Philosophy of education, ha!

Education is an area of interest for me. Especially, philosophy of education. When I went there what stuck me acutely was how it was not about education at all. It was all about livelihood. I doubt if they could divorce education from livelihood. Education is a ticket to livelihood for all of them there.

Thinking about philosophy of education seemed like a privilege of the privileged alone. In the Soliga lands, the need of the hour is employment. People are increasingly turning to education not because they want the further generations to be enlightened human beings, but because there is no other way they will secure jobs if they are not educated.

Exposure to the world outside and the loss of rights over their ancestral forests, have together skewed their self-esteem and self-image. Simultaneously, education (a programme designed by the state) has attained a lot of importance. Sometimes, I wonder if employment alone should be a reason for education. Or should education be for reasons for self development. But where is the time for the latter when one is busy trying very hard to make ends meet.

What a horrible world we live in with its really unfair structures. Some perspective, this! It is indeed sad that even thinking about education is a privilege of a few privileged people!

Shobha S.V.

Meeting Kanasu kids

This post is by AC, a techie who has spent a lot of time and effort in helping Kanasu.
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Meeting the kids (if I can call them kids) changes the perspective completely. It should be compulsory for everyone involved with Kanasu. These kids have a very daunting task ahead. Often coming from structured education we will not comprehend this.

There is a struggle to identify the future for each and every one of them. I mean not knowing what may be the right path for them to take. Given that Kanasu often has to assume this, there needs to be some way we can support Veena to give her confidence that she is making the right decision.

Having a network of people who will actively make introductions for them to get employment can be very helpful. Especially since all of them found jobs through someone's referral. The traditional application route might not be work here. I can't emphasize enough on the level mismatch of the education being
imparted. The students will need some regular guidance/coaching.

I am also convinced that they should be meeting each other and feeding off each other's successes. More money being spent on a few might help solve a lot of above problems.

Education or livelihood?

I was travelling to assess the impact of the work by the Kanasu team among rural and tribal students. I met students who belonged predominantly to the Soliga tribe. Almost all of them were economically backward. I had to see whether they were studying properly and providing desired results academically. It seems like a simple exercise. Except that it isn't quite simple enough.

Soligas have a great culture of their own. They are highly educated people; their culture equips them with an intimate knowledge of nature. Their culture equips them to know about medicinal plants in the forests by the time they are 3 or 4 years old-something we learn only if we do a BSc in Botany. Yes, they weren’t literate.
But then, the education these kids receive is quite poor. They do not receive any special kind of education which opens up their mind. They are learning things that totally disconnect themselves from their surroundings.

The current education is not helping them be creative and thinking individuals. As is the case everywhere, there will be creative and thinking individuals not because of the system but despite the system. But yes, I am sure it is successfully killing the creativity of many kids there and also creating various other problems in process.

Early in my travels, it became clear that we are not helping them be “educated”. We are only providing them with tools to earn a decent livelihood! That in itself is a big thing, considering for various reasons including globalisation, their decreasing right within their own forests have rendered them totally helpless. They just don't have a choice but to join the larger national economy. And education here helps them. It helps them to secure a livelihood; it helps them to earn money so that they don't starve and die.

Shobha S.V.

Helping hands

He was a student, much like those others who came to me seeking help. He was eloquent, willing to work, and urban. With jokes, compliments and some hard work, he befriended me. And today, he has become a young professional. And he donates some money to Kanasu Trust each month.

He is a friend of a friend. When I needed Rs 50,000 in a hurry, he helped raise Rs 35,000 in a matter of two weeks, from friends, colleagues, and family. Then he actually apologised for being an introvert, and not having more friends.

She was a flatmate, my sounding board, my person-to-bore-at-all-times. One fine day, as I was recalling my conversation with the latest student who contacted me, she suddenly said: "I'll raise money for this boy." And she did. For this one, and the next, and the next.

I do not know where they come from, but I seem to have friends all around. This work has enriched my life aplenty. I feel very very good personally being the channel through which so many people help so many others. Feels like a huge privilege...

Perhaps, I should not let a couple of bad experiences rule my decisions.

Travails of being a social worker

H planned to be a social worker as his father was one. But S and I never did. We were just your normal people, wanting to lead normal lives. But fate has other things in store. We deal with people today -- people wanting to make lives at their convenience.

1. "We need Rs 20,000. Can you send it?"
20,000? That's a lot of money. What for?
"We have some loans, and we have a jatre (fair) coming up. So we need the money."
I am sorry, we only support education. And I do not have a job to give you my money.

They had their jatre, and they are deeper in debt with the local moneylender.

2. "Can you please send Rs 20,000?"
Why?
"For my daughter's marriage."
She is only 15. How can you get her married? Why do you want to ruin her life? Isn't it enough that you are suffering? And no, I do not have the money, and even if I did, I would not give you the money to get a child married. Cancel the marriage if you don't have money.

The marriage did take place, and the entire extended family is in debt.

3. "They said, whoever wants to take you away has to give Rs 2,000 each month."
What for?
"That is what I am earning here now."

A bright-eyed kid who barely looks like he has completed 4th grade, B is working in a grocery shop. He has dropped out of school because his parents want him to earn money. Both his parents migrated from North Karnataka and worked in Bangalore for the past few years. I know recession has taken hold of the economy because they are all out of work. So they sit at home and send him to work. Both the parents drink only once a week. They're good people. The rest of the crowd drinks everyday.

I spoke with him daily asking him to get back to school. He said he would speak with his parents and this was their response. He said he ran away, but someone found him and brought him back. He was not willing to run away again.

Should I call the child helpline and inform them? Where does he get taken? How will his life be there? I do not know, and I do not have the time to follow up with a part-time job, a full-time child, a full-time trust and an income to earn. :(