Ashraya Initiative for Children - The Blog

Monsoon days

2014-10-03T10:26:00.000-07:00

The monsoon arrived in Pune in July, bringing rain and the seasonally damp air that now, three months later, are starting to be replaced by sunshine and drier days as the rains subside. The monsoon is welcome as it is necessary for the success of crops and for replenishing the municipal drinking water reservoirs after the dry, hot summer months, but it also causes health and safety concerns for many of AIC's families.

During monsoon, homes in AIC’s impact area become very damp, and the ability to maintain sanitary conditions decreases. According to Dr. Madhavi, counselor and doctor on staff at AIC, there are several sicknesses that see a spike due to risk factors associated with monsoon season. For example, many families eat 2 or more meals a day from inexpensive and quick food stalls in the basti (slum), and due to unhygienic food preparation, reused cooking oil, and questionably sourced water, gastrointestinal upsets such as chronic diarrhea and nausea occur. In addition, contagious viral fevers with symptoms of runny nose, cough, and fever increase, and mosquito-borne illnesses such as dengue fever and, to a lesser extent in Pune, malaria become cause for concern.

Why so wet? Most housing structures in the slums are made from a combination of masonry material, corrugated sheet steel, and wooden support beams. Unfortunately the ability to created sealed joints using these materials is not possible, which results in leaks that can come from both the walls and the roof. Though leaks can’t usually be avoided 100%, measures can be taken to reduce the amount of water that enters the home by covering it with a heavy tarp, weighing it down with large rocks to protect it from blowing off in high winds, and securing it with rope. It is not a huge cost, usually around Rs. 3,000 (USD $50.00), but there are many who simply cannot afford it.

Billo, a Sikligar woman, lives with her four children, each of whom receives education and healthcare services from AIC (a fifth child currently stays with relatives in Mumbai). Her family’s partnership with AIC began in 2011; at that time they had been living in a makeshift tarpaulin shelter on the roadside and Billo was working as many hours as possible to provide what she could for her children as a day laborer, separating copper from scrap metal. When monsoon came every year, the family began a constant battle to keep their belongings dry, which sometimes meant moving everything to safer locations as and when they could. With sick children and an unstable living environment, Billo often missed days of work and her income suffered as a result.

This year Billo and her family moved into their first home, and during this monsoon season she will not have to worry about a leaking roof due to a Rs. 3,000 microloan that she obtained through the AIC Community Outreach Program. With a stable shelter and the security of knowing her family and belongings are safer, Billo says she can now work more hours and increase her income, which will help her family in the long run. With a home, a roof, and happier, healthier children who are doing well in school, the future certainly looks as if it will be brighter for Billo and her family for many monsoons to come.

Billo and Madhavi

(Written by Stephanie de Looz, AIC volunteer)

A Pre-Primary field trip

2014-05-12T17:37:00.000-07:00

As the school year came to a close last month, the AIC Pre-Primary School children were treated to a field trip at Pune's historic Empress Gardens to celebrate the hard work of all of our students and teachers this year. The children were thrilled to have an opportunity to trade the crowded, slum environment of urban Yerwada for the lush, green landscapes of the so-called "Jewel of Pune." On the morning of the outing, they were so excited that they even began lining up at the AIC Education Outreach Centre several hours before the bus was scheduled to depart!

Following a bus ride that can only be described as "rousing" (lots of singing, nursery rhymes, bouncing up and down in seats!), the children could barely contain their excitement as Bunty didi sorted out tickets and they were allowed to walk through the entrance gates. Once in the garden, the teachers and caregivers divided up the children and let them loose on the playground, where they spent the next hour enjoying slides, swings, balance bars, climbing ropes, and merry-go-rounds.

When the mid-day sun started to get hot, the children tromped through the stream that flows through the garden, cooling off briefly before taking rides on the miniature train that runs through the sprawling lawns. Judging by the kids' delighted shrieks as the train rounded each corner, this ride was definitely among their favorite parts of the trip!

Finally, the time came for a picnic lunch! The children and staff settled in under the trees and unpacked a special lunch of idlis, coconut chutney, chips, and juice boxes. Everyone had certainly worked up quite an appetite by this point, and the children polished off the food in no time.

Eventually, the time had come for AIC teachers and caregivers to herd the children back to the buses so that everyone could head back to the Education Centre. Since the picnic, the children have been talking non-stop about this fun-filled excursion to one of Pune's most beautiful historical sites and the memories they made on this day. Since most of these children rarely leave the streets and slums, we at AIC look for every opportunity to provide exposure to other environments and experiences. We greatly appreciate the support of our donors in making this field trip possible for AIC's youngest and most impressionable pupils and would also like to convey our gratitude to Sapling Nursery for so generously donating the use of their buses to transport the AIC children to and from the gardens. Thank you!

