faced before and from my understanding power cuts are an issue that is due to the supplier.
My impression of the staff is positive. They deeply care about the children and strongly desire to help them succeed. The staff is focused on developing complete students. They are dedicated to instructing children in extracurricular areas such as physical fitness and the arts. With a piano always playing and multiple student presentations, Shanti Bhavan is a place where there is always artistic stimulation. This environment supports the students’ desire to express their creativity. Due to the intimate class size, teachers are able to individually talk to students to guide them if they are experiencing challenges academically. The one on one interaction that is provided at this school is essential for academic success. I attribute most of my personal success during grade school to the opportunity to receive outside guidance by teachers that were truly concerned with my academic success.
My experience in the surrounding rural villages was eye opening. The poorer laborers live in homes that look like shacks and have poor hygiene. The roads have a lot of animal feces. Landowners live in dwellings that are much better maintained. Since most villagers do not wear sandals, there are significant foot problems due to worms. I find that The George Foundation has been of great service to improving the health of villagers. The George Foundation provides medicine and also educates the villagers about disease prevention. The emphasis of the Baldev project is not to provide a one time shot, but rather through preventive medicine and education the villagers will be empowered to make decisions to improve their health. I was glad to be involved with health education because I believe strongly that the best healthcare involves teaching people about how to prevent disease.
In addition to my response to my volunteer experience, I want to lay some fears to rest and give some insight into the living conditions. The living conditions exceeded my expectations. I honestly expected a dirty room with a lot of bugs and mosquitoes. I shared a double with a friend and fellow Dartmouth Alumni. We both had our own beds with two box springs. There was a shower and a toilet in our room. We were provided with clean sheets, a pillow, and a towel. The windows have small wire that prevents bugs from entering. If you request, there is a cleaner on premises that will clean your room once a week. I deeply appreciated the janitor’s effort in keeping our room clean. Also the school offers a laundry service. The rural method for cleaning is quite rough so you might want to hand-wash delicate items.
Although there are preventive measures taken and the room is kept clean, do not be surprised if a gecko or a couple of mosquitoes enter into your room. If you are concerned about being disturbed by geckos, I recommend you put away all the food in your room because they maybe attracted to left out food. If you are concerned about mosquito bites you should buy a fly net that can be placed over your bed when you sleep. I also took a malarial drug called Malarone, but the risk for malaria in this area of India is very low and the period of March through April is not the main season for Malaria even in high-risk areas in India.
Some potential volunteers maybe concerned about food. The food eaten at the Shanti Bhavan kitchen is free for staff. The kitchen at Shanti Bhavan is kept very clean and the chefs will alter your breakfast to include an egg if you are used to a high protein diet. I was sick for about a week, but I determined the cause was a dirty water bottle that I was given upon my arrival. You do not need water-purifying tablets because the water at Shanti Bhavan is taken from very deep wells. I suggest that you bring a water bottle or canteen with some detergent to keep it clean after use. Another comment about the food is that nearly 90% of all the meals that you receive are vegetarian. I enjoy eating vegetarian so this was positive for me. You can supplement your diet with protein bars or on the weekends you can pay to eat at the faculty cafeteria, which offers non-vegetarian meals. The faculty cafeteria, which is located away from the school, provides an excellent opportunity to socialize with the faculty and enjoy life outside of the school.
My overall opinion of the opportunity to teach at Shanti Bhavan and volunteer at Baldev Medical Center is very positive. I plan to comeback in the future. Once I return to the United States of America, my goal is to inform other Dartmouth students about this volunteer opportunity. Shanti Bhavan and Baldev Medical Center have too many volunteers during the summer months because that is when most students are free. Dartmouth students are free for two-month intervals during the academic year from September to June, since many students spend the summer between their second and third year taking classes at Dartmouth College. Knowing Dartmouth students and their interest in international service and healthcare, I believe that this project will have a very enthusiastic response on campus. I hope that Dartmouth students are able to share their talents and their passion for service with Baldev Medical Center and Shanti Bhavan School in the future.
- Ernest Lee:
Dartmouth CollegeHanover, NH.
Let me start off with a complaint. I find a deadline for articulating my experience of spending even one month here at Shanti Bhavan quite inconvenient. First off, the required period of reflection that should precede verbalization needs to be much longer than the time I have before I go. Only after a period, of at least a few days away from here and taking a few moments to look back, would I truly be able to provide a decent testimonial. Secondly, I’d much rather be spending my last day here with the kids.
That having been said let me see what I can do. I only discovered the fruits of volunteer work recently, in the spring of 2003. Although I will not be able to make a career of it, I have been enriched in ways that can not be valued in dollars or rupees. To date this experience is far and away the most memorable.
My dream in life is to travel the world and see all that there is to see. My passion is helping others. After graduating college, I thought, “what better way to spend my time before moving onto higher education than volunteering abroad?” I researched possible destinations and I must admit India never came to mind. For that idea I need to thank my friend Brian for introducing me to this “peaceful place” by way of his relationship with Dr. George.
When I checked out Shanti Bhavan’s website, my excitement grew. It sounded like a perfect place. I was enthusiastic about being a part of the mission, curriculum and well-rounded focus that The George Foundation has set in place. When I finally purchased my travel book for the sub-continent I realized that a month here would not be enough to witness all that India has to offer.
Travelling from New York, the voyage is long and the time difference is huge. One of the biggest challenges is simply adjusting. Perhaps I am an outlier, but it took me almost twice as long as the “one day for each hour time difference” to acclimate to the change in time. Making things tougher are other variations from what I am used to, such as climate and diet. I love the sun, but even in March, when New York still has snow, the intensity of the midday rays this close to the equator, is unbearable. Since about the midway point of my stay I’ve learned to avoid exposure when it is too hot; the scheduled rest time during the hottest part of the day helps in that respect. As far as meals go, it is a difficult transition from my protein-centered dining at home to the vegetarian fare of South India. I struggled mightily at first. In the beginning, the rate at which I began supplementing, if not replacing, meals with my protein bars would leave me with none left before I had to return home. Fortunately, after a couple of weeks my body got used to the options available and more recently I have actually come to enjoy a large portion of the meals. Moreover, I have plenty of protein bars remaining. Pradeep & Co. took good care of us (Brian and I) in the dining hall, and Shanti’s idea of having eggs and oatmeal for breakfast eased our tummies.
Another change from what I am used to is in the living conditions. Lying on a tropical latitude the wildlife here is abundant, beautiful and, at times, a little too up-close and personal. While the flora on the campus is absolutely gorgeous, the fauna I have seen and in some cases shared a room with, have been less aesthetically pleasing. Among the biggest nuisances are the bugs. The barrage of mosquitoes, other biting insects, ants, beetles and bugs I’ve never seen before is incessant. A mosquito net and bug spray is helpful; unfortunately, I found both to be to big a hassle. The small geckos that are everywhere including the outside of our bathroom window are unnerving at first and irritating when they leave excretory gifts on your bed and luggage but their strict diet of bugs, bugs and more bugs make them tolerable. One lizard was a bit too big and was curious enough to try a sealed breakfast bar that I had left on the desk in our room overnight. The spiders I did not mind either as they perform the same function as the smaller reptiles but other arachnids such as scorpions are less desirable. Most recently we have had visits from the tiniest of rodents, no bigger than my thumb. Beyond the roommates of other species, the actual living space, the bed and the bathroom aren’t what they are at home but you get used to it. By no means would I consider the guesthouse, “roughing it.”
