2006
A book written by children
For the first time, a book of folk stories--kahanin petaro--was
published in the local dialect, Bareli. The stories were collected by
the children of Adharshila. The illustrations were also done by
children. The book was published by Adivasi Reeti Bachao Toli, Indore.
New trades learnt
Screen Printing: Two children went to learn screen printing at
Ashagram, an NGO in Badwani, for a week. They will go again in the
summer for 15 days. We intend to set up a screen printing unit in the
school in the next session. This will be used to print books for the
school.
Frames: Suresh learnt to make poster frames. He made about 50
frames of posters of Khajiya Naik and Tantiya Bhil, Adivasi freedom
fighters. This activity emerged from a student discussion where they
felt it was necessary to bring awareness about local history. They
decided to popularise the photographs of Adivasi heroes. Short books
about their lives are also being written to give with these photo
frames. Framing is also an income-generating activity.
Door/house painting: On the job training. Four children painted
the hall and window frames of the school. They were involved right from
buying the material.
MSExcel: Elder children learnt to use excel. They typed in the names of about 500 library books and 10 school receipt books.
Weaving: the children and one staff member learnt weaving jute bags and belts. We are also trying to sell them.
Choolah workshop
Fuel wood constitutes a major cost in the cafeteria. We called
resource persons from AARTI, Pune and NGO to make energy-efficient and
smokeless choolahs in the kitchen. Aarti has received the Alternative
Nobel Prize for their work. They held a two day workshop in which about
50 students and teachers from three affiliated schools participated.
They learnt about the basics of energy, the need for conservation and
also made choolahs. 14 choolahs were made besides the ones that were
permanently installed. The permanent choolaha were also made by the
senior children who are interested in masonry.
The resource persons were very impressed by the children and have
promised to help the school by providing free trainings and making
joint programmes. The next step is to install these choolahs in
children’s homes.
Talks
Human Rights: Shri Gajanand Brahmane, a senior activist of
Adivasi Mukti Sangathan, was called to explain the concept of Human
Rights and ways of getting it implemented.
Experience of Genetically Modified Seeds, particularly BT cotton:
Shri Ashish Mandloi, an activist of the Narmada Bachao Andolan spent a
full day talking to the senior students about the problems faced by
farmers of Neemar area after the failure of BT cotton crop.
Functions
Like every year many functions were organized in the school.
Almost all the items--plays, songs, dresses etc.--were prepared by the
teachers. The student teachers played a very prominent role in the
functions. They got hands-on training organizing. A calendar of
important dates was prepared. Small write ups were written for these
dates and the children were told about these in the assembly. Now it’s
a ritual that the Sports Day Expenses are raised through donations
collected by children and teachers from jeeps, trucks, buses,
shopkeepers and other friends. It was a great sight--6 to 10-year-olds
blocking the road and asking for donations. They collected about 600.
Functions include:
Annual Function
Independence Day
Republic Day
Birth and Death anniversaries of freedom fighters.
Tours
The children went to Pavagarh, an old temple in
Gujarat, which is associated with Adivasi folk lore. They also visited
Jhabua, their ancestral district.
We are richer by:
A solar panel system for our computer. But it is enough
only for school work and only 4-5 children have started learning. The
battery backup is just 4 hrs. We need at least two more such systems
with 8hr. backups.
A library building--thanks
to SRUTI, we have a library/activity building. It is used for teaching,
dance, a reading and computer room, teacher’s meetings.
Our new Sports Teacher Ms. Shanta joined us part time.
Children enjoyed playing games regularly with her. Shanta is an Adivasi
girl with a boy cut who wears only pants and shirts. She is definitely
a new role model for the girls.
Thanks to Ms. Shanta, children competed in the district level
athletics meet. Gurudas came 2nd in the district in the 400M and 800M
races. Deepak came 2nd in long jump, and Sanpat came 3rd in 100 m race.
Youth participated in...
• Activist Training organized by SRUTI.
• Textbook making workshop of NCERT as member of the 9th class Political Science textbook committee.
• Resource Person for teacher training in Chatli High School.
• Staged a play in the A.M.S. protest march against sale of liquor in Badwani.
• Staged a play in the Jan Sunvai on Health Services in Balwadi organised by AMS and CEHAT.
• Workshop to create learning aids and material for primary classes in Adharshila.
• Teacher Training for Social Science and Science organised by Eklavya in Bhopal and Hoshangabad.
• Delivered a lecture organised by HH the Dalai Lama Trust in Delhi.
• SRUTI Mitra Milan at Bokapuram.
• Youth Festival at Anandwan.