First week completed!

Our teacher, Ravi, has completed the first week of teaching. Some of our students don't know how to read or write at all, others know the letters but cannot spell out words even if they have finished class 8. Some of our students are currently in school, but their level og knowledge is so low that Ravi has advised us to get beginners books for everyone. This is as expected.

Two of our students hard at work!

Our initial goal was to set up a class for people who have not gone to school/have dropped out. Ravi told us that a young man (20ish) contacted him on Saturday and they agreed that he will be in our class from next week. We hope more illiterate young people will reach out to us in the future! Several parents with children currently in school have also asked Ravi to admit their children as they don't really learn to read or write in school. We will work on expanding our project - and are considering different ways to do this to reach as many children we can within our resources. We also have to set up some rules/age limits concerning who will attend (and probably even a waiting list!). Parents are impatient at the moment, probably thinking this is a one time thing. We will prove to them that it is not.

For now, the project runs with up to 15 pupils 4 times a week. We do not accept children under school age,  or children who CAN go to school but do not (and we probably never will). After three months of teaching, we will evaluate the project and make adjustment - together with Ravi Soni, Vijay Soni and Vio Meena Soni from Friends in Khajuraho.

Ravi has bought a whiteboard, making teaching easier for him (funded by us, of course). Next up is some proper books!
  

The literacy classes have started!

The very first class in our literacy project was held yesterday, outside the home of the family in our family project. The classes are held in a small village outside Khajuraho. We have about 12 pupils to start with, some of them don't know how to read or write at all and dropped out of school early (or never went to school). Others have gone to school, or are in school, but needs to improve their reading and writing.You can read more about this project on our webiste.

 

Ravi (the teacher) and some of the pupils

Our teacher, Ravi Soni, is 23 years old and lives in Khajuraho. He holds a BSc in Maths as well as certificates in Hotel Management and Computing. He has completed 6 month of Geman studies at the Goethe Institute in Kolkata and Dehli, and is still studying the language on his own in Khajuraho. He gas a strong social commitment and we are very happy he agreed to work for us. He is now teaching reading and writing in Hindi, but he can also teach math and english later on.

The classes are held outside (which is better this time of year because of the heat). The classes have started with the bare minimum of supplies - we will transfer money to this project this week, allowing Ravi to buy more books and a whiteboard - and other necessary supplies.

We are looking forwards to see how this develops, and to our cooperation with Ravi. The accounts for the project is done by Vio, who also does the accounts for the family sponsorship. 

Ravi is the youngest brother of Vio's husband Vijay (Vijay is our "social worker" for the family project). Vio also runs a schoolproject of her own in the Old Village of Khajuraho, which means Ravi has the opportunity to cooperate with her in developing our literacy project. You can read more about Vio's school - and other projects they have - on Friends in Khajuraho's blog and website.

Clothes and shoes on the way to Khajuraho

We sent two parcels to Khajuraho today! The parcels contains 28 kg of clothes, shoes, toys and towels. There are about 150 pieces of summerclothes for children, 4 outfits for women (salwar kameez with dupatta), 4 jeans and 20+ tshirts/shirts for men, 6 pairs of childrens sandals, one schoolbag, 13 toys and 4 towels! The parcels should reach Khajuraho late next week.