Then there are the cultural differences. For instance, the taboo on sunbathing or perhaps more generally, on public partial nudity. As I mentioned, I love the sun; I try to soak it up when I get the chance, as there aren’t many outside the summer months in New York. So if you are planning on getting a tan, expect tan lines and a good old fashion farmer’s tan.
Another taboo is any physical contact between the opposite sex. What Americans view as platonic but affectionate gestures like a hand on the shoulder and pats on the back are loaded with romantic connotations here. On the other hand, the contact among guys here is greater than what you will find in the States.
Making things easier is the staff on-hand. It is quite a luxury to have laundry service seven days a week. It only took a phone call to Ragu at the Foundation House to get our room cleaned any day of the week as well.
The teaching staff is here for the same reason I came, the children. It is hard not to fall in love with them and I am a big softie. My main responsibility was to teach three classes in tandem with Brian. I got to know the 7 th graders best as I taught them both English Literature and Geography for the month. I also taught Geography to the 6 th graders. Neither of these subjects are my forte but I enjoyed the challenge . It is a great feeling to find a way to successfully convey knowledge that a class is having trouble grasping. I also have a new found appreciation for the work that teachers have to put in to prepare lessons, as well as, create, review and grade assignments and exams.
However, it was the time spent outside the classroom that I found most rewarding. Prior to exam week I was allowed to tutor a couple of 7 th and 6 th graders who were having trouble with math for various reasons. It was nostalgic for me to review things like writing algebraic equations from word problems and determining angles involving parallel lines. It is great to see the light bulb go off after working on a problem for some time.
Even more fun for me was story time. For two weeks I read to the younger children before bedtime. Having the children gather ‘round in their pajamas is too cute. I think the single most memorable sight and sound for me is the look of eagerness and suspense built up in a 2 nd grader’s face followed by a “wow” exhaled in unison upon turning the page.
In addition to the academic aspect of life I did my best to oversee rather than instruct during physical education on days when tennis was played. Tennis is a “rich man’s sport” simply for the fact that you can only have so many players on one court and you need a certain number of balls and rackets to practice. While I love the sport and it is a game I think everyone should know it is near to impossible to teach fifteen youngsters or more on one court. More reasonable use of time, facilities and equipment would be to break the classes up into smaller groups. This is especially important with beginners, as building a good foundation with proper mechanics is vital. After a couple of days trying to teach, I just let the kids hit against the wall three at a time with other kids acting as ball boys as they were used to doing. My only addition was to have the remaining students take part in court work drills so that they would at least get some exercise rather than just stand around waiting for their three minute shift at the wall. I was pleasantly surprised to discover the children actually enjoyed it.
Then there are the experiences beyond the campus. I did not understand the importance of visiting the local villages until I saw it for myself. While helping out Baldev Medical Center with their de-worming and AIDS awareness projects I saw first hand the squalor these people had to endure. Yet, it will be hard to forget the stark contrast of the bright colored clothes the children wore against the drab colors that surrounded them. The ultimate revelation was that the majority of the students at Shanti Bhavan came from homes and villages just like the ones I visited. Furthermore, the caste system is still strongly rooted in Indian society, especially in the more rural areas like this part of Tamil Nadu and around seventy percent of the student body come from the Dalite, or “Untouchable” class. The “Untouchables” are so low that they are below the caste system and are literally viewed as untouchable in the physical sense. Some doctors will drape a cloth over a patient’s arm before taking his pulse if he is Dalite. I do not know what kind of contribution I was able to make in this aspect of my stay here but I certainly take away quite bit.
Another event I will not forget is the chariot festival in a nearby town. Because we were accompanied by Tommy, one of the facilities managers and a good friend, and coming from Shanti Bhavan we were given the honor of taking part in worship both in front of the chariot and inside the temple.
At the same time, nothing is perfect. The rural location of the school creates a wonderful atmosphere for children to grow, develop and learn. Yet, if I had made this trip alone I believe I would have felt rather isolated. The only contact from within the confines is a landline that has a spotty connection, and the time difference makes calling home even more challenging. I hope, to everyone’s benefit here, that The George Foundation will be able to improve the infrastructure and provide access to the Internet on a broad scale. Of course, consistent electricity and improved phone lines are probably higher priorities.
I also found the rigidity to which the children are kept to their schedules hard to comprehend. It was frustrating to me if not the students when they had to go to prep class, something along the lines of study hall, as we are about to finally solve a math problem during individual, one-on-one tutoring. Rather than finish up a homework problem with me and understand what they are doing, the students have to pick-up and go to do homework on their own with no guarantee that they will make it to the end point successfully. It is either that or start again the next day. Still, I know little about boarding schools and how they operate. Most likely, the order and formality followed here is in place for a good reason.
Another point I’d like to make, one that is no epiphany is that I fear that these children are growing up without enough male role models and experiences outside of Shanti Bhavan. I will venture to say that the biggest impact Brian and I may have on these children comes simply from being young men. I know in my own life, the presence of my tennis coach really shaped my personal development. I also know that a male influence not only weighs on the boys but the girls as well and not just the adolescents but the younger children too. I realize that there are more women in teaching and taking part in volunteering and there is no obvious solution, but I implore any man reading this to seriously consider spending some time here. The impact you have will be reciprocated if not in the same way.
The second point has no easy solution either. Both the location and the cost of field trips are prohibitive to learning outside the classroom. Nevertheless, I think it is important that the children see what the world around them is like. Even what volunteers from abroad tell them can not compare to experiencing things for themselves. I hope the funding for more frequent field trips can be found in the future.
I also do not understand the investment in an art museum. The idea itself is admirable but when it is used as a storage space I have to question the timing of its construction. On the other hand, the restaurant for the staff is a great idea. The food is rather tasty and the change in atmosphere from the dining hall is a good way to end the week. As much as I love kids, everyone needs a break if only long enough for a meal and some dancing.
All that aside, I can not stress enough what a positive experience this has been overall. The exuberance and energy of youth is utterly rejuvenating. Understanding what The George Foundation has done for these children by seeing where they come from and where they are now is amazing. The friendliness of the staff is reassuring.
I would like to thank Dr. George, Mr. Jude, Ms. Deny, Mrs. Law, Ms. Beena, Ms. Shanti, Raghu, Tommy, Nurse Annie, the entire staff and of course the children of Shanti Bhavan. In a short month you have enriched my life in ways I probably do not even realize yet and given me memories I will not soon forget.
I hope I have been able to bring my own kind of energy to intermingle with yours, provoke thought, stir curiosity and a desire to learn, and most importantly share my affection and love with you all.
Comments by Shanti Bhavan management:
1) Volunteers are required to submit their report prior to the end of their term at Shanti Bhavan. This policy was instituted following failures on the part of some prior volunteers to submit their reports after leaving, despite repeated requests.
2) Swim wear is permitted at our swimming facility, and not in other areas of the school. Also, while Indians are known for their hospitality and warmth towards foreigners, public display of affections is not customary. We expect volunteers to respect host country norms.
3) As in any tropical country, India has an abundance of God’s creatures, both small and large. While the cleaning staff routinely sweep and mop the facilities, we do not “sanitize” all rooms of every insect. While the windows have mess shutters, insects do get in through tiled roof and when doors are left open. However, most bugs, including mosquitoes, are generally harmless (no malaria cases noted in the area recently). Volunteers hopefully learn from the experience of living in harmony with the nature at Shanti Bhavan.
