We have had three sets of meetings this year.
1. We called some of the students over for a one-on-one to Bangalore early this year.
2. We traveled to Basavanagudi, Konankere, Kamagere to meet some of the students and their families.
3. We invited all the Bangalore-based students to meet us over lunch and snacks on June 12-13.
Reports coming soon...
Monday, June 14, 2010
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Grandmother strikes again
Remember the girl who would be pickled?
The grandmother strikes again. This time it is to go the temple, to worship the family god, can't miss the ceremony, etc. etc.
Hope the child survives this academic year at least.
The grandmother strikes again. This time it is to go the temple, to worship the family god, can't miss the ceremony, etc. etc.
Hope the child survives this academic year at least.
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Passed - 1st class
Some good news.
Two boys -- both studying D.Ed. have completed their first year with first class.
Onto the second year now...
Two boys -- both studying D.Ed. have completed their first year with first class.
Onto the second year now...
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Follow up reports
In the past two months, we've managed to meet almost every student (except two) we are supporting this year. It took a bit of travel, but between the three of us, we managed it!
1. B.R. Hills
2. Kollegal
3. Mysore + Chamarajanagar
4. Bangalore
5. H.D. Kote
6. K.R. Nagar
7. Melkote
8. Hanur
9. Srimangala, Kodagu (pending)
10. Ponnampet, Kodagu (pending)
Reports will be posted asap.
1. B.R. Hills
2. Kollegal
3. Mysore + Chamarajanagar
4. Bangalore
5. H.D. Kote
6. K.R. Nagar
7. Melkote
8. Hanur
9. Srimangala, Kodagu (pending)
10. Ponnampet, Kodagu (pending)
Reports will be posted asap.
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.
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.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
One daughter, pickled, fresh
One of the four girls we admitted to school is back with me -- for her Dasara vacations. She is 13, has come of age, and is just ripe to be married off before she gets “spoilt” or picks up a bad reputation.
Her grandmother is very anxious to get to work – marrying her off is top priority. She has visited the social worker/local guardian twice already. “Send her to my house for the vacations.” “I am old, I want my granddaughter to take care of me.” She threatened us (how dare you keep my grand child from me?), pleaded with us (I will die soon…), cried inconsolably for her grand daughter… All for the pleasure of marrying her off at 13!
The mother is also under enormous pressure. “Why aren’t you marrying her off? Are you going to keep her and pickle her?” she was asked, according to her own reports. “Yes, I will pickle her,” she claims to have replied.
The girl, G, has a story that is typical of many others. Father drunk. Has another family now. Her mother says she left her husband as he tried to kill the second girl when he was drunk; father says the wife walked out on him… Whatever the truth, G was put to work as a 6 year old – in a Seth house in Jayanagar. She took care of the child and also helped with washing dishes, etc. Mother says her aunt did it, i.e. G’s grand aunt. Then the mother found the child and rescued her, admitted both her daughters into a convent near coastal Karnataka.
From there, the story is fairly clear. The children stayed there, and attended school while the mother wandered for work. She has worked in a hostel as a cook, in a garment factory, in umpteen homes, etc. The girls stayed in the hostel for 4-5 years. Last April, the mother was asked to remove the younger daughter as she was “stupid”. The elder daughter, G, was labeled as bright.
She now wants to learn English and that's why she is with me. She has two teachers, who have been arguing about what is more important -- reading or comprehension. :)
Such a relief to worry about this, rather than the previous issue...
Her grandmother is very anxious to get to work – marrying her off is top priority. She has visited the social worker/local guardian twice already. “Send her to my house for the vacations.” “I am old, I want my granddaughter to take care of me.” She threatened us (how dare you keep my grand child from me?), pleaded with us (I will die soon…), cried inconsolably for her grand daughter… All for the pleasure of marrying her off at 13!
The mother is also under enormous pressure. “Why aren’t you marrying her off? Are you going to keep her and pickle her?” she was asked, according to her own reports. “Yes, I will pickle her,” she claims to have replied.
The girl, G, has a story that is typical of many others. Father drunk. Has another family now. Her mother says she left her husband as he tried to kill the second girl when he was drunk; father says the wife walked out on him… Whatever the truth, G was put to work as a 6 year old – in a Seth house in Jayanagar. She took care of the child and also helped with washing dishes, etc. Mother says her aunt did it, i.e. G’s grand aunt. Then the mother found the child and rescued her, admitted both her daughters into a convent near coastal Karnataka.
