MV Foundation

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Today was a good day. We had a holiday from school, but a field trip planned with CIEE. We went to see a NGO called MV Foundation at work in a nearby village. MV Foundation's basic slogan is "Children out of work, and into school." Basically it works to eliminate child labor in villages in Andhra Pradesh, and to get them into the formal education system. It was very interesting to hear about how they've gone about doing this in each village, and the challenges they faced. What we visited today was called a "Bridge Camp." Bridge camps are set up to provide the children with an initial crash course in schooling and basic education. Some of the quicker children complete as much as seven grades worth of material in one year. A syllabus is constructed that includes all of the essential elements from each grade up until the seventh year. They do this because they initially found that after removing children from work, schools would not accept them because they were too old for first year classes. The bridge camp also helps kids become accustomed to interacting in a school system. What I like best is that it also gives them time to have fun with each other, and to be a part of a community that they didn't really have before. We had a lot of fun spending time with them. Lots of pictures--I'll end this entry here, and make notes for some of the pictures. They speak for themselves most of the time.

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Photos

MVF trip
Rachael and some of the kids--the adults in the background are some of the tutors that work at the bridge camp.

MVF trip
We wrote words in English on the board, and they translated them into Hindi. Those of us who knew some Hindi did the opposite as well. Knowing even a little Hindi made the experience really neat--I liked talking to the girls in Hindi, plus it made it possible for us to talk about a variety of topics.

MVF trip
Tom and Liz

MVF trip
Tom

MVF trip
Me, Liz and Tom

MVF trip
Rachael--they were totally fascinated with her lip piercing. She has a stud in her mouth, kind of looks like a mole at first. They kept asking if it was a sticker. When we explained that it was the same as their nose-piercings, they were shocked. It was fun.

MVF trip
The two girls on either side were really outgoing--I had a good time talking with them, especially when I was explaining Rachael's piercing to them, and why she was wearing toe rings, but not married. I believe their names were Swaruppa and Rameshweri, but I was introduced to so many girls that I'm not positive.

MVF trip
So, the girls told us that they would dance for us if we would dance for them. The only dance we all know, of course, is the hokey-pokey, so of course we just had to perform it. We made the kids get up and do it with us too, and it was great. One of the girls (Rameshweri, I think) commandeered my camera, and took some great pictures of us dancing for them. I'm glad that she did--they're pretty funny.

MVF trip
You put your right hand in...

MVF trip
You do the hokey-pokey and you turn yourself about...

MVF trip
I was really glad they joined in, or else I think the whole hokey-pokey plan would've fallen through. I mean, it's not exactly a dance from a Bollywood film or anything...

MVF trip
I think this is where you put your head in and shake it all about...

MVF trip
I think we ran out of body parts after the elbows.

MVF trip
Kids love Tom. He's a little out there, so they really get a kick out of him.

Comments

[Ellen]

Hokey Pokey!
That is too funny. American culture can be boiled down to that one dance. If only you did it on roller skates.

[Gail-pants]

YAY
Oh, i've read your whole blog and i think it's awesome, keep up the good work. You look like your having a great time and using what you've learned. We all miss you, please keep this updated for the people stuck in the US. Loves hon.

[Aunt Jan]

Hokey Pokey!
I am enjoying reading your experiences! the pictures are great! Stick your right foot in, stick your right foot out......... Hugs, Jan