4) A majority of the people living in surrounding villages are generally poor, though their living standard has improved considerably as a result of our foundation’s social work over the past several years. Volunteers who wish to make financial contributions toward poverty eradication may contact the foundation HO.
- Montserrat Casas:
Esade University, Barcelona, Spain.
My flight landed at Bangalore airport very early in the morning of November 4 th 2004, and I was very excited and a little nervous for the new experience I was about to start. But there was no reason at all for any stress: from the moment I met the car driver that The George Foundation had sent for me until the end, everything ran as smoothly as I could hardly imagine. The George Foundation is an extremely professionally run NGO and all projects that I had the chance to see are not only managed in an efficient way but also planned and designed with a high sense of esthetics and beauty.
When I arrived at Shanti Bhavan I understood that I was very lucky to have been accepted by Mrs Law as a volunteer. Shanti Bhavan is a gorgeous place with gardens, flowers, birds, and nice and very well kept buildings in a spectacular surrounding of banana plantations, a lake and Indian natural surroundings. My room was in a nice building and was comfortable, bright and very clean. From my windows I could either see the palm tree garden on the side or the Tillany Museum (like a proud and lonely ship, I always thought) on the horizon.
I enjoyed also the food very much. Indian food is lovely and very tasty and the additional advantage at Shanti Bhavan is that it is not too spicy, safe for a Western stomach and very healthy. Only breakfasts are very different to my usual coffee and croissant, but I got used to them very soon, so I still have the full pack of biscuits that I got in Bangalore intended to be my breakfast. It is admirable how Mrs Shanti and her team are able to serve 5 excellent meals a day to so many people.
I found all staff at Shanti Bhavan very helpful and kind to me all the time. Sometimes it was almost embarrassing because I only had to express a wish and shortly after, somehow, someone had organized to fulfill it. They were all fantastic.
Teachers are very professional and lovely to the children, and they make huge efforts to make learning enjoyable to them. The high level education with relatively limited resources that are given, is very demanding and costs a lot of energy to teachers. In fact, at the end of the term you could see from the teachers’ faces that they were exhausted and that their annual leave was really well deserved. I had the feeling that an improvement of the outside communication (more and better telephones, Internet access) may be helpful to the staff.
Although both staff and teachers do their best to educate the children, and they give them a lot, in some cases, specially the staff, have a way of treating children that could look not adequate or even rude to someone who comes from a different culture like me.
I am not sure if I can add anything new to what has been said already about the fantastic children of Shanti Bhavan: the are lovely, very lively, very keen to learn, respectful, disciplined, enjoy all that they do and they are healthy, both physically and mentally. I enjoyed much teaching them and their company otherwise, whether it was a picnic day or playing soccer.
At the beginning of my time at Shanti Bhavan, some reflections about all funds and resources being invested in the children went through my mind. I was thinking how many families and children of the very poor neighborhood could be helped with the same amount of money. But then I was fortunate enough to find in the school library the last book of Dr. George “India Untouched”. It helped me to understand the Foundation’s projects and the ideas and principles behind it. I was fascinated and deeply touched by his clear statements on human rights, democracy and against corruption, and I also learned a lot about India. Reading Dr. George’s book was very inspiring and I would highly recommend it to anyone who is working on international aid to development. Actually, I plan to take several copies with me for my Spanish friends.
From my experience so far, I find Indian people very gentle, warm and with a very special way of showing hospitality. Also, I have to admit that I have a weakness for the Indian way of saying yes. It is a very sweet movement of the head to the right and left side, that in Europe could be understood as “maybe” or “no”. This “yes-movement” is especially sweet if done by children, so at the beginning I sometimes asked the children at dinnertime if they were enjoying the food…just for the pleasure of seeing all children around the table saying yes at once.
I can definitely say that my 6 weeks in Shanti Bhavan were a fantastic experience that I hope I can repeat it sometime. I would like to thank all staff, and specially Mrs. Law, Ms Beena and Mrs Shanti for their continuous help. To the children I wish that they really do the best out of this privileged education.
This report was written by our first volunteer from Spain, Ms. Montserat Casas. Montserrat brought her special brand of Barcelona sunshine to our children. We are grateful for her music.
- Lindsay Oishi:
Brasenose College, Oxford, U.K
I knew for a long time that I wanted to come to India, but I was not sure what would be the best use for my time and money. Fortunately, I came across the George Foundation’s website while looking for volunteer positions, and was impressed by its clarity and professionalism. Other organizations offered to place volunteers in various service projects for a fee, and seemed both poorly run and motivated by profit. In contrast, the George Foundation struck me as sincerely and admirably committed to improving the lives of poor people in India, and I volunteered my help in the hopes of contributing to this cause.
Mrs. Law, the principal of Shanti Bhavan, responded to my inquiry with friendly alacrity, and I was very excited at the prospect of helping teach English and music for five weeks during August and September of 2004. I must admit that I was somewhat anxious as well. I had little conception of what my daily life would be like.
As soon as I arrived in India, however, my questions were answered and worries put to rest. Mrs. Law met me at the airport herself and briefed me on Shanti Bhavan during the one and a half hour drive to school. Although I arrived late in the evening, Shanti, the assistant facilities manager, stayed up to show me to my room and give me a specially prepared meal. I was amazed at the care both she and Mrs. Law took to ensure that I was comfortable. The guest room in which I stayed was clean and spacious. The grounds of the school are beautiful – indeed, Shanti Bhavan reminds me in many ways of my home, Hawaii. I found the food healthy and usually enjoyable. During my stay, I was continually impressed by the thoroughness of the woman who cleaned my room. High standards of service are, in fact, a constant theme in Shanti Bhavan. All members of the staff are competent and efficient in what they do, whether it is teaching, cooking, cleaning or washing clothing.
Such skill and efficiency requires a great deal of effort, as I quickly discovered. On my first day, children and staff were amused by the fact that I slept until 1pm due to jet lag, and I was allowed to simply find my way around, meet the children, and orient myself to my new surroundings. Once I had acclimated, however, I found that my schedule was very busy. Mrs. Law allowed me to teach the 6 th and 7 th grade English language and literature classes independently, although she often observed and participated. I taught singing for each class from pre-school to fifth grade, instructed thirteen children in individual piano lessons, and conducted a choir. Since I have experience in preparing high school and college students for admissions exams, Mrs. Law asked me to teach the 6 th and 7 th graders strategies for standardized tests. My schedule was exhausting but extremely rewarding. I often thought of how lucky I was to be given so many opportunities to teach on my own, despite not having a degree in education. And by far the best part of my work was the constant, close interaction I had with the children of Shanti Bhavan.