Brick Walls

2014-02-10T17:40:00.000-08:00

“The brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something. The brick walls are there to stop the people who don’t want it badly enough. They’re there to stop the other people.”

- Randy Pausch, The Last Lecture

She was standing near the flag pole, dressed in her gray salwar kameez uniform. Her eyes, shining with the pride of achievement, visible even from a distance, constantly flitted in a particular direction, as if seeking some sort of reassurance. I followed her gaze and saw a middle aged couple - her parents, I guessed. She was Suman Waghri, a 14-year old student of the AIC Education Outreach Program and the Chief Guest of our Republic Day function at Ashraya. She had been given this honour for her consistently good academic performance at her school for the past 3 years; a feat even more laudable due to the fact that her parents would rather she did things “women are supposed to do.” Despite these hurdles, this 6th standard student staunchly ploughed on, determined to show her parents what sheer willpower and dedication can achieve.

After the function I had a tête-à-tête with Suman, where she talked about her life, hobbies and what motivates her. A student of Agarkar Girls' High School, Suman’s day usually starts with a steaming hot breakfast at the AIC Education Outreach Centre, after which she and her friends are dropped at the school by one of the AIC drivers. She returns to the Education Centre, has her lunch and then starts with her tuition classes which go on till 3, sometimes 4 in the afternoon. After that, she heads home to help her mother with various household chores. With a flair for singing and oration, she also enjoys sketching and dancing, and takes classical dancing lessons at the AIC Education Centre. A girl with a lot of energy and passion indeed! Her zeal was visible in the multiple performances she gave at the Republic Day function that day. Even at school she radiates the same enthusiasm, as the monitor of the class and every teacher’s favourite student (nothing surprising there!). Her favourite teachers at AIC include Ms. Vaishali, the dance and drama coordinator, and Ms. Shweta, an engaging, young teacher who helps her with her academics.

Apart from her parents, Suman has 5 sisters and 2 brothers in her family. Her parents sell old clothes for a living and have a difficult time making ends meet. Under these circumstances, it is not surprising for parents to discourage their daughters from going to school, as the sons are given preference. Even when parents like Suman's do want their children to be educated, there’s the question of funds. AIC, in such situations, acts like a last beacon of hope.

Talking about Ashraya, she said that it has really changed her life, “I enrolled here in the 1st standard and I absolutely love it! Everyone is very supportive, especially MK Didi. My life is so much easier thanks to Ashraya. We get a lot of facilities which earlier we could only dream of,” she said. Talking about her school performance, she said, “I was ranked 1st in class I, II, III, V & VI & stood 2nd in Class IV. But what makes me really happy is that a lot of parents in our slum have enrolled their children in school after seeing me do it. I like that.” She finishes with a genuine note of happiness in her voice. When asked about her plans for the future, Suman is surprisingly clear headed, “Right now, I want to finish schooling and go to college. Someday, I want to work in the finance sector.” A very appropriate goal, considering that the young accountant is already helping her parents keep stock of their tradeable goods!

When asked about where her parents stand on her education, she says her mother has been supportive throughout and even takes pride in the fact that her daughter is doing so well. It’s her father who is opposed to it. That was the reason behind inviting both her parents to watch their daughter hoist the flag as the Chief Guest. “Maybe that would get my papa to realize how important this is to me, when he sees it with his own eyes," she says smilingly with hope in her eyes. Interestingly, it wasn’t her parents who enrolled her, but her bua (father’s sister). “She was enrolling her daughter and wanted someone to be there to look after her. My parents came to know when the entire deed was done. She (bua) took me to the school during the daytime when my parents were out selling. And that’s how it all started.”

Suman's parents were there on Republic Day when she received the special prize from AIC Director of Education Development, Mary Kay Hazel, for her academic performance. Her father at this point stood up and came to where Suman was to stand beside her in front of the audience. Looking at the pride in the eyes of a visibly touched father, I felt hope that Suman would be successful in breaking through this brick wall and all the others that will attempt to stand in her path as she works to achieve her dreams.

(Written by Angelique Thakur, Education Outreach Program intern)

Two special AIC students

2013-11-03T18:52:00.000-08:00

Devendra and Ranjana have been two of AIC's students since not long after the Education Outreach Program's inception. They are the oldest two of their parents' four children; Ranjana is 14 and Devendra is 18. Both are still in primary school.

