Lately, all we seem to do is run run run... And the work is still not done.
I seem to be seeking new people to sponsor the kids, while H seems to be running around meeting the students, their parents, teachers, wardens...
It was time to take stock. And we did. We found that we had touched 40 lives in the past year alone!!!!!!!
School students (11 - 10 girls, 1 boy):
Several surprises... 10 of them were school students, a group we did not plan on touching at all. But somehow, when parents and students ask for help to get a child into school, it seems impossible to say no. In the case of five students, the support has been minimal -- between Rs 400 - 500. They are all girls, living in small hamlets far from high school facilities. They all wanted help with travel, fees and basic necessities to prepare them for hostel life. We did it -- another need met.
Four other girls were in need of more urgent intervention. It has been chronicled last month...
One boy was all set to drop out as he had no "home" to stay in. He has now been put in a hostel, and a relative of his will be supporting him indirectly through the trust. We have paid his expenses now, a similar amount will be donated to the trust by his relative.
One girl is being supported for more than a year. She was a drop out, due to sickness and poverty. Now she is back in school, enjoying life. Her brothers take care of her, we help out when required. Her smile is enough to pick us all up! Somehow, she makes it worthwhile to beg!!!
ITI (5 students - all boys):
Three children from Ramapura in Kollegal taluk have joined ITI in Kollegal. It broke my heart that a student with 94% in one subject in PUC Commerce should go for ITI where the marks are not even considered. But that's what he chose to do. Do I dare to say I know better?
One more tribal boy (working in Bangalore), who has not found his niche also decided to join ITI in Bangalore. He has to continue supporting his parents and family. I have to find him some work that brings in enough money to keep his home fires burning... Washing cars, perhaps? 1 car @ 350 per month. 10 cars @ 3,500 per month. That's his current salary. And it takes just 2-3 hours each morning, whereas the job takes all day.
One finishes his course this year. A spunky kid with loads of initiative. We had to crack down on him for his initiative! Awaiting his successful graduation!
Degree (6 students - five boys, one girl):
Three in Bangalore, two in Mysore, one in Ponnampet... Three will graduate this year. Awaiting results, thinking of further studies (MA, B.Ed, MSW, Law) vs jobs.
BEd, DEd (5 students - all boys):
Right now, five students... The fifth one called today! Child labourer, behind his classmates by four years, as he spent more than three years working in an estate, herding cows. He was rescued in a media blitz and then resumed his Std 5, and graduated four years behind his contemporaries. Needs money for food to complete his course. About Rs 350 per month, he estimates. Do I dare turn him down? No.
Nursing (one boy):
He is an efficient boy who does his work and calls once in a while to inform us about how he is doing.
Diploma (4 students - all boys):
Three in Mysore, one in Melkote.
Law (1):
He is in his final year. Somehow, he is critical to us as he got Kanasu Trust started. Have to meet him and discuss his future.
PUC (7 students - 2 boys, one girl, rest pending):
One in Kamagere, one in Bangalore, one in Odeyarpalya, the rest in Yelandur.
That's our 40 for now. Now I understand why it seemed like a Herculean task over the past couple of months. There was just no time to mentor them. Need to strategise the financial aspects so that there is some time for mentoring too. Need to find more mentors as well... And miles to go before I sleep...
Monday, July 20, 2009
Saturday, July 18, 2009
A gap in the world
The last month has been hectic. Students who have completed their 10th would like to study further. Parents do not approve. They'd rather have them get to work.
A tribal researcher employed with a prominent research organisation contacted me requesting support for five students who have completed schooling. Their village has no college and the nearest government college is at least 100 km away. Private colleges (which are closer) charge a few thousand rupees as fees. Do we try for admission in the government college? Or do we join the private college?
If we get admission in the government college (which is not at all assured), what about hostel facilities? What about food? Who will bear all these expenses? If we get admission to the private college, then the fees is a few thousand rupees. Bus fare to and from school (about 25-30 km), books, clothes, and all that. Too much, said the parents, who earned between Rs 40-70 as a day's wages.
One of the boys passed his 10th with a first class. He made his choice quickly. He preferred to work, because for the first time in their area wages were up to Rs 84 per day! The men were only paid Rs 60-70 per day otherwise. Why are the wages up? Because the NREGA is being implemented in their area! Life is like that only.
Today, another lady contacted me. She has studied theology and works with a social service organisation in a small village in Kanakapura. Would I be able to help students from her area? she asked. They come from very poor families. Some of them are bright and need support for higher education. Can we? I do not know.
Till now, we have not turned anyone away. I do not know what the future has in store. But I am spending more and more of my time in fund-raising. That leaves less time for mentoring... Not an equation I like. We need to work out some long-term solution to this existing void.
A tribal researcher employed with a prominent research organisation contacted me requesting support for five students who have completed schooling. Their village has no college and the nearest government college is at least 100 km away. Private colleges (which are closer) charge a few thousand rupees as fees. Do we try for admission in the government college? Or do we join the private college?
If we get admission in the government college (which is not at all assured), what about hostel facilities? What about food? Who will bear all these expenses? If we get admission to the private college, then the fees is a few thousand rupees. Bus fare to and from school (about 25-30 km), books, clothes, and all that. Too much, said the parents, who earned between Rs 40-70 as a day's wages.
One of the boys passed his 10th with a first class. He made his choice quickly. He preferred to work, because for the first time in their area wages were up to Rs 84 per day! The men were only paid Rs 60-70 per day otherwise. Why are the wages up? Because the NREGA is being implemented in their area! Life is like that only.
Today, another lady contacted me. She has studied theology and works with a social service organisation in a small village in Kanakapura. Would I be able to help students from her area? she asked. They come from very poor families. Some of them are bright and need support for higher education. Can we? I do not know.
Till now, we have not turned anyone away. I do not know what the future has in store. But I am spending more and more of my time in fund-raising. That leaves less time for mentoring... Not an equation I like. We need to work out some long-term solution to this existing void.
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Vision, mission, etc
What is your mission, vision, etc?
As of now, we have no mission. We do have visions, but we'd rather call them dreams. We dream that these students will complete their studies, find jobs, and then come back to support other children. We dream that a few years from now, we will not have to seek funds from the city-based friends-and-colleagues network. That the alumni will support the next set of students.
We at Kanasu Trust believe that having a mission will only restrict us and take us away from our raison d'être - the need felt by our kids. I understand that I should call them target group... but somehow they remain our kids!
So our mission could be:
- To fulfill needs felt strongly and expressed in the field of education and livelihood training.
- To mentor first-generation learners for a career in the world outside.
- To prepare the children of marginal farmers and landless labourers for life as equals in society.
This is so dynamic, and it will change. But, this is what we have been doing for the past three years, only the last one year is official!
As of now, we have no mission. We do have visions, but we'd rather call them dreams. We dream that these students will complete their studies, find jobs, and then come back to support other children. We dream that a few years from now, we will not have to seek funds from the city-based friends-and-colleagues network. That the alumni will support the next set of students.
We at Kanasu Trust believe that having a mission will only restrict us and take us away from our raison d'être - the need felt by our kids. I understand that I should call them target group... but somehow they remain our kids!
So our mission could be:
- To fulfill needs felt strongly and expressed in the field of education and livelihood training.
- To mentor first-generation learners for a career in the world outside.
- To prepare the children of marginal farmers and landless labourers for life as equals in society.
This is so dynamic, and it will change. But, this is what we have been doing for the past three years, only the last one year is official!
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