It is difficult to convey how special the children are without sounding excessive or insincere. But they are truly special. Perhaps the best word to describe them is “bright.” They are not only bright in the mental sense of being curious, able to converse intelligently and learn quickly, but also in the emotional sense of being confident, loquacious and happy. From the moment I arrived they bombarded me with questions; not one was afraid to approach me or any other stranger who came to Shanti Bhavan. Their enthusiasm for learning is incredible, and their behavior is almost impeccable. Although they can be mischievous – two of my piano students made a game of hiding my belongings when I wasn’t looking – they are never malicious or seriously disobedient. It is often hard to believe that they come from extremely deprived backgrounds. Dr. George and Mrs. Law were kind enough to arrange for me a visit to several of the children’s villages, to see first hand the conditions in which they have lived. The children of Shanti Bhavan are quick to laugh and play, incessantly curious, clean, orderly, gentle and kind. In utter contrast, many of their home environments are depressingly barren, dirty, chaotic and violent. Poverty and hopelessness are linked shackles that imprison so many of these people. In the US and UK, children from such socially and economically disadvantaged homes frequently have mental, emotional and behavioral problems through no fault of their own but due to the deplorable conditions of their home lives. Shanti Bhavan, which appropriately means “Haven of Peace,” gives children a chance to escape that outcome.
The first person to thank for this possibility is, of course, Dr. George, who is one of the most admirable persons I have ever met. Furthermore, the staff members are uniformly committed to their jobs and especially to the children. Mrs. Law, the principal, and Ms. Beena, the vice principal, are skilled administrators and both should be commended for their dedication and hard work. In every circumstance, they consider the welfare of the school and the children before their own. They also know how to handle the inevitable conflicts among staff members and other managerial headaches with the right mixture of authority and kindness. The instructors and residential staff are similarly devoted to teaching and caring for the children in the best possible way. On several occasions when I went to Bangalore with the teachers on our day off, I observed that many of them spent their free time buying supplies to enrich their classes and gifts with which to reward their students. They also went out of their way to make me feel welcome – after my first real day of teaching, I was specially invited to an impromptu party for one of the teacher’s birthdays, and even danced with them a bit (despite my embarrassment)!
My experience here was wonderful and it is difficult to find areas in which I could make useful suggestions. Perhaps one thing that would make life better for the staff would be increased opportunities for them to stay in touch with their family and friends: private telephones, computers with connection to the internet, or more frequent visits home. They all work long hours and put in a great deal of effort, while battling the twin heartaches of homesickness and loneliness. Since I have not been educated as a teacher, I hesitate to make any suggestions regarding the education of the children. However, I occasionally felt that the children are almost too obedient, and that they depended upon me and the other staff for detailed guidance in many areas of their lives. Perhaps as they grow older and more independent, they will benefit from a slightly less structured schedule and an appropriately less sheltered environment.
I hope that I will be able to see these children again as they grow up. If there is anything that I regret about my time here, it is that I was not able to stay longer or do more. It is rare to find any organization that runs with such a clear sense of purpose, or people so dedicated to that achieving that purpose. Among those that do, it is even rarer to find one with such a truly valuable goal. As I run out of positive adjectives to describe Shanti Bhavan, I can only conclude by thanking everyone for their kindness and wishing the children all the best for their bright future.
September 23, 2004
- Elbereth Walker:
Oregon, U.S.A
My experience here at Shanti Bhavan has been both amazing and rewarding. The school is very well run, especially considering the large number of children, the range of ages, and all the daily activities. In spite of the busy schedule, the children seem to be relaxed, have a great deal of fun and there is also great harmony.The children are quite active. There seems to be adequate play and rest time and a good balance between academic and fun activities. Nutrition and hygiene are also such a way of life that the children accept eating nutritious foods they may not like and practice cleanliness when they do not want to, all without complaint. I have not before experienced, either in my home with my younger brothers and sisters or in other schools and daycare environments, such cooperation from children. With all these outstanding qualities, excellent staff, beautiful homey environment, and of course the "super-duper" marvelous children Shanti Bhavan stands out as a top school and wonderful learning experience for life.The staff, while dividing their attention among all the children, maintain personal relationships with each child. Many have expressed a love for the children as though they are their own family. The children shared with me both the love they have for their homes and families, as well as the love they feel for Shanti Bhavan and the staff, their second family. I read in a previous volunteer's statement from the Internet that she saw some displays of discipline, which for her were disturbing and abusive. This worried me, but I have not witnessed anything abusive myself and hope that this means it does not exist. What discipline I have seen I have always been free to discuss with the staff.
The few things that I feel could be corrected are the rough manner children can be yanked around, for example when trying to arrange for an assembly or story time, and the harsh manner in which they are sometimes spoken to. The two more severe disciplinary practices that I have seen are the smacking up side the head and hitting on the face. Otherwise spankings and time outs I feel are appropriate and, on occasion, necessary. In general though, the discipline I saw at Shanti Bhavan only goes so far as scolding and restrictions of activities or snacks. However, the balance found in the daily life at Shanti Bhavan is not just bacause of a well coordinated schedule, providing nutritious meals, proper hygenic or discipline, rather it is the practice of ideals set out for the school which are fundamental in life. The staff and children are encouraged to pursue excellence in everything they do. Respect for others, all religions and cultures, and the feeling of ownership and personal belongings, is also upheld. Children are taught the value of right and wrong and are rewarded and praised when respectful behavior is demonstrated. Because Shanti Bhavan is non-denominational the daily prayers are not directed to any one religion, but remain open and all encompassing by simply giving thanks for what they have and blessings to everyone in their lives whether at Shanti Bhavan or outside.Listening to the children I have not heard many complaints, but a happy staff is another piece of making the whole function, and both in the class and in the living situation I feel there are areas for improvement. As far as their academic standards went, I was not very involved in that area and only heard from teachers a feeling at times that the children were not yet meeting the high standards desired in the world class education aimed for at Shanti Bhavan. I did see both in and out of the classroom how difficult it can be controlling the children and their behaviors. I think it might be useful for the teachers to gain some more effective classroom control techniques which Mrs. Law and other experienced teachers could offer. If children act up too much and it effects their studies, then different methods should be shared to allow teachers to get the most out of their class time while keeping it on task and enjoyable.
Life at Shanti Bhavan for staff members I found to be a bit rigorous. While the goal is to hire and retain staff members who want to give their full effort and commitment to the school, I find retaining them can become hard under these circumstances. Not everyone can dedicate themselves to their work in the same way. While I found the food wonderful and nutritious, it is not always what the staff can be expected to eat. A simple improvement for example would be access to a communal kitchen or refrigerator in the staff quarters, which I think would greatly enhance the living environment for the staff.In my role as a volunteer, I found everyone very caring and willing to help. It was obvious that the staff gain as much from the children as they offer. My stay here was very rewarding and I gained more than I could ever express. I will never forget my time at Shanti Bhavan. I am sure the things I have learned will continue to influence and improve my life for years after. As I continue my travels and prepare for college, I hope one day to return to India and the children of Shanti Bhavan.
November 2003
Principal's Comment on Shanti Bhavan volunteer Elbereth Walker's evaluation report
We accept that few incidents of the kind reported here do occur even though we work at educating staff about our policy and the appropriate methods and ways of disciplining children. Frustration with children's behavior reaches high levels resulting in impulsive reactions like slapping or expressing irritation.
Providing even minimum common cooking facilities for teachers will create problems with other categories of staff, as well as administrative problems of cleanliness and maintenance in the teachers' quarters. At this stage of the project, we are not able to consider the suggestion.