For years, Ranjana and Devendra were shuffled through the mainstream Indian government school system, held back in the same class year after year, because with IQs in the low 40s, their intellectual handicaps make it impossible for them to keep up with their classmates. After the Right To Education (RTE) Act was implemented in 2009, including the mandate that no student be held back or expelled until the completion of elementary education, the schools had no choice but to promote them, yet as their peers learned to write compositions and add fractions, Ranjana and Devendra struggled to write letters and numbers and were generally ignored by indifferent government school teachers. Although they loved attending tuition classes at AIC, had excellent attendance, and participated enthusiastically in activities and extracurricular opportunities, it was clear that they were falling through the cracks in a 'mainstream' school.

For several years, we at AIC have attempted to convince Ranjana and Devendra's parents to allow us to enroll them in a specialized school, so that their needs could be addressed more comprehensively, but fear, prejudice and community misperceptions always stood in the way and their parents refused to grant permission. This year, however, a dedicated AIC volunteer, Rinku, took it upon herself to get Devendra and Ranjana enrolled into a more appropriate educational institution, no matter what it took. After many hours of hard work, including tours of schools, phone calls, counseling Ranjana and Devendra's parents, and running around to line everything up, Ranjana and Devendra were successfully enrolled in Kamayani School for the Mentally Handicapped in June.

Since then, they have truly blossomed at their new school. In the last couple months, Ranjana and Devendra have earned certificates of achievement in maths, handwriting, and class participation, and Devendra was even featured in the local newspaper recently!

Their parents, initially fearful of sending their two eldest children to a school for students with special needs, have seen the transformation since June and are thrilled that they have adapted well and are finally receiving the educational services that they deserve. Ranjana and Devendra are still familiar sights around the Education Outreach Centre, of course, and everyone at AIC is tremendously proud of their progress in these last few months.

Happy International Day of the Girl Child!

2013-10-11T07:54:00.000-07:00

The U.N. has declared today, October 11th, "International Day of the Girl Child" (admittedly, a bit of a mouthful and not to be confused with India's National Girl Child Day, celebrated in January). We here at AIC celebrate girls every day! Here are just a few recent shots of the girls that we work hard to educate and empower:

(click to enlarge)

And a positive update! Following the untimely death of her father this summer, Sheela, top right, has been enrolled in school and is finally attending with regularity. While it is frustrating that a child should have to wait until age 12 to truly begin her education, we have renewed hope for Sheela's future. Read more about Sheela here.

A family retreat

2013-09-13T10:55:00.000-07:00

In July, the Residential Program kids had a long holiday weekend. And, after a hot, dusty summer (March - June in Pune) and a month at boarding school in the heart of the city, how better to spend a long weekend than in the rural outskirts of Pune, enjoying the lush greenery and clean, crisp air of monsoon season?

The children, Sangeeta, and volunteers Jenni, Katie and Marcela headed to an eco-farm called The Hidden Oasis in Saswad, a beautiful spot about half an hour outside of the city. There, they spent a great (albeit rather rainy and muddy) 4-day weekend exploring the farm, riding horses, learning the ins and outs of vermiculture, making friends with the animals (rabbits, cows, donkeys, etc), visiting a nearby orphanage for girls that is affiliated with the farm, daring each other to take turns on the zipline, scouting for ripe fruits and vegetables and filling up on delicious home-cooked meals. The kids unanimously agree, though, that the best part of the trip to The Hidden Oasis was tromping around in the nearby river and dam (check out our gang of meditating sadhus in the picture below!).

Adventures at The Hidden Oasis (click to enlarge)

They spent nights watching movies on a volunteer laptop (a throwback to our pre-projector days when all movies were watched crowded around a 15" computer screen), practicing Marathi (and learning a little German!) with the volunteers, and even throwing a late night dance party when MK didi and volunteer Abby joined them for their final night at the farm. On Sunday, everyone was sad to head back to school, but grateful to have had a long weekend spending time together and enjoying new activities.

We would like to say a big thank you to Col. Kulkarni for helping to put the ball in motion for this little retreat, and to Mr. Yunus Shipchandler and the staff at The Hidden Oasis, for ensuring that the children and volunteers had a fantastic stay. (And thank you to volunteer Marcela for so beautifully capturing the trip in photos, too.)

Happy weekend, all!

Seven years

2013-08-13T09:46:00.000-07:00

The AIC Education Outreach Program has been running for seven years as of last month! It is amazing to think back on all that has happened since summer 2006...

