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School,
we dreaded it when we were young (well most of us), but education
has spread all over the world and it can be found in the
cities, urban areas and now is coming to the rural areas
in a big way.
I
set out to ask question's about education and the meaning of
it. I also have set to ask what's the point of being educated
if it cerate's no jobs? What's the point of it if you live at
the bottom of the social/ economic ladder? What
can the children gain from it? I try to ask these questions
and more.
Education
is something we take for granted, like a child takes a mother
and father for granted. When you are born, your parent's are
like god's, when you are a baby you can't feed yourself, they
feed you, and when you are cold they clothe you.
I
feel education is like a mother and father, it is the parent
of knowledge without it we could not read these words,
education give you the tool to apply yourself to the real
world.
But
what happens when you enter the real world, where money speaks
sometimes louder than words and actions.
What
happens when your family income is four pounds a month for the
whole family? What use is education then? For some time no one
could find the answers, now I think 1 solution is found.
Now
I will introduce you to Pardada
Pardadi school for underprivileged. http://www.education4change.org/
This is no ordinary
school, the school is a girl's school, why girls? Girl's in
India are neglected in society, they sadly are seen as less
important to boys. In some villages they drowned at birth,
girls are seen as burden and have to give a dowry to them at
marriage.
This
school takes girls from low income families and gives them new
hope, gives them a helping hand, and gives them skills so they
can help themselves (not take handouts) and through this
action they gain a sense of self worth, and get educated at
the same time.
At
Pardeda Pardadi girls learn how to do block printing, Shadow Embroidery, Machine Embroidery and many other
types of arts and crafts. The girls are also taught how
to use computers and given an education.
They
learn how to produce these things and get paid for their
effort, a salary is given everyday and they work from
Monday-Saturday. Half of their income goes to a bank
account and the rest goes into their hand. I think there is a
lesion in this itself, they are being taught very early how to
save money. When the courses finishes the girl earns a
respectful income.
This
gives them a stepping stone, a leverage to be independent and
self sufficient. When they finish their schooling they also
get a job to keep producing products for Pardada Pardadi.
How
simple it sounds? Doesn't it? I think every kid has the
potential to be a star, every single child has it in them.
From
the poor underprivileged children a new hope has come.
They
all have the potential to give back to society. If we look
beyond the dirty cloths, there is a hope in every one of them,
these kids in the school were once kids like them.
But
now they laugh and gossip just like us, When they are reading,
their eyes light up with excitement. They pay attention
to every word and sentence, their enthusiasm is contagious.
They
have discussions about society, they are just like us, with a
helping hand they can change things, it only requires effort
and no greedy thoughts.
They
can stay in their villages, and live more peacefully and
cleaner lives, then they would have in the city. Rural
India is huge, it's cleaner, less polluted, it makes more
sense to devlop and stay there, than to come to the
overpopulated cities.
The
hand that once begged now gives, it is possible for a change,
things can be different. If we act and help without any greedy
intention, I believe that the world could be a better place.
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