- Tiffany O’Donnell:
University of Montreal, Canada
I enjoyed my stay at Shanti Bhavan very much. The atmosphere at the school is friendly and safe, and it is difficult not to feel good while you are there. It really is world class. Compared to the government school I visited in a nearby village, Shanti Bhavan is a heaven. The quality of education is outstanding, due mostly to the diligent efforts of the teaching staff to make learning “fun” (which, I am under the impression, is a somewhat unexplored concept in most government schools). The grounds are beautifully kept and things seem to run smoothly because of excellent administration and cooperation. It is definitely a healthy learning environment for students and teachers alike. I learned very much, not only specifically about
Shanti Bhavan, but also about the social issues plaguing rural India and about measures that can be taken to lighten these tensions.
The accommodations were fine. At first I was in a room with a tiled roof and little critters could get in, but as soon as I informed the administrators, my room was switched and there was no other problem. The food was generally quite good. I kept a small stash of food in my room or in the refrigerator in the lounge because sometimes I felt quite hungry between meals (my system did not respond well to eating so much rice). The administrators were very accommodating in seeing that I had chapati if I was having trouble with the rice. To me, most of the curries and sauces tasted the same, and it was fine. I did not like breakfast usually. I found the hot breakfasts with chutney quite heavy and sometimes a little sickening in the morning.
The staff was fantastic. All of the teachers were very friendly and receptive. It must be difficult to have a volunteer around because you have to alter your schedule to accommodate extra activities, but everyone was very supportive. Many teachers were as eager to learn as the students were. They are always looking for new teaching resources so they were very receptive to my ideas, and I also learned a great deal from them. The teachers really care for the students; it is very evident. The school runs under very strict guidelines, which is necessary for productivity, but at times I felt that some teachers had an unclear idea of when to employ discipline and when to let things slide. Children need to laugh and play a little bit, and since their schedules are such that free time is very limited, small disruptions of chatter and laughter in class are to be expected. Sometimes the discipline that ensued would be far more disruptive to the class than the original outburst (it was never abusive; I just found that sometimes, the reprimanding was a bit severe for the crime committed). But it is easy to see that the teachers’ actions are always governed by good intentions. Their main concern is to help the children, as well as their peers. They were always willing to answer any questions I had about the school or curriculum and to give me a hand when I asked. Whenever I had more serious questions or requests, I felt completely comfortable going to Mrs. Law, Miss Beena, or Miss Shanti for guidance. All of these women are extremely busy, but always make you feel as though they have all the time in the world for you. I really appreciated this.
There are over 150 children in this school, and they all expect you to remember their names so you have to be very attentive. They are not afraid of authority, but they remain very respectful and loving children. From the minute I arrived, the questions started and they never stopped. The children are curious about everything and some things they ask are very surprising. You really have to be on your toes. Most of the students are very bright and wise beyond their years because of what they have seen and experienced in their lifetimes. They are very open and, for the most part, happy to discuss their home situations and their families (as long as you are willing to reciprocate). For a westerner, some of the things they share with you are difficult to imagine and may be very sad, but you act as though you hear these things everyday and you are un-phased because, for them, that’s life. They taught me as much as I taught them, and they were grateful for every little bit I had to give. They are really an unforgettable bunch, and extremely thoughtful, sensitive, and loving. They really won me over.
I do plan to return to Shanti Bhavan (it has cast its spell). Next time I will come more equipped with photographs, music, videos, books, and other things that would interest the children. They are grateful the most grateful children I have ever met, which makes me wish I could have even done more. This experience has definitely left a mark in me, and I am very grateful to everyone who made it so enjoyable, especially the students. The hardest part of my experience at Shanti Bhavan was saying goodbye.
August 6, 2004
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Olivier Groulx and Joanne Aube-Maurice:
Canada
TRAINING REPORT SUMMER 2003 : General Objective: Our main goal was to be involved in the strategies of intervention of an international NGO promoting a global approach within the community, in the cultural context of rural India. In order to reach this objective, we have been involved in various activities:
Baldev medical and community center
Medical consultations: We improved our clinical judgement as well as our clinical skills by assessing patients with Dr. Saikat. We were exposed to the effects of financial and cultural limits on medical practice and on patients' health. The specialist camp was also interesting opportunity to see patients with numerous diseases that are unusual for us. Although the language barrier limited our possibilities of interacting with patients, our experience at Baldev was a rich immersion in to the clinical world.
Geriatric survey: Even if it was a brief experience, the two weeks we spent screening patients in different villages were very relevant for our formation. Effectively, we improved our self-confidence concerning our physical contact with patients as well as our personal findings. It was also a wonderful incursion into the culture of rural India.
Self-help groups: Attending the women's meetings led us to understand better the concept of empowering the status of this neglected (though crucial) group of the society in order to increase the whole community welfare. We were impressed by their enthusiasm and their good will and would have enjoyed more contacts with them.
Adolescent group: We gave two sessions on first aid and played games with this group. The idea of having informative and interactive sessions with teenagers once every two weeks seemed very interesting to us. We believed that it is a good way to interest them to various subjects, to increase their self-esteem and that it could encourage a proactive behavior in their future life. However, according to us, reaching such objectives would require a strong motivation from the organizers (and more time) to plan more frequent sessions(weekly) with attractive, structured and interactive activities in order to reach the teenager's expectations.
Shanti Bhavan
Children check-up and medical screening: These activities gave us an experience of pediatric follow up as well as precious contacts with Shanti Bhavan's children.
Informative and interactive sessions:
- Growth and change (5th and 6th grades, teachers and staff): The two sessions we gave, the first regarding physical changes and the second emotional changes consisted in an open interesting exchange with children about sexuality. They were very open minded and enthusiastic, which helped us achieve our delicate task.
- AIDS (Two groups: teachers - staff): We referred to our previous experience in AIDS prevention to inform Shanti Bhavan's teachers and staff about this worldwide concern. As we gave two separate sessions, we found easier to communicate with the teachers group because of language matters. We sincerely hope that these sessions will be helpful to Shanti Bhavan's teacher and staff to instruct the children about these crucial topics in future.
- Quebec (2nd to 6th grades and teachers): This cultural presentation on many aspects of life in Quebec was an occasion for the children to learn about a new culture, and or us to share our reality with them.
Personal research
- Health care system: In order to get familiar with the Indian system, we visited many different health care institutions, including a primary health unit, many primary health centers, a governmental hospital (Victoria), a teaching institution (St-Johns) and a private specialized hospital (Hosmat). Moreover we had a brief but interesting contact with the Indian traditional medicine. We also found a lot of information about the healthcare system in the Park textbook.
- Epidemiology: Some readings in the Park textbook and in other medical textbooks as well as discussions with various health actors helped us to have a better ideal of the most prevalent diseases in India.
All these activities were interesting opportunities to reach our numerous objectives. We are very grateful to all the people who accepted to give their precious time to involve us into the different projects and who believed in our contribution. These two months with The George Foundation have been a great human experience that will surely follow us in our future career.
EDPS2000 - JOHNS HOPKINS STUDY
Among all the objectives of our training with The George Foundation, one was to get involved in the EDPS2000 evaluation. Our goals were basically to learn how to lead a survey meant to evaluate the accuracy of a system like EDPS2000, and to understand how this system could be used in order to implement health care in rural areas.
We really enjoyed the way we were integrated into the supervision, the collect of information, and the group discussions. We had good relationships with the social workers, the medical students, the supervisors and the coordinators. The chats we had with different health system actors were very relevant for our future career.
These two weeks of survey led us to some interesting findings about the way the study was run and about the further use of EDPS2000 in India.