Back when the Education Outreach Program consisted of a small group of girls and was run out of our volunteer apartment

However, there is still so much more to do in our communities, so we can't linger down memory lane for too long before getting down to business! We have recently made many changes in our efforts to continue to improve the quality of educational services provided at the Education Outreach Centre. To spearhead these changes, Mary Kay Hazel has been appointed the new Director of Education Development to work alongside Bunty, our Education Outreach Program Director. This means that, for the first time in its history, AIC now has an employee whose singular focus is to analyze and improve the quality of our largest and most impactful program! Mary Kay and Bunty are a passionate, dynamic duo on the ground and have worked together to implement several new initiatives, including:

hiring a study hall teacher to provide additional homework help sessions for any AIC student;

investing in new computer resources to support the needs of the administrators, teachers, children and volunteers within the Education Centre;

instituting subject-specific teaching workshops to introduce teachers to newer techniques and best practices for specific concepts and subjects.

To better meet the emotional, personal and social needs of the children, our new counselor, Suchitra, transitioned from her role as a member of the teaching staff to her new job at the start of the new school year. Suchitra has been a part of AIC for a number of years now while working through a college degree and most recently, a Master's degree in Psychology. She has a separate office so that she can hold regular counseling sessions with children who need additional support. She has also commenced sensitivity trainings and seminars with the teachers. We are happy to know that we can now better support the emotional and mental health needs of the children, and that we can do so in a sustainable way by investing in our staff.

The Education Centre was closed to students for break during the month of May, but teachers and staff utilized the time to plan the upcoming year, arrange and catalog books into a library of resources to be used alongside teaching, and participate in basic computer and internet training so that they will be able to more effectively use these tools to access teaching resources and enrichment materials for their classes. They will continue this training and exposure throughout the year. We have also begun mandatory spoken English classes twice a week for the Marathi-medium teachers, and their spoken English skills are rapidly improving. As of in June, each teacher is also now required to spend an additional one to two hours of preparation time per day at the Education Centre. We have already seen improvement in our teachers’ daily lesson plans and attention to administrative tasks, grading, student evaluation, and classroom preparation.

Onward and upward we go!

We have also had a truly fabulous team of volunteers (thank you, thank you, thank you!) on the ground lately and would not have been able to make as much progress without their hard work and dedication. There is more on the horizon that we are excited to share soon!

An interview with Aakash

2013-05-14T15:04:00.002-07:00

For anyone wondering where Residential Program big brother Aakash has been recently (since there hasn't been much mention of him in the blog and he hasn't been in too many photos), we figured a little update was in order. Aakash, who turns 21 (!!) next month, has been working and living with extended family in the area since last year, after having initially transitioned from the Residential Program to shared accommodations for working/studying young men. He comes over to spend time with the rest of the kids when he gets a break from work, and last week we took the opportunity to catch up with him about his plans, goals and life of late.

Aakash! Tell us what you've been up to over the course of the last year. Everybody is dying to know.
I have been working at Sancheti Hospital every day. I work three different shifts every week.

What do you do there?
I'm a phone operator and a receptionist. I pick up calls - internal, external and international - and transfer the calls to wherever it should be. When I work the night shift I study for my exams, science and maths mostly. And I never get on the internet because it distracts me. So for the last 1 1/2 years I haven't used the internet.

No way.
Seriously!

What do you miss the most about the AIC house?
I miss the kids - my brothers and sisters - and the didis and dadas and spending time with them. It's really difficult to stay away from these guys!

Do you miss daily chores?
...uhhhh...

Kidding, kidding. But in all seriousness, what do you do around the house these days?
I mostly help with the cooking and sweeping. I take care of things when nobody is around. Lots of women stare at me like [*mouth gaping open*] "Huh?! Why is that GUY doing housework?" It's sort of embarrassing, but I'm like, well, I've been doing it since I came here (to AIC) and I like helping out.

What do you want for your future?
A good job, a good attitude. When I get married someday I always want to be handy to my wife and kids.

And what sorts of goals are you working on right now?
Goals? So many goals. To have a better future. To be independent. To have my own house. I've been saving to buy my own house for 10 months now. To be more practical. I want to help my relatives out too with some things like furniture and maybe a house. I want to finish school and get into college. And then I want to do something, to really do something.

What advice do you have for your AIC brothers and sisters?
Study more. Be a good citizen. Help others in need. Be happy, always. Never be rude to anyone. And the most important one! Don't give didis and dadas any trouble!

Ha, thanks Aakash. The kids are lucky to have someone like you looking out for them!

Summer festivities at the Education Centre

2013-05-06T18:22:00.000-07:00

Following the end of final exams and the Indian school year, the AIC Education Outreach Program children were thrilled to hear that we would be running the traditional AIC summer camp again this year. This summer's program, however, was even more ambitious than ever before, and was planned and executed in its entirety by M.K. Didi, AIC volunteer extraordinaire.

