Click, click went the Nikon cameras as we exited the bus and were greeted by the eager students of Shishu Mandir school. Their glittering smiles welcomed us into their truly unique learning environment. Next, in a hospitable manner, they led us on a tour of their school. As we walked into the main building, we were amazed at the staff's caring nature and the students' redeeming qualities after dropping out of school. One of the great things about the Shishu Mandir school is that they give students another chance to enhance their all-around character and skills in order to prepare them for the competitive workforce. After witnessing the high tech machines, we also explored the nurturing and disciplinary structure of their extensive library. Then we proceeded to the weekly school assembly where students presented a variety of their achievements from singing to unicycling to drum dancing. During the assembly we discussed the qualities that make Shishu Mandir a one of a kind school. The founder of the school, Mamma, stressed femininism so strongly the boys may have felt slightly out of place. She suggested an "equal" classroom was one with a 7:3 ratio of girls to boys because she thought it was an ideal place to learn, despite the number of girls being much higher than boys. After the small look into the Shishu Mandir culture, we got into small groups with the children of Adobe Youth Voices, who were more than willing to share their experiences regarding the water situations in their homes. Through modern technology and innovative ideas, the students had created films that communicated significant issues in their own lives or societies. One prominent issue the students seemed to care about were gender roles in the domestic sphere. As the day progressed, we visited some of the students homes in the rural villages of Bangalore. We grew a new appreciation for water that books and movies couldn't teach us. Once we entered the house, we observed the transformation from the piles of garbage and stray dogs to their immaculately clean and sacred home. After talking to the residents, we acquired knowledge about the water situation in their community. Once every fifteen days, children of a family will go to collect water from a tanker. These tankers are never a reliable source since they come at random intervals of time. We realized the struggles the residents go through on a daily basis, while we have the ability to access clean water within seconds. From this experience, we are learning to be more conscious of our water consumption because every drop of water is precious in India, and all over the world. Overall, we moved beyond the confined space of a prisoner and ignorance of a vacationer and evolved the focused and clear mindset of a true leader. 
Riya, Anjali, Avani, Anika
Riya, Anjali, Avani, Anika
Dear Ambassadors,
ReplyDeleteThanks you for sharing your experiences with us as often as you have done. I know that you must be tired at the end of the day, yet you find the energy to enlighten us with your experiences. It seems to me that the most enriching experience for you has been to meet with peers and learn from them. This is not surprising to me. There is nothing like learning first-hand. It sounds like the school you visited is a caring environment, where students can be themselves.