1. Running the study
- Leading a study in a developing country requires a lot of supervision to ensure that people collecting information are aware that rigor in their work is crucial for the validity of the survey. In order to avoid mistakes, we insisted a lot on filling the forms properly and completely.
- Most of the problems we met concerned the information we collect:
- for the first two weeks, the interviews with the providers were based on English forms and translated by the students in Tamil, which could lead to translation interpretations by the interviewers; the situation was corrected by the end of the second week.
- some patients were not respected in their refusal to answer the questionnaire, neither were the refuses taken in account which may under or overestimate the patient's satisfaction.
- the presence of a medical student in the provider's office sometimes interfered with the activities conducted by the provider, which could also introduce a bias.
- The randomization of patients going through EDPS was started only after first day
2. Ulterior use of EDPS2000
- In the context of a public PHC in India, EDPS2000 seems to slow down the doctor's work.
- The patient's satisfaction seems to be increased with EDPS. However, it is probably related to the additional attention they get rather than to the supposedly implemented care they receive.
- Some doctors complain of the EDPS operator's lack of training.
- The health providers recognized four major utilities in the system:
- keeping the patient's records
- keeping children immunization and mother health information
- epidemiological surveillance for public use
- patient's health education given by the EDPS reports
- The use of the system in private medical centers could look more adequate regarding the amount of time the doctor spends with the patient, but we are not convince it will help the doctor in assessing the patient. Nevertheless, it could help to keep records of the anterior visits and to give health recommendations to the patient.
- The use of EDPS in assessing patients and giving probable diagnosis seem to be more relevant in sub-centers in the absence of a doctor, where a well trained paramedical worker (eg.VHN) can operate the system. For this use, the diagnosis efficiently should be implemented in order to recognize the level of emergency of the cases. It would then reduce the flow of patients going to the PHCs while giving appropriate care to the sub-centers' patients. However the use of EDPS in the health care system will require the training of new paramedical staff to avoid additional work for the field workers.
- Moreover, the EDPS records should not be added to the already existing records, but rather replace them to avoid multiplication of administration work.
Although we do not know what will be exact use of EDPS2000 in the future, we think it has a very good potential in implementing health care in rural India. We hope that you will find our observations relevant and we are grateful that you gave us the opportunity of joining your team in this study. We will appreciate to receive any further results concerning the study.
July 18th 2003
- Andrew Lauck:
University of California, Berkeley, U.S.A
Coming back to India, and more specifically, Shanti Bhavan, had been a consistent desire of mine from pretty much the day I left almost two and a half years ago. Returning, I knew, would be a difficult situation as I was sure to come with expectations resulting from my first and most impressionable visit. With that in mind, I found it necessary to broaden my activities while working for The George Foundation, on this second visit, from just working at Shanti Bhavan to more of the projects including Baldev Medical Center, EDPS 2000, and Baldev Farms. What was great about this second visit was that through these various projects I gained a better understanding of not only how dedicated The George Foundation is to social change, but in addition I was exposed to the many factors required to run a successful Non-Governmental Organization (NGO). Participation in field work at Baldev Medical Center, as well as financial planning and projections with Baldev Farms helped me "get my feet wet" in several areas of voluntary work. In the public health aspect of the Baldev Medical Center work, I was given much more knowledge of an area in which I may want to further explore as a profession.
Shanti Bhavan
Well the children have grown physically, that was anticipated, but one thing that I was unable to predict before arriving the second time was how much they would have grown mentally, both intellectually and emotionally. I was so pleased to see how all of the children in grades two through five have become so much more grown-up since I last saw them, whether it is with their level of sports skill, or their ability academically. They all seem to be progressing just as they should and it is such a joy to be able to watch them become individuals. One thing I noticed this time was that although progressed in their reading skills, the children were not completely to the level of reading proficiency I thought appropriate to their age. I worked with many of the grades, reading with them and exposing them to more books in the library in the hopes of spawning an interest in reading and in books in general. It would be great if the children could get more help from the staff, both residential and academic, on finding books, and for the promotion of reading. What is such a constant at Shanti Bhavan is the courtesy and respect given to every child and by every child. The atmosphere has not faltered from the warm, friendly, stimulating school I first experienced over two years ago. If anything, the atmosphere at Shanti Bhavan has improved with the addition of staff and new grades, creating an even more lively institution. The children seem to be so at home and comfortable, their schedules full from the moment they wake up until they fall asleep, maintaining a stimulating and stable learning and living environment.
The first time I came I had observed that the residential staff seemed overly strict with the children while the academic staff seemed overly lenient, which I am pleased to see has changed for the better. The housemothers are much more attentive to the children's emotional needs and seem much more affectionate and close to the children. The schoolteachers also seem to have a better hold on the children's attention in class and appear to be more creative and innovative in their approach to lessons. This improvement will hopefully continue as the children get older and more serious in their studies. Though the housemothers and school teachers have assumed more appropriate roles, there still remains a difficulty for the children to adequately identify "at home" time and "at school" time. At a boarding school that may be one of the hardest tasks as the home and the school are both one in the same. Nutritionally the children are very fit, as they have always been at Shanti Bhavan, and the diet is better balanced than the last time I was here. More daily intake of protein seems still advisable, but is by no means a necessity. Overall it is so pleasing to see the continuous commitment of the staff of The George Foundation and Shanti Bhavan to the maintenance of Shanti Bhavan as a cutting edge educational institution and a loving home.
Baldev Medical Center
What used to be forested sprawling land is now a fully functioning community medical center, farm, and museum complex. While at Baldev, I became familiar with the EDPS 2000 computer system, daily activities of a health outreach center, and field-work in the surrounding villages. The staff seems very qualified and of a sufficient number considering the number of patients it takes on a daily basis. The institutional goal of not just providing health care, but also preventative health education and awareness seem to be very active and appropriate to the surrounding rural community's needs. I went into the villages with the social workers and helped in conducting a study on malnutrition of children under twelve years of age. The social workers seemed to have very good rapport with the villagers, both men and women, adults and children, and were able to effectively convey the aims of The George Foundation as it pertained to each community. The staff at Baldev was also very accommodating and attentive to my needs and inputs as far as scheduling and procedure went and I felt at ease working there in every way. I really have no criticisms to note, and feel that Baldev Medical Center will only get better and better with each passing day. The physical facility seems more than adequate and will allow itself to house many more staff and patients in the future.
Baldev Farms
What little I helped with at Baldev Farms was very informative for me and I felt very pleased to be able to participate in the mapping out of the future banana farming. The farm seems to be able to balance planting and harvesting of its current crops while acknowledging the needs of its laborers and staff. From the attention to detail in the planning of the banana farming I hope that the farm will prove to be a lucrative enterprise for The George Foundation and its workers. It will be very successful.
I really cannot sufficiently express the enjoyment I receive at being a contributing part of this organization. Returning to volunteer has cemented a certain aspect of ownership for me here and I feel so at home in such a warm and very familiar environment. My commitment to The George Foundation is most definitely long-term and I depart with the hopes that my contributions at least somewhat match the magnitude of that which I have taken from my experiences here. Like before, I give my most sincere promise that I will return someday, to India and to Shanti Bhavan, if not to work, then certainly to visit. It may be as soon as two years, but certainly no longer than eight years, as I would like nothing more than to see the current fifth graders walk across the stage at their high school graduation eight years from now. Thank you to all who made it possible for me to return to a place so dear to my heart.
