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Opening of a school for the "nomad"
children of Manali
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The
“Valley of the gods” – an ideal world is threatened
For
the past fifteen years, the influx of tourists has provoked galloping
urbanization in the region as seasonal overpopulation has not only put a
strain on available resources but has harmed the environment while raising
the cost of living for local residents causing an upheaval in their
ancestral way of life. The traditional ways of making a living in the
valley (produce agriculture, raising sheep/cattle, apple farming) are no
longer sufficient for a growing number of villagers who are forced to
invest in the burgeoning tourist industry thus taking on burdensome debt
in order to survive.
The
development taking place in this part of the valley attracts an important
number of people from exterior regions who come to work in hotels,
restaurants, and on the construction of roads, bridges, office buildings,
etc. These laborers, who work unmercifully, originate primarily from Nepal,
Rajasthan, Bihar (one of the poorer states of India). The first ones
to be neglected as a part of this rampant development are very often the
children, and even if the great majority of families in the valley succeed
in sending their children to school, there still remain extreme poverty
cases; God’s forgotten children…
An
entire section of Manali is taken over by tarp camps from March until the
end of October where more than a hundred “gypsy families” from
Rajasthan sell medicinal herbs and saffron to tourists. The rest of
the year these families live either in Rajasthan, in Penjab or Delhi.
Because of cultural differences with the inhabitants of the valley, they
are misunderstood and many times shunned, especially when a color
television sits enthroned amid their meager possessions. Not having a
permanent address in Manali, they are unable to enroll their children in
government schools. In general, these children remain in the camp;
fortunately, the parents of Rajpout origin are proud people who won’t
send their children out to beg. |
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In 2003, after several prolonged stays in Manali and regions of the
majestic Himalayas, Dominique, a member of "Maison
des Himalayas" (House of the Himalayas, a French NGO), was
able to determine the problems linked to poor, sedentary or “nomad”
children.
In
conjunction with a small, local
NGO (HPHWO) based in Manali, the government schools in the
valley (and several, small private schools) have been visited in order
to meet the teachers and identify the children in need. In addition, a
sensitizing process was initiated in the Rajasthani camp, where the need
for educational material is the most pressing, in order to make families
aware of the program’s aims, as well as identify the children who
would most capable of learning (about 115 children under 16 years of age
in 2003).
Of
course, the needs are vast and it’s impossible to solve the problems
of every child in the world overnight. However, certain projects
aren’t all that difficult to get started.
One
of these projects aims at the
education of Manali’s children of nomads (Rajasthanis,
Nepalese, street beggers, etc.) in order in include them in the
educational process, at least during their stay in the region, and to
impress on them the necessity of learning to read and write. The goal is
to get them off the street or out of the camp and encourage their
parents to enroll them in one of the government or private schools.
The
first phase of the program
christened “Prayas"
(the endeavour) was launched the beginning of May 2004 by
HPHWO. Two primary school
teachers were hired for the duration of the program (May through
November) and two rooms were rented to accommodate the children, plus
the purchase of some basic materials. The budget for the 2004 school
year was a mere 2,000 euros, which includes eight months of instruction
for 70 students (for a start), all financed by individual gifts. |
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Within
the first two days of the opening of the school, about 70 children were
registered, which means that the need is enormous.
Between 40 and 50 children came to the school every day,
from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm: two
teachers hired by the NGO could inculcate in them the basics of
discipline, hygiene, reading and writing (both in Hindi and in English),
mathematics, and, above all, to discover and enjoy school.
Some
foreign tourists also volunteered in this programme to give the children
art classes and help them to develop their artistic and expression skills.
We are particularly grateful to our two Israeli friends who devoted
their vacation time in Manali to these children!
This
pre-educational programme proved quite successful and revealed high
motivation, great intellectual and social capabilities among children who
were previously doubting that they would ever be able to go to school one
day. The families also
expressed their happiness and pride to see their children’s attitude
changing day by day.
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Our objectives for 2005
The
NGO will of course continue this free pre-educational programme and is
planning to open two more small units near temporary camps
inhabited by other communities, such as Nepalese workers and Tibetan
refugees.
Furthermore,
the NGO has been discussing with some Rajasthani families in order to
convince them to send fifteen of these children to a small private
school, as from beginning of March 2005, where they could catch up
with standard education levels and meet children from other communities.
The NGO has identified one small private school near Manali, who is
willing to work on this integration scheme, and will finance registration
fees and other costs so that these children may consider their education
in the long run.
You
can also help! For donations
in cash or in kind or for volunteer work, please contact
us. Thank you!
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The
French organization Maison
des Himalayas is supporting this programme by proposing its
members to finance this school by the way of donations, or by sponsoring
poor children of Himachal Pradesh.
To
know more about this educational programme in Himachal Pradesh
("Aidons les enfants de la vallée des dieux" ) or about
various actions conducted by Maison
des Himalayas (sorry in French only!):
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To learn more about the
local NGO in Manali:
HP Human Welfare Organization
Need help?
Contact the free Manali Tourist Helpline proposed by HPHWO
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To
know more about Dominique
(behind the picture!)
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Meet
some friends on the web...
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Travelling with Phil
and his ink sketches |
Sylvie and Eric's
light sculptures |
Gaby,
to find another light... |
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