Sambhali end of July, 2007
Monica, Rohit and Aman , Participants of empowerment of women and girls from the harijan community goes to school from the sponsors we found them, Mrs.Mirjam from Uk and Mr.MacArthur from the USA. We are very thankfull to them for their kindest support.
Monica, I am Soo proud!!!
Rohit and Aman, Sambhali Particpant Meera's two sons.
We are in process of finding an umbrella organization here in Jodhpur who can support us with channeling donation we recieve for the 3 years untill we get the permission of FCRA. In USA now we have 3 friendly Sambhali TREE Members. Sambhali International Jen and Niina, Sambhali International (USA) Incorporated ,Paul and Elizabeth and Mr.MacArthur from the Brooksville fund who are more then happy to provide tax exumption to Sambhali Trust Donors. We dont want to loose the oppertunity of being affiliated with the Lonely Planet Foundation , we will do anything on our end to make the Grant given to the Trust reach us and can be used as promised. I am helpless with the Beurocracy but i will try again and again. Our volunteer from May-July has left yesterday, M.S.Johanna Johne did a great job. here are some words from her before she left.
Conclusion and overall impression on the project in general. Monday the 23rd of July 07
My work in and on this project comes to its end now.
I got the chance of being part of something wonderful really. The girls are precious human beings and every time I look at them I come to realize how vulnerable they are. Because of this very reason it should be priority to be sensitive, to give love, and to push them in a supporting way instead of telling them all the time how stupid they are. They can achieve great things if people put their trust and believe in them and eventually there is enough power to be strong enough to take the next step into society, which in fact doesn’t appreciate them very much by nature. Some of them are afraid. They prefer not to take the next step. Nevertheless, they can do great things in their community as well. So the education part is not wasted by any means. They are the next generation to come. It would be a great loss in progress to miss out on them just because some of the girls have different priorities in life and don’t push for the highest educational goals possible. So another goal next to giving them the best education possible is to transport moral virtues and norms in order to make good human beings out of them. In the long run it makes them stronger as people don’t like to be cheated and in consequence put their trust and help and friendship into those characters who are good by nature, who don’t lie, who take others and their problems seriously, who help people in need. This again helps creating trust among community members in general and this way they might find the inner strength and will to go out and fight against boundaries, to fight for equal opportunities and chances.
I had to realize that there is a great gap between the girls’ abilities. Some are eager and learn fast and some see the project as a way to miss out on duties at home. It is not that easy working under these diverse conditions. Nevertheless, I think I managed the work in a quite satisfying way considering the fact, that I didn’t have real teaching experiences before – organizing class not only for one class period but on a constant level over weeks, managing to make the students follow instead of boycotting and not paying attention at all means. I didn’t say I had it easy. But for some reason I enjoyed working with those girls very much – they appreciate, they are not spoiled by modernity simply because they cannot afford it, they enjoy relationships with others as this is all they have really but because of this they seem to know how to take care of it as well. First you have to prove yourself trustworthy though. They have difficulty to open up in the beginning; it is especially difficult if outer circumstances collide with their traditions and religious beliefs. For instance, a man will always have more difficulties as a woman teaching just because of the sex. This doesn’t mean though he will not be able manage. This simply means he will have to put more effort into it, especially in the beginning of getting to know them. I am sure professionalism will win in the end though.
My only advice be yourself, be strong, go your own way, be adventurous and open-minded towards the girls and next to all the duties try to have as much fun as possible – don’t ever regret.
My work in and on this project comes to its end now.
I got the chance of being part of something wonderful really. The girls are precious human beings and every time I look at them I come to realize how vulnerable they are. Because of this very reason it should be priority to be sensitive, to give love, and to push them in a supporting way instead of telling them all the time how stupid they are. They can achieve great things if people put their trust and believe in them and eventually there is enough power to be strong enough to take the next step into society, which in fact doesn’t appreciate them very much by nature. Some of them are afraid. They prefer not to take the next step. Nevertheless, they can do great things in their community as well. So the education part is not wasted by any means. They are the next generation to come. It would be a great loss in progress to miss out on them just because some of the girls have different priorities in life and don’t push for the highest educational goals possible. So another goal next to giving them the best education possible is to transport moral virtues and norms in order to make good human beings out of them. In the long run it makes them stronger as people don’t like to be cheated and in consequence put their trust and help and friendship into those characters who are good by nature, who don’t lie, who take others and their problems seriously, who help people in need. This again helps creating trust among community members in general and this way they might find the inner strength and will to go out and fight against boundaries, to fight for equal opportunities and chances.
I had to realize that there is a great gap between the girls’ abilities. Some are eager and learn fast and some see the project as a way to miss out on duties at home. It is not that easy working under these diverse conditions. Nevertheless, I think I managed the work in a quite satisfying way considering the fact, that I didn’t have real teaching experiences before – organizing class not only for one class period but on a constant level over weeks, managing to make the students follow instead of boycotting and not paying attention at all means. I didn’t say I had it easy. But for some reason I enjoyed working with those girls very much – they appreciate, they are not spoiled by modernity simply because they cannot afford it, they enjoy relationships with others as this is all they have really but because of this they seem to know how to take care of it as well. First you have to prove yourself trustworthy though. They have difficulty to open up in the beginning; it is especially difficult if outer circumstances collide with their traditions and religious beliefs. For instance, a man will always have more difficulties as a woman teaching just because of the sex. This doesn’t mean though he will not be able manage. This simply means he will have to put more effort into it, especially in the beginning of getting to know them. I am sure professionalism will win in the end though.
My only advice be yourself, be strong, go your own way, be adventurous and open-minded towards the girls and next to all the duties try to have as much fun as possible – don’t ever regret.
Take care, bye!