June 2002-August 2002
- C. Mark Angelo:
University of Toronto, Canada
Sadly, my stay at Shanti Bhavan has come to an end. If there is one thing of which I am certain, it is that I will cherish the four weeks I spent here for the rest of my life: my experience here at Shanti Bhavan was nothing short of an experience of a lifetime. I feel very special to have been given such an opportunity and hope my efforts were of benefit to all at the school. I can not begin to express the joy and fulfillment I experienced in sharing my love for music with the children and I will greatly miss the kindness and generosity I experienced during my stay here at Shanti Bhavan.
My first impressions of the Shanti Bhavan were very positive. I was very impressed with the modern and well-kept facilities. The staff was very professional and the children lively, keen, intelligent and polite. I have visited international schools around the world in countries such as the United States of America and Trinidad. In my mind, Shanti Bhavan is truly a first class international school.
During my first week at Shanti Bhavan, I was able to get a good feel of the children’s musical abilities. I was very impressed with the speed at which they were able to pick up new tunes and words. In each class I could see a number of talented singers and tested all the children to assess which children demonstrated not only a good voice, but a good ear for music. Throughout my stay, the staff was very helpful in keeping the children quiet when I was teaching and helping out as best they could with all the songs. I would not have been able to do much had it not been for their help and assistance.
At the beginning of my second week, I had the pleasure of meeting the music teacher. We hit it off well and I expressed to her my wish of continuing on her work during those days of the week she could not be at Shanti Bhavan. She gave me guidance in choosing appropriate songs for the children and helped to prepare my weekly programs for the children.
Each day I would take each class separately for singing. During my first week I had discovered that each class had different abilities and learning patterns, so in order to succeed, I would have to handle each class a little differently. With the preschoolers my main objective was to help introduce the English language through song. I worked closely with their teachers to teach them a number of songs, and used animated actions to help them remember all the foreign words as well as keep the classes fun and interesting.
With the kindergarten and grade one classes, my main objective was to instill a love for music in the children. To start the class we would do a short warm up and a few note exercises. Then to ensure their interest in music and singing, we would go over songs they knew and enjoyed. We would then spend about ten minutes on learning new songs, and if there was time remaining, have a musical game to end the class. I learned that to keep the children interested, I myself had to remain animated and lively at all times. I felt the children responded well to the program and learned a great deal in a very short period of time.
For the grade two and three classes, my main objective was to introduce the children to new songs that were challenging both melodically and rhythmically. I would spend a little more time on note exercises and a little less time on songs the children already knew. Most of the period was spent teaching new songs and introducing them to interesting and fun rhythm patterns. They accomplished a lot more than I had expected and surmounted all the challenges I threw their way.
The morning music classes were rather demanding and I welcomed the two hour break that followed lunch. My evenings consisted of piano tuition, games, and choir practice. I found the piano practice sessions very rewarding as I felt I was able to catalyze the students progress by providing them with constructive criticism. I was very happy with their enthusiasm to learn and their natural music ability. Much congratulations to their teacher.
Games period was also very fulfilling as I was given the opportunity to help the children with their soccer skills which were already quite advanced. I challenged them on the field to always play their best. I also took a few basketball lessons with the children, emphasizing passing and shooting techniques. I found the children still a little too young to be starting this sport although they were more than ready to give it their best. Due to the large size of a basketball, I think the children might be better equipped for the sport at the age of nine of ten.
Choir practice was extremely rewarding for me. Having selected the best singers from K.G. to Grade three, I was able to do challenging songs with the children and see a great deal of progress. My main goal was to prepare the children for a concert they would be giving in the first week of July. After listening to the school song and transcribing it to paper, I was able to finally teach the children the song. I spent most of my efforts on making sure that they sang the song correctly, both melodically and rhythmically. Although the song is rather challenging, through perseverance they were able to learn the song perfectly.
Looking back on the past four weeks, I must admit that I greatly enjoyed my stay at Shanti Bhavan. It was an experience I will never forget and I believe I have learned a great deal. I enjoyed every minute I spent with the children and will miss them dearly. Much thanks to the teachers and staff for making my job a great deal more enjoyable and beneficial for the children.
I commend the teachers and staff on the work they are doing at Shanti Bhavan. The bright, lively, energetic, intelligent, polite and loving children attest to all your hard work and effort. As does The George Foundation, I too believe that a nation’s greatest resource is its children; the work you are doing will not only benefit the many talented children of Shanti Bhavan but your country and all those with whom your children come in contact, now and in future. Keep up the spectacular work and may God bless you for your dedication and kind hearts.
Tuesday, June 27, 2000
- C. Lorelle Angelo:
Markham, Ontario, Canada.
Working at Shanti Bhavan has been both a privilege and joy. An institute such as this is a true piece of inspiration in today's world and remains to be a reflection of the very best we can be when faced with adversity.
During my five-week stay at Shanti Bhavan as a music teacher, I was able to observe quite a bit with regards to the institute itself and how it is run. As well, interacting with the children augmented my understanding of the true base upon which this establishment is rooted.
On the night of my arrival at Shanti Bhavan, as I entered the dining room for the first time, the children warmly welcomed me. Their friendly, cheerful dispositions and secure and confident manners is the best indicator that children lead a healthy life in all respects here at Shanti Bhavan. Though at first I worked about the lack of affection for the children due to the absence of parents, my fears were immediately clamed as I observed that the entire staff, especially the house mothers are very loving towards the children. Indeed, the children may be apart from their parents but they gain numerous surrogate mothers and fathers at school.
I was also greatly impressed on the focus placed on keeping the children well rounded. This includes an emphasis in all areas of academics, physical education and development of character. While the children attend class daily, they are also allotted a specific amount of time for play and physical activity. As well, prizes are awarded on a weekly and monthly basis for Co-operation, Courtesy, Responsibility and Effort. This well rounded focus is immensely important of the development of children.
Daily explanation of the international news is also an asset to Shanti Bhavan, as the children are not kept excluded from what is going on in the world. It is also a way of encouraging the children to think of new and effective ways to address world issues.
The only suggestion that I would offer would be to increase the amount of positive feed back and praise given to the children, thereby decreasing the amount of disciplinary action needed. When disciplinary action is required, a greater focus on getting the children to understand why behaviour is inappropriate would be beneficial. It may be helpful to treat chronically disruptive behaviour as a need for reassurance and extra love. This should be freely expressed as opposed to isolating the child.
On a whole, my time here at Shanti Bhavan has been most enjoyable and will be an experience that I will forever hold close to my heart. The generosity and care shown to me by all the teaching staff, housemothers, and maintenance workers truly made me feel at home and part of this Shanti Bhavan family. Truly this institute is far more than just a school, it is a way of life that nurtures children and encourages them to blossom to their full potential.
31st July - 31st August 2001.
- Emma Lynne Mecham:
Brigham Young University, Utah, U.S.A.
I found my time at Shanti Bhavan to be extremely rewarding and educational. Although I was initially skeptical of the idealism that such a place must certainly be founded on, I was soon convinced that the dedication of the people at Shanti Bhavan to the children and to the project may actually succeed in turning this ideal into reality. The project seems a dream come true as a model for other development agencies.
I found the facilities to be comfortable, inviting, and well maintained. The order with which the logistics of Shanti Bhavan operate are admirable. In addition, the eco-friendly nature of the place is to be commended.