From there, the story is fairly clear. The children stayed there, and attended school while the mother wandered for work. She has worked in a hostel as a cook, in a garment factory, in umpteen homes, etc. The girls stayed in the hostel for 4-5 years. Last April, the mother was asked to remove the younger daughter as she was “stupid”. The elder daughter, G, was labeled as bright.
She now wants to learn English and that's why she is with me. She has two teachers, who have been arguing about what is more important -- reading or comprehension. :)
Such a relief to worry about this, rather than the previous issue...
Sunday, September 20, 2009
We got taken for a long ride...
It was quite shocking.
The receipt number is the same.
The amount is the same.
The date and month are the same.
Only the year has been changed -- from 08 to 09.
We discovered that one of the students we support was cheating -- us! He had sent us last year's bill and claimed money.
We were upset and felt betrayed. After all, we all spend so much time, energy and money to ensure these boys get a decent education... coming as they do from families of coolies who drink away their earnings...
What do we do?
First, we tried to understand why he did it.
1. We ask for receipts, receipts, receipts. Perhaps the college did not issue a receipt and we were asking for receipt. What else could he do?
2. We only pay for educational expenses (fees, books, uniform, hostel, etc.) -- not debts incurred by the family, not daily wear clothes, not the occasional movie, not... not... not... Perhaps, he needs the money for any or all of the above... especially debts as boys a decade younger are earning an income, whereas he is not.
3. Perhaps he needs a mobile?
4. Or even a new pair of shoes...
5. Or perhaps, he just saw a bunch of do-gooders with money to burn...
I do not know the reason, but do we stop supporting him?
He is midway through his course. The money invested so far will be wasted as he will certainly drop out. Do I have the right to do this?
I tried meeting him, but he is sick and has gone home.
Plan of action:
1. After his return, go to his college and hostel and get first hand information about the fees paid this year.
2. With this information in hand, meet him and ask why he did this?
3. Explain that this has demotivated all of us to such an extent that we would like to close the Trust and stop the work entirely.
4. Make him and others sign a bond that they will repay all the money they have taken for their studies. This was a verbal agreement till now.
Or
Scream at him and get it over with.
Option 2 is always easier, isn't it?
But the big question is: How do I trust him with money henceforth? Need to work out a method whereby I pay the college directly, and not him. How fair is that? Life has no answers right now...
The receipt number is the same.
The amount is the same.
The date and month are the same.
Only the year has been changed -- from 08 to 09.
We discovered that one of the students we support was cheating -- us! He had sent us last year's bill and claimed money.
We were upset and felt betrayed. After all, we all spend so much time, energy and money to ensure these boys get a decent education... coming as they do from families of coolies who drink away their earnings...
What do we do?
First, we tried to understand why he did it.
1. We ask for receipts, receipts, receipts. Perhaps the college did not issue a receipt and we were asking for receipt. What else could he do?
2. We only pay for educational expenses (fees, books, uniform, hostel, etc.) -- not debts incurred by the family, not daily wear clothes, not the occasional movie, not... not... not... Perhaps, he needs the money for any or all of the above... especially debts as boys a decade younger are earning an income, whereas he is not.
3. Perhaps he needs a mobile?
4. Or even a new pair of shoes...
5. Or perhaps, he just saw a bunch of do-gooders with money to burn...
I do not know the reason, but do we stop supporting him?
He is midway through his course. The money invested so far will be wasted as he will certainly drop out. Do I have the right to do this?
I tried meeting him, but he is sick and has gone home.
Plan of action:
1. After his return, go to his college and hostel and get first hand information about the fees paid this year.
2. With this information in hand, meet him and ask why he did this?
3. Explain that this has demotivated all of us to such an extent that we would like to close the Trust and stop the work entirely.
4. Make him and others sign a bond that they will repay all the money they have taken for their studies. This was a verbal agreement till now.
Or
Scream at him and get it over with.
Option 2 is always easier, isn't it?
But the big question is: How do I trust him with money henceforth? Need to work out a method whereby I pay the college directly, and not him. How fair is that? Life has no answers right now...
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