During the summer program, the children and staff participated in a plethora of cool, educational (but also fun!) projects:

On movie day, we watched a movie on the terrace and enjoyed lemonade and snacks.
On craft day, we created wall hangings, embroidered cloth, made pop-up greeting cards, and drew elaborate henna designs on our hands.
On sports day, we ran races and played football with two players and several coaches from the local professional football league.
On dance day, we had a giant dance party on the terrace and participated in a workshop by a classical dance expert.
On paper printing day, we used water and pigments to make beautiful designs and then wove paper strips together to make greeting cards.
On yoga day, we did breathing, focus, and stretching exercises on the terrace with the guidance of a certified yoga instructor.
On science day, we made box cameras, learned about the structure of the human lung, and constructed and experimented with our own microscopes.
On scavenger hunt day, we split into groups and went to the market — the group that bought the most items on the list while staying within the budget won the contest.
On puppet day, we watched a puppet show and learned to make origami animals.
On music day, we listened to a guitar concert, learned about the science of sound, and performed songs.

The following week, we went for a picnic to Sambhaji Park, where children and staff alike enjoyed games, an obstacle course, toy train rides, ropes climbing and of course, some picnic treats like mango juice and chips!

Finally, to wrap up the summer camp, we held an end-of-year function, complete with dancing, singing, camp participation certificates, attendance awards (cash prizes for students with the best attendance all year, and small gifts for the students with perfect attendance for the month of March), and appreciation and acknowledgment to our local supporters. Of course, no function at the Education Outreach Program is complete without snacks, so all of the parents and children were treated to samosas and kulfi (ice cream) on their way out.

The AIC summer camp, picnic and end-of-year function were the perfect way to wrap up the 2012-2013 school year and celebrate our students’ successful academic progression as they move one step closer to becoming the first graduates in their families!

Love, War and Holi.

2013-04-08T08:58:00.004-07:00

Although it has been hot here for months, we ended March with a bang, a puff of color, and a bucket of water to celebrate the start of spring. Holi at AIC was, as always, a vibrant and rambunctious affair, although it was a little light on kids and heavy on didis/dadas this year. At the residential house, Ramu, Sonali, and Sangeeta Maushi played on the terrace with MK Didi, Judith Didi (visiting from Austria), and four of Judith’s friends. Between her deadly aim with a bucket and her complete lack of mercy with the pigments, Sonali held her own despite being outnumbered. More than one didi, including this one, was spitting rainbows from her teeth for the remainder of the day — but don’t feel too sorry, because Sonali was repaid in kind. Ramu enthusiastically deployed the water guns, but he proved a little more fastidious than expected about the color. While he loved throwing it at other people, he didn’t quite buy the idea of turnabout as fair play. He still ended the day sporting several different shades than when he started it, however. To repurpose an old saying, all’s fair in love, war, and Holi — or does Holi fall under war? (According to Sonali, it most definitely does.)

The Education Outreach Centre had two days off to mark the holiday, but it was a colorful week nonetheless. Pigments found their way to the centre and onto faces with no regard for exact dates, work to be done, or teacher prohibitions. The day after the festival, many of our kids (with the help of the unsung heroines, the maushis) were scrubbing for hours to remove dyes from their faces, hair, and bodies. And finally, the maushis themselves bombarded each other with a stubbornly persistent magenta color that stained their palms pink for days. All in all, it was a fittingly rowdy and bright start to the spring season, perfectly suited to our occasionally rowdy and always bright children.

Nuggets of Wisdom with Ramu™

2013-03-29T13:57:00.002-07:00

Nuggets of Wisdom with Ramu™

Ramu: Didi, I know everything.

MK Didi: Oh really? No one knows everything, not me, not Sonali, not maushi and not you.

Ramu: Only me. Just I know all the things.

Can’t wait until he’s a teenager and really DOES know everything!

Au revoir, Claudia!

2013-02-27T19:39:00.001-08:00

It hasn’t all been fun and games here in Pune. At the beginning of January, we said a very sad goodbye to Claudia didi. Claudia started her AIC journey in 2010 as a residential program volunteer, then returned last year as director of the Education Outreach Centre. During her tenure, she instituted a teacher training program, kept careful track of student attendance and grades, and raised accountability and standards across the board. She became a fixture in and around Yerwada; I know from personal experience that it was impossible to walk with her through the market without having to stop at least three times to say hi to various people. At the schools, at students’ homes, and of course, at the Centre, Claudia constantly pushed for the best for our kids. On top of everything else, Claudia held all of our programs together during a time of great transition. Her wisdom and resourcefulness were instrumental in the smooth operation of AIC, and her loving support sustained the residential kids as they entered boarding school in the fall. Although we miss her dearly, we know she will be successful at whatever she does. Good luck, didi, and keep in touch!