The children are unquestionably the most delightful part of Shanti Bhavan. They are kind, open, trusting, and resilient, despite the difficulties of their young lives. I will always remember them with fondness and will follow the success of Shanti Bhavan in granting them an opportunity to reach their tremendous potential with interest.
My interactions with the staff at Shanti Bhavan were always pleasant. Mrs. Law is an incredible principal, with an awareness of each of the children under her care, the needs of the staff and volunteers, and a realistic, but hopeful vision. I could not have been more impressed with her administration of the school. The teaching staff was very patient and accepting of me as a volunteer. For the most part, I found them to be innovative, and resourceful. At times, however, I thought that the style of instruction was based too much on rote memorization.
The housemothers and supervisors treated me with the utmost respect and kindness. I was impressed with their work ethic and their dedication to the children. However, I found their verbal descriptions of how they disciplined very different than the discipline I saw them extending. This is, of course, natural to some degree when dealing with different children at different times.
But I found the inconsistency to be more far-reaching. It seemed to me that many of them were aware of the guidelines for discipline at Shanti Bhavan, but had not incorporated them into their actual handling of the children. They were indoctrinated, but not converted. I found the discipline to be harsh -- physically and verbally -- on a frequent basis. I became aware, either through personal witness or through the children, that they were hit with a stick, insulted, and yelled at on many occasions throughout my six-week stay. This criticism is not confined to the residential staff. On occasion, some of the teachers disciplined in this manner as well. I am aware that my background makes me an outsider to the cultural implications of such discipline, and as such, realize that my observations come from within a different cultural context. From within my personal context I found the discipline employed by many members of the staff at Shanti Bhavan to be abusive.
As a volunteer I was treated with the utmost attentiveness and understanding. Every person I came into contact with at Shanti Bhavan - the cleaning staff, the kitchen staff, the security guards, the gardening staff, the residential staff, the facilities staff, the teaching staff, and the administration -- all extended every possible comfort and kindness to me. My questions were always answered with patience and as far as I could tell, honesty. I found the principle of transparency to be true of the organization in a broad sense.
On the whole, I am delighted that such a place exists, and seems to be flourishing. I have no doubts that the goals and means by which they are achieved at Shanti Bhavan will make it a model institution on which other such institutions may look. The implications of Shanti Bhavan in the lives of these children will certainly be a contribution to positive social change, without cultural detachment, in India. I admire the institution, those who dedicate their careers to it, and those whose vision prompted such a place. The time I spent there was an experience without comparison and I extend my gratitude for the opportunity to participate in this tremendous project.
23rd February 2001
Note:The management has investigated and found 3 or possibly 4 cases where the care giving staff punished some children harshly with a ruler or a stick, and have been verbally abusive. They have been warned that further abusive practices will be dealt with dismissal from the institution.
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Harry Fletcher-Wood
Bristol, UK
I volunteered at Shanti Bhavan from September 2007 until May 2008. During that time, my main activity was teaching English (language and literature) to the seventh and eighth grades, social studies to the fifth grade, and supervising sports in the morning and evening. I also read stories to the smaller children, taught some self-science/life skills classes, offered individual help, and ran team-building activities during the summer camp.
The teaching experience at the school was fantastic. Owing to a shortage of staff, I was wholly responsible for the classes which I taught. Within the syllabus, I was free to innovate in both the material we were studying, and the methods used to teach it. The students responded superbly; with the eighth grade, and, to a lesser extent the seventh, we were able to create something akin to a ‘democratic learning community’, in which the students set tasks, conducted much of their learning at their own pace, and relied on each other for assistance and teaching, while I supervised and assisted. The students are keen to learn, and, when enthused, can work wonders. I learnt an enormous amount from teaching them, and enjoyed almost every lesson I taught.
The other activities and work I did in the school were interesting and enjoyable. Supervising sports is a good opportunity to spend time with the students in a more relaxed setting, and can be great fun. Reading stories to adorable and attentive small children is a wonderful way to finish the day. Mrs Law encouraged me to set up a student council in April, in order to better represent the views of the students to the principal, and vice versa, which I hope will prove a success. There is plenty of scope for volunteers to help in various different areas of school life.
I built strong relationships with many of the students, who are friendly and extremely interesting. Since the students are almost always busy with some allocated task or other, I strongly recommend making the most of opportunities to spend time with them in relaxed settings- sports time, weekends, and assisting them with their ‘community service’ (cleaning and dishwashing) tasks, are some of the best available.
I have little to add to what has previously been written about the facilities and comfort at the school- Shanti J looked after me extremely well, for which I am very grateful. Despite eating huge portions of the food (which was excellent), I lost a lot of weight while I was at the school. I strongly recommend that long-term volunteers take protein supplements of some sort (which I did not). If you have work commitments or other affairs which require extensive access to the internet, I suggest getting them done before or after you are at the school- I followed a job application process while at the school, and found completing it a slightly stressful experience.
I cannot recommend strongly enough taking the time to volunteer at Shanti Bhavan, it can be an extremely powerful and life-changing experience, and is a chance to do something truly and immediately beneficial with your talents and time. I would particularly encourage volunteers with teacher-training to apply, as they can be very useful to the school; I would also encourage men to volunteer, as the majority of volunteers, at least while I have been at the school, have been female, and the older boys in particular would benefit from more contact with male role models. I also feel the school would make a fascinating site for an inter-cultural/sociological/ethnographic study, perhaps as a dissertation for a Masters or PhD student; had I had the time and the training, I would have done it myself.
A few suggestions for future volunteers:
- Stay as long as possible- every day increases what you understand, and what you can offer.
- Be flexible- the school could ask you to do anything; whatever you do will help in some way.
- Don’t be shy to raise doubts and queries; teachers are usually supportive and helpful, and are used to volunteers and their questions.
- Keep your eyes open for specific ways in which you can help the school, or individual children, which may become apparent while you are there; if something comes to you, suggest it to Mrs Law.
- Many of the children have strong emotional needs, and can become attached to volunteers very quickly- while this is endearing, don’t be afraid to gently take a step back, regain perspective, and, if necessary, let them know if their attention is becoming too exhausting.
Finally, understand that the school is walking a long, thin, and swaying tightrope, negotiating the upbringing of children from very conservative Indian homes in a school with many Western elements and influences. There is no reason to be shy of stating your opinion, or of discussing any topic openly and frankly. However, exercise caution, particularly in judging the school and its policies- some of which may seem unusual and even undesirable to Westerners, but most of which are grounded in necessities and cultural considerations which may not be immediately apparent to outsiders. Volunteers should be aware of the impact they can have on the way the children perceive the school, their teachers, and themselves.
The one thing I feel the school can do to help volunteers more is to continually reinforce to teachers and aunties that volunteers should be corrected and guided where necessary. In their turn, volunteers should accept guidance willingly. A policy seemed to have been established that any problems be promptly and openly raised with volunteers. However, in my experience, issues are almost never mentioned to volunteers, and the children are often caught in the middle. I strongly believe that a better dialogue between aunties, teachers, and volunteers would minimise friction between them.
I would like to record my gratitude to Mrs Law and the many teachers and aunties who went out of their way to befriend, advise and guide me, and to the children who made my stay such an amazing one.
If any potential donors are reading this, I strongly urge you to support the school, it is a wonderful project, and your money could not be spent on a better cause or organisation.
I would be happy to be contacted by anyone with questions about the school: harry.fletcherwood@gmail.com
