With all the arts and crafts packed in the bags we headed across the city for a final time in an auto. We arrived to find only a few children at the centre. We sat and had tea with Anita. Slowly the children started arriving. All were wearing their best clothes and we found out all the children in our classes were not going to school today. (Approximately 50 children)
We laid out all the craft stuff, colouring and sticking and had a free for all. I had set up my POGO poloroid printer and when round taking face shots of the children and then printing off a small photo to present to them. All this concluded at 1130 glitter and glue everywhere. During the morning I introduced the cildren to ACDC, Metallica and Iron Maiden from my Ipod even had then doing air guitars.....yea rock on.
Anita cooked us some lunch of Chappattis and peppers. The children all disappeared for half an hour and return for Anita called the program. Alison went out with one of centre staff and bought street food samosas and fizzy drinks for the college students later in the day. On her return the centre was full of children 50 plus all in their best clothes. Two lads acted as door staff and had to stop all the non school children and village kids centre trying to get in. It was Chaos.
We then had to sort out the gifts we had for the children, A pencil, pen, sweets from us and Dave M along with a balloon and stickers.
Following this the dancing began and the children did all sorts of dances for us all with music but in Hindi. Near the end we were hauled up onto the dance floor to dance Hindi style, it made them laugh watching me dance apparently I was doing girls moves. I had been watching the girls dance. Me and Alison danced arm in arm together to rapturous applause.
Soon after it was all over and lots and lots of hand shaking and hugging when the children left the centre. It was sad some of the kids are just brilliant.
We then sat down with all the college/Uni students, we gave them all the samosas and fizzy drinks and sat and chatted about our experiences. Sunil was present and had given us a card earlier in the day and had some of the most poetic words I think I have ever read. Touched and slightly choked by it.
Soon the time came to say our goodbyes......the big question for us all day had been when are you coming back to Jeevan Nagar. The answer 'one day' and that is a promise.
Lots of hugging and hand shaking with the older students and staff. Sad to leave Antia as she has been a rock for the last two weeks.
Sunil and two others walked us to an auto and waved us off as we drove off down the ring road. Stressful day and week over, Mrs G fell asleep in the auto. Once home a debrief of the day.
I went out to sort out Simons bike and empty the fuel and put it away it took me a few minutes to drain the fuel take of the mirrors. I found an Indian guy with a moped and gave him the fuel. His lucky day.
With that all complete had a shower and make plans for the evening.
All four volunteers when out to the mall for our last night together and had dinner and happy hour beer and cocktails. I had pizza (veggie) and brownie and ice cream plus 4 beers. Cheap 50 rupee auto home for all 4 of us. Made a quick phone to my mum to let her know my cousin has had a baby (well done Mr and Mrs N). I phone home to let them know news from Croydon!
Bed time nite nite xx
Summary: Jeevan Nagar is a fantastic ASHA project and it has been my privilege to assist those children with their English. The children are so kind, warm, generous and some have an excellent grasp of the English language both reading and writing. The children want to learn and this makes all the difference. I am grateful to Antia who has made the whole experience very pleasurable. Most of all having Mrs G by my side has been great, she is a fantastic teacher and certainly could not have done this without her. Thanks babe x
We laid out all the craft stuff, colouring and sticking and had a free for all. I had set up my POGO poloroid printer and when round taking face shots of the children and then printing off a small photo to present to them. All this concluded at 1130 glitter and glue everywhere. During the morning I introduced the cildren to ACDC, Metallica and Iron Maiden from my Ipod even had then doing air guitars.....yea rock on.
Anita cooked us some lunch of Chappattis and peppers. The children all disappeared for half an hour and return for Anita called the program. Alison went out with one of centre staff and bought street food samosas and fizzy drinks for the college students later in the day. On her return the centre was full of children 50 plus all in their best clothes. Two lads acted as door staff and had to stop all the non school children and village kids centre trying to get in. It was Chaos.
We then had to sort out the gifts we had for the children, A pencil, pen, sweets from us and Dave M along with a balloon and stickers.
Following this the dancing began and the children did all sorts of dances for us all with music but in Hindi. Near the end we were hauled up onto the dance floor to dance Hindi style, it made them laugh watching me dance apparently I was doing girls moves. I had been watching the girls dance. Me and Alison danced arm in arm together to rapturous applause.
Soon after it was all over and lots and lots of hand shaking and hugging when the children left the centre. It was sad some of the kids are just brilliant.
We then sat down with all the college/Uni students, we gave them all the samosas and fizzy drinks and sat and chatted about our experiences. Sunil was present and had given us a card earlier in the day and had some of the most poetic words I think I have ever read. Touched and slightly choked by it.
Soon the time came to say our goodbyes......the big question for us all day had been when are you coming back to Jeevan Nagar. The answer 'one day' and that is a promise.
Lots of hugging and hand shaking with the older students and staff. Sad to leave Antia as she has been a rock for the last two weeks.
Sunil and two others walked us to an auto and waved us off as we drove off down the ring road. Stressful day and week over, Mrs G fell asleep in the auto. Once home a debrief of the day.
I went out to sort out Simons bike and empty the fuel and put it away it took me a few minutes to drain the fuel take of the mirrors. I found an Indian guy with a moped and gave him the fuel. His lucky day.
With that all complete had a shower and make plans for the evening.
All four volunteers when out to the mall for our last night together and had dinner and happy hour beer and cocktails. I had pizza (veggie) and brownie and ice cream plus 4 beers. Cheap 50 rupee auto home for all 4 of us. Made a quick phone to my mum to let her know my cousin has had a baby (well done Mr and Mrs N). I phone home to let them know news from Croydon!
Bed time nite nite xx
Summary: Jeevan Nagar is a fantastic ASHA project and it has been my privilege to assist those children with their English. The children are so kind, warm, generous and some have an excellent grasp of the English language both reading and writing. The children want to learn and this makes all the difference. I am grateful to Antia who has made the whole experience very pleasurable. Most of all having Mrs G by my side has been great, she is a fantastic teacher and certainly could not have done this without her. Thanks babe x
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| Mrs G with her new Indian clothes |
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| Arts and Crafts |
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| New Clothes |
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| Children ready |
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| Anita |
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| Waving goodbye |
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| Last dinner for us |
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