K S is 20 years old and hails from a small village near M.M.Hills (Malai Mahadeshwara Hills). His home is right next to the forest and often wild boar raid their crops! He is studying B.A. (1st year) through correspondence from Karnataka Open University. At the same time, he is working as an office boy at a small office in J.P. Nagar. He is very shy and quiet, but if he learns something, he applies that knowledge to other areas of life. He is creative and has produced interesting pictures after just two Photoshop lessons! He is equally good at technical stuff and knows more about my mobile phone than I do!
He worked for two months in a Darshini hotel, serving and packing food -- 10-12 hours a day. After completing 12 years of education, he could not use any of the skills he had been taught. Three months later, he found a job as an office boy in Jayanagar and also joined a course in computer hardware. He saved money diligently and paid back Rs 30,000 loan in just over a year. After a year, he quit that job as he wanted to work with forests, natural resources, and animals. He now works in a small natural resource related consultancy. Whereever he works, his colleagues find him endearing for his willingness to work and learn.
He has also purchased a second-hand computer which he uses at home to teach himself typing, MS Word, Excel and Photoshop! He has also started his BA by correspondence. He says he can't afford to study as he has to support his family, comprising his parents and 8 siblings. He also believes that he is not good at studies and yet started studying as he saw employers asking for degrees. He is hard working and hence I am confident that he will pass.
In Bangalore, he and his brother stay together in a rented room and have now sent their 15-year-old sister back to school in Bangalore. She had dropped out due to health and distance to school issues. Every weekend, she comes back to their house and they take care of her.
Course: BA 1st year
Support: We have paid his fees for the correspondence course.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Sunday, January 11, 2009
C.V.
C.V. is a charismatic young man, who is studying BA (HES) at National College, Jayanagar. He is also a helper at a consultancy run by 5 IIM grads. They give him a lot of time to study and help with the books, etc. Most of all, they treat him as an equal and he is thriving in it. He supports his widowed mother at home, though she asks him to focus on his studies instead.
Bright and smiling, he is always a willing worker. He took the initiative to come to Bangalore in the hope of continuing his studies while supporting his family. It took a lot of courage to resume his studies in Bangalore after discontinuing for two years, but he finally did it. He walked into the college to apply for admission and the principal offered to pay his fees. :) This, he says, gave him the courage to actually join the college.
This is not the first gap in his education. He worked as a child labourer in a hotel in Ooty for two years (when he was in supposed to be in school). His teacher coached him after school hours (in return for herding his cows!) and that is how he resumed his studies.
He inspires me!
First semester results: Cleared all subjects except Sociology.
Wish list: No personal goals, wants to be a social worker.
Support: Kanasu Trust has paid his college fees, and some books.
Bright and smiling, he is always a willing worker. He took the initiative to come to Bangalore in the hope of continuing his studies while supporting his family. It took a lot of courage to resume his studies in Bangalore after discontinuing for two years, but he finally did it. He walked into the college to apply for admission and the principal offered to pay his fees. :) This, he says, gave him the courage to actually join the college.
This is not the first gap in his education. He worked as a child labourer in a hotel in Ooty for two years (when he was in supposed to be in school). His teacher coached him after school hours (in return for herding his cows!) and that is how he resumed his studies.
He inspires me!
First semester results: Cleared all subjects except Sociology.
Wish list: No personal goals, wants to be a social worker.
Support: Kanasu Trust has paid his college fees, and some books.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Where dreams come true...
I'd love to say this is the place where dreams come true...
But that's not really true.
Kanasu Trust helps a few children from rural and extremely poor backgrounds realise their dreams of studying further. We pay their college fees, hostel fees, books, equipment, uniform and sometimes, even bus fare.
Where do the students come from?
Most of the students are alumni of the school at B.R. Hills run by an NGO called VGKK. They come from rural and forest areas of Karnataka -- some are tribals, some are just rural poor. They come mostly from Chamarajanagar district.
Where are they now?
Students are spread over several places in Karnataka -- Bangalore, Mysore, Chamarajanagar, Ponnampet, Gundlupet and HD Kote.
What are they studying?
Each child is pursuing a course of his/her choice. We have students doing LLB, BA, BCom, BSc, ITI, Diploma and nursing.
What do these courses cost?
Each child has a different need -- some need fees, others need some books and equipment, while a few need fees, food, equipment, books and uniforms. Our payments to the children have ranged from Rs 250 to Rs 13,000.
How do the students to know about us?
The kids hear of us through the "jungle" network, which includes friends, social workers, teachers...
Can't their parents support them?
Often their parents are both unwilling and unable to support them. Some parents are aware of the importance of education and they take loans (at 3-5 percent interest per month, that's 36-60% per year) from local money lenders to support the children. Other parents think the children should be working and earning money instead of wasting time studying. "Your son is already a big boy, why are you still working?" is a common refrain.
Who are we?
We are two entities.
1. A formal trust with a bank account to enable transparency in our financial activities.
2. An informal network of teachers, social workers, senior students, some writers and several techies, whom the children have woven together to help them study.
Names please.
1. Bangalore-based Veena is a researcher, writer, editor, journalist. Main fund-raiser and peptalk giver to the kids.
2. Kollegal-based Huchaiah is a tribal social worker, who is a natural at connecting people. He does the monthly follow-up with the tribal children to ensure they are focussed on their studies.
3. Bangalore-based Sowmya was a teacher at two rural schools and is currently studying BSc by correspondence. She constantly talks to the students to find out what is happening in their lives and keeps them going.
But that's not really true.
Kanasu Trust helps a few children from rural and extremely poor backgrounds realise their dreams of studying further. We pay their college fees, hostel fees, books, equipment, uniform and sometimes, even bus fare.
Where do the students come from?
Most of the students are alumni of the school at B.R. Hills run by an NGO called VGKK. They come from rural and forest areas of Karnataka -- some are tribals, some are just rural poor. They come mostly from Chamarajanagar district.
Where are they now?
Students are spread over several places in Karnataka -- Bangalore, Mysore, Chamarajanagar, Ponnampet, Gundlupet and HD Kote.
What are they studying?
Each child is pursuing a course of his/her choice. We have students doing LLB, BA, BCom, BSc, ITI, Diploma and nursing.
What do these courses cost?
Each child has a different need -- some need fees, others need some books and equipment, while a few need fees, food, equipment, books and uniforms. Our payments to the children have ranged from Rs 250 to Rs 13,000.
How do the students to know about us?
The kids hear of us through the "jungle" network, which includes friends, social workers, teachers...
Can't their parents support them?
Often their parents are both unwilling and unable to support them. Some parents are aware of the importance of education and they take loans (at 3-5 percent interest per month, that's 36-60% per year) from local money lenders to support the children. Other parents think the children should be working and earning money instead of wasting time studying. "Your son is already a big boy, why are you still working?" is a common refrain.
Who are we?
We are two entities.
1. A formal trust with a bank account to enable transparency in our financial activities.
2. An informal network of teachers, social workers, senior students, some writers and several techies, whom the children have woven together to help them study.
Names please.
1. Bangalore-based Veena is a researcher, writer, editor, journalist. Main fund-raiser and peptalk giver to the kids.
2. Kollegal-based Huchaiah is a tribal social worker, who is a natural at connecting people. He does the monthly follow-up with the tribal children to ensure they are focussed on their studies.
3. Bangalore-based Sowmya was a teacher at two rural schools and is currently studying BSc by correspondence. She constantly talks to the students to find out what is happening in their lives and keeps them going.
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