Republic Day Celebrations at the Outreach Centre

2013-02-25T06:05:00.001-08:00

At the Education Outreach Centre, Republic Day celebrations spanned two days. On Friday, students in the upper grades participated in essay and drawing competitions. They had the choice of several themes, including “unity” and “modern India,” and they produced some gorgeously detailed work. While the older children scribbled studiously in the classrooms below, the terrace echoed with laughter and shouts of the younger kids, who were having a field day, well, having a field day. Between the three-legged races, tug-of-war, and relays, all the children had a great time, and even Manisha teacher got to show off her enviable jump rope skills.

On Saturday, Republic Day proper, the program began with the ceremonial raising of the flag and singing of the national anthem around a brand-new flagpole, which was decorated with an intricately patterned Rangoli in the national colors. Our honored guests included Mrs. Anita Kamath, Mr. Jeevraj, and Dr. and Mrs. Kulkarni (parents of Manali didi). The children welcomed the guests with flower garlands, and then several different groups presented songs and dances. In keeping with the patriotic theme of the day, the student performances incorporated pictures of significant historical figures and an enormous Indian flag. The guests then delivered speeches and told stories – Mr. Jeevraj had the students in stitches with a motivational tale of a one-handed boxer, and Mrs. Kamath spoke to the importance of trying hard despite your circumstances. Finally, the day ended with a feast of laddus and sweets. All in all, it was a fitting tribute to Mother India from her future batch of leaders.

Republic Day Celebration - Residential Program

2013-02-20T07:57:00.001-08:00

On January 26, India celebrated its 63rd annual Republic Day, which commemorates the anniversary of the Indian Constitution taking effect. Schools around the country put on special patriotic programs for students and teachers to show off the best of Indian arts, sports, history, and culture to parents and honored guests. Here at AIC, both the Residential and the Educational Outreach Centre children celebrated with spectacular productions. Bedecked in the national colors of orange, white, and green, our kids raised flags, performed patriotic songs and dances, demonstrated athletic skills, listened to featured speakers, and enjoyed sweets and laddus. Needless to say, a fantastic time was had by all, from the parents and guests in the audience to the student and teacher performers.

The Residential children’s program took place at their boarding school on Jan. 23. All of the kids participated in some fashion, whether it was helping to set up (Santosh), marching in military formations (Geeta, Pooja, Jyoti, Kajal, Tushar, and Sanjay), performing complex gymnastic moves called malakhamb (Rahul), or dancing beautifully choreographed routines (Ashwini, Poonam, Jyoti, and Pooja). Although medical issues kept her on the sidelines this year, Sonali was on hand to cheer for all her sisters, brothers, and friends, and Ramu, Sangeeta maushi, Idania didi, and I (MK didi) also came to support our kids and enjoy the show. The program was an exuberant mix of student performances and patriotic displays, from horseback riding to martial arts to students dressed as important historical figures. In combination with the many, many flags, and once again, orange, green, and white everywhere, the show created quite a spectacle. The residential kids have taken full advantage of the many extracurricular opportunities at their school, and it was a treat to see all their hard work in action.

AIC's Holiday Party

2013-01-25T11:16:00.000-08:00

Written by Mary Kay Hazel

Photos by Manali Kulkarni

Happy 2013 from AIC!

It has been quite an eventful time. Santa visited the Education Outreach Centre and the Residential House, much to the kids’ delight, and we celebrated Christmas, India-style, at the Centre. We took students on outings to video arcades and malls, welcomed guests from abroad, and celebrated the wedding of one of our teachers. New staff members settled in, and we bid a bittersweet farewell to Claudia didi. The residential children came home for a few crazy days over New Year’s, turned the house upside down, and went back to school. And, of course, students continued to study, teachers continued to teach, and maushis continued to hold it all together.

Phew. First things first.

The Education Outreach Centre Holiday party was every bit as lively and enjoyable as last year’s, though it was on a smaller scale than in years past. Many different students danced choreographed routines to festively loud music, and the teachers even joined in the fun with a performance of their own. It was lovely to celebrate right on our own roof: the terrace was transformed by the efforts of magical elves (a.k.a. the expats), and everyone dressed up in their best holiday finery. And finally, no holiday party is complete without a Santa, and ours came with the added bonus of a Scottish accent. The children could barely contain their glee when he arrived to distribute gifts and sweets. The candy is long gone by now, but the toys make frequent appearances during breaks and playtime, and the memories will last forever.

All our gratitude to the Duncan family, Melanie Armer, Rose Smith, Ian Smith, Denise and Chad Harshberger and sons, Sue Dunne, the Expat Wives of Pune and drivers/lighting guys Nandu and Sabir, for planning and sharing in such a wonderful celebration for students, staff, and friends. We also extend our love and thanks to you, our international friends and allies. In a year full of transitions, we were continually sustained and strengthened by our family around the world. With your support, we are confident 2013 will be our best year yet.

Celebrating girls

2013-01-24T14:17:00.001-08:00

Today, India is observing National Girl Child Day.

Manisha and Ashwini, 4th standard students

It may not seem like much, but it is at least a small start toward addressing the increasingly skewed sex ratio (which in Maharashtra is 883 girls under six for every 1,000 males, significantly below the 914:1000 national average) and attempting to draw attention to the systemic undervaluing of Indian girls.

We see gender preference on a daily basis at AIC. The two girls above, Manisha and Ashwini, were not enrolled in school when AIC began working in the Waghri community, and, if AIC was not fully supporting their educations and maintaining constant pressure on their families to allow them to attend school, most likely would not be enrolled today either. Both of their mothers have given birth to child after child in an effort to produce a sufficient number of boys and their families' resources are stretched too thin as a result. Both of these girls would routinely go hungry if they did not receive their meals at the Education Outreach Centre, as the food that is available in their households is preferentially distributed and they are unlucky enough to be daughters, not sons. Both of these girls would be (and to some extent still are) at risk of having their marriages arranged upon reaching adolescence, as was the case for their mothers. Both of these girls would still be begging on the streets every day if they did not spend almost every waking hour at the Education Centre or school. In the absence of comprehensive medical care provided by AIC, both of these girls would receive medical care only if it was deemed absolutely necessary, and even then, only if their families had the resources at hand.

Change is happening, but it is slow to occur. So while we at AIC work toward this change, girl by girl, day after day, we welcome national initiatives to draw attention the issues at hand.

Happy National Girl Child Day!

Merry Christmas from AIC!

2012-12-25T12:15:00.001-08:00

New Faces!

2012-12-12T04:32:00.001-08:00

We have new faces at AIC! Just two weeks ago we welcomed Bunty and Manali to the team, and we are thrilled to have them on board.

Bunty comes to us with years of experience teaching, and will be our Education Outreach Program Director following Claudia's (very, very sad!) departure in January. She brings a desire to inculcate the love of learning in our children and a commitment to effectively manage of those who directly influence our children, our teachers.

(Bunty: first from the right, first row)

Manali is a recent graduate of Rhodes College in Tennessee, and as a dual citizen of India and the US she brings the perfect background for her new role: the Onsite Program Administrator. She will be liaising with our directors onsite and our CEO in the US to take care of volunteers, our accounting needs, and our Child Sponsorship program. Manali brings an award-winning work ethic and a much-needed attention to important details.

(Manali at right on a visit with Claudia and Christie to our partner organization in Solapur)

Please help us welcome them to the AIC family!

More Diwali festivities

2012-11-16T13:46:00.000-08:00

Pooja, helping with the rangoli design

More rangoli

Note that almost all of the children are the same height as Sangeeta (or taller!)

Spending time with AIC's new CEO, Christie Pettitt-Schieber

Tushar, Geeta, Poonam and Santosh

Organizing the CD/movies cupboard

Cleaning out the water filter (no need to call a professional when you've got a Tushar in the family!)

New Diwali outfits

Pooja and Rahul

Awww...brotherly love (this probably didn't end well)

Geeta, Poonam and Kajal, looking so...OLD!

Everyone has been enjoying some much-needed time at the Residential house this week! And of course, Diwali vacation wouldn't be complete without the activities that have become annual traditions for the AIC family - firecrackers, lights, diya painting, rangoli, getting to pick out a new Diwali outfit (seriously, the children start planning their Diwali outfits six months in advance!), not to mention lots of cleaning, organizing, and some good old fashioned time together as a family.

More soon from our other programs!

Festival of lights

2012-11-13T08:14:00.000-08:00

Happy Diwali from all of us at AIC!

Arjun's update

2012-11-02T08:48:00.000-07:00

Remember Arjun, who needed cataract surgery?

Here he is post-surgery, rocking some very stylish protective glasses while his eye heals! We are happy to report that he is doing quite well after a two-week hiatus from school and tutoring (straining his eye during the recovery period could have led to irreversible damage), during which he continued to receive nutritional supplementation like milk and eggs from the Education Outreach Centre. (Many of AIC's students, like Arjun, face daily food insecurity at home, and truly suffer when the Education Centre is closed or they are unable to attend.)

Arjun's family is extremely grateful that the surgery was successful and is finally over. As for Arjun, well...Arjun blows bashful kisses and looks like a rockstar in his glasses. And that's thanks enough for us. :)

Happy almost-weekend from AIC!

Neha

2012-10-30T06:52:00.000-07:00

This little lady needs a sponsor who will be as committed to her education and future as she is!

* Don't forget, all donations made to AIC before the end of the year are being matched one-to-one, which means your contributions will go twice as far toward helping children like Neha! *

Fall 2012 - Residential Program Updates

2012-10-25T22:35:00.000-07:00

The Residential Program has seen major changes in the past few months. After a busy summer of regular swimming practice, wilderness and adventure sports camping, karate classes and yellow belt certification (big, big thank yous to Tabrez at Solaris pool, Idania didi and Melanie didi, and Bunny sir for sponsoring and arranging these activities for the AIC family!), it was back to school for the Residential Program kids in June.

Monsoon games

However, this back-to-school transition was different from all previous years, as the children were headed to a different school – a boarding school on the outskirts of the city, about 20 minutes from the Residential house.The decision was made to shift them to nearby boarding facilities as a temporary response to reports of government changes in residential institution licensure and registration regulations. Although this action was pre-emptive, we feel that it was the best way to ensure minimal disruption to the children’s educations, while giving our organization the opportunity to continue to investigate proposed/pending regulation changes and pursue compliance in conjunction with independent trust registration.

Ashwini, Jyoti, Pooja and Geeta with their new friends

Whether this arrangement will be a temporary placement or a longer-term restructuring of the Residential Program set-up is still being decided and we will continue to evaluate all possible options that are available to best meet the needs of the children. As always, our absolute highest priorities are the security, stability, happiness and overall wellbeing of the little family known as the AIC Residential Program.

Hanging out at the new school campus

The children are adjusting well to their new school and dorms, though they miss the AIC home and family unit. Recently back home for the 5-day Ganesh Chaturthi holiday, they were brimming with stories from their new school – moaning and groaning about bland food and early morning wake-up calls alongside tales of state level athletic competitions, cultural excursions, new friends and extracurricular activities such as horseback riding, drumming in the school band and lots more. It has been a major change, but everyone is adapting, learning, changing and growing as we make the most of the new situation.

Fall 2012: Education Outreach Program Updates

2012-10-25T22:33:00.000-07:00

After summer holidays in April and May, School began again in June, and the Education Outreach Centre is as busy as ever these days, particularly as the 34 new students enrolled in the program during admissions week in April continue to adjust to their new schedule and routine. In June, 10^th standard Board exam results were announced and everyone was thrilled to learn that our little class of 10^th standard Education Outreach students beat the odds with a pass rate of 100%! This was particularly exciting for us because last year was the first year that we decided to forgo sponsoring external tutoring classes for this group, and created our own in-house 10^th standard tutoring program instead. These students have since moved on to college (11^th standard) with AIC’s support.

School supplies, waiting for distribution

Aman, being measured for his uniform

For our pre-school, primary school and secondary school students, Education Program Director Claudia recently put new measures into place to improve student attendance and parent participation, and as a result, this month’s “perfect attendance list” is the longest it has ever been! Our AIC teaching staff continues to fine-tune their teaching techniques with instruction and guidance from Claudia and we are grateful for the help and support of a number of local volunteers and supporters in the classrooms as well.

Parent-teacher meeting

In October, six members of the teaching staff attended the much-anticipated inspirED 2012 conference in Pune, a coming-together of visionaries, professionals, government actors and educators committed to the transformation of education in India. The conference was hosted by Teach for India and even included a featured session by Wendy Kopp, founder of Teach for America. It was truly an inspirational event for the AIC teachers, who returned from the workshop invigorated and ready to bring about change in the field of education. We can't wait to see how they put to use what they learned in their own classrooms at AIC!

Fall 2012: Health & Community Outreach Programs Updates

2012-10-25T22:32:00.000-07:00

In July, we shifted to a new Health and Community Outreach Centre, located in the heart of the slums of Yerwada. Although it is slightly smaller than our previous building, the new centre’s homey atmosphere and central location within the Waghri and Sikligar communities has made it a very popular drop-in spot and attendance at AIC Health and Community Outreach Program classes and activities is higher than ever. Mother-baby classes, tailoring classes, literacy training, self-help groups, playgroup, counseling and a myriad of other activities continue to keep Program Coordinator Rashmi and her assistant Anita very busy in the new centre.

Rashmi is already dreaming of one day being able to hire an in-house doctor to treat our patients and cut costs, as well as completing the construction of a large open lecture/class hall on the first floor of the new building, funding permitting.