Our favorite school<\/p>\n
Lius Widjaya and Prashina Samtani and Jyoti Nagrani and Bhavna Nathani, Jakarta<\/p>\n
In keeping with Gandhi's tradition of charity, our school,
\nMahatma Gandhi School, decided to 'adopt' a school in the
\nacademic year 2004-2005.<\/p>\n
Kartini School of Pluit came to mind. This is a special school
\nthat was founded by twin sisters Rossy and Ryan. A special school
\nfor children of poor garbage dump workers; its further
\ndevelopment is their main objective.<\/p>\n
Located under a bridge in Pluit, North Jakarta and surrounded
\nby garbage of every imaginable sort, the school has around 45
\nstudents enrolled. Hats off to the twin sisters for their
\ncommendable efforts!.<\/p>\n
During one of the daily assemblies, we were told of a project
\nthat was still in its early stages by our thoughtful principal
\nVimala Nandakumar. She suggested that all students donate
\ngenerously. Donations could be anything, ranging from unused
\nschool uniforms, books, food to stationery, and not limited to
\njust money. The Community and Social Service (CAS) Club was thus
\nformed. She then moved on to describe the condition of the
\nschool.<\/p>\n
We were told the school could not even afford electrical fans
\nto cool the students while studying, never mind air-conditioners
\nlike the ones we have installed in our classrooms. Also, she
\ndescribed the school's dirty and unpleasant surroundings, and the
\nlack of maintenance of the few classrooms they had.<\/p>\n
The response was very good; the very next day most of the
\nstudents brought things to donate as well as money. All donations
\nwere stored in charity boxes ready to be donated to the less
\nfortunate students of Kartini School.<\/p>\n
The next Saturday we went to Kartini School along with the
\nprincipal. We were shocked by its woeful condition. The
\ndescription of the school that we had been given proved to be
\ndreadfully true.<\/p>\n
The school's surroundings was reminiscent of a scene from of a
\ntrue garbage dump. Puddles of unknown liquid (most probably oily
\nmud we would presume) litter the trail leading up to the school's
\nentrance. The whole place was just too desolate, the atmosphere
\ntoo gloomy, and of course, nobody should forget about the foul
\nstench emanating from the surrounding garbage.<\/p>\n
We could not have believed that children actually studied here
\nif some children clad in tattered primary school uniforms and
\ndirty casual outfits accompanied by some teachers did not emerge
\nfrom the school to greet us.<\/p>\n
But what surprised us was the excitement reflected in the
\nstudents' eyes; the children seemingly immune to the desolate
\nsurroundings, as if they could not care less.<\/p>\n
Such was the hurried greeting that some of the students were
\nstill carrying either a book or a pencil in their hands. We
\nthought they had rushed out of a class that was still in
\nprogress. What was still more heartening was seeing the \"less
\nthan the less fortunate\" children of the surrounding area craning
\ntheir thin, starved necks to try and catch a \"morsel\" of what was
\ngoing on inside the \"class\".<\/p>\n
Their smiling faces and their tattered uniforms, along with
\nthe so-called school surrounded by a garbage dump as the
\nbackground, combined to from a very forlorn yet artistic picture
\nin my mind. One would have been forgiven for thinking that these
\nvictims of poverty could go to school in a much better place, but
\nwe should never hold our breath in expectation for a better
\nsituation if we take no action.<\/p>\n
We then proceeded to teach them basic English words in one of
\nthe classrooms, such as words for parts of our faces, names of
\nvarious colors, numbers from 1-20, etc.<\/p>\n
We taught in a small classroom, but every child present in the
\nschool cramped in to listen. Yes, we mean all 45 or so students
\ntried to get into the classroom whose ceilings could collapse at
\nany moment.<\/p>\n
Needless to say, some could not get in, so they watched us
\nfrom outside and tried their best to follow what we were
\nteaching. Next, we played games by asking questions related to
\nwhat we had just taught them. Those who could answer correctly
\nwere presented gifts, either a snack bar or a pencil we brought
\nfrom home.<\/p>\n
The children learnt rapidly and most could answer very well;
\ntheir ability to learn matched their eagerness to learn new
\nthings. A student from Aceh thrilled us with her smart behavior
\nand diction. After the English lessons, it was time for story
\ntelling.<\/p>\n
One of our friends who was with us, read them a kindergarten
\nstorybook. The students, though many and crowded, were very
\nsilent as they listened attentively and excitedly. (Something
\nthat I think rarely happens in the classes of schools that the
\nmore fortunate go to!).<\/p>\n
At the end of the sessions we gave each of the students a
\nsmall hand-made paper packet containing biscuits and a juice
\ndrink. The children smiled in gratitude, though most were shy and
\ndid not utter a single word of thanks; we could see from their
\nilluminated faces that they were indeed grateful.<\/p>\n
Sympathy and lightheartedness dominated my afterthoughts and
\nfeelings after we left the compound.<\/p>\n
What a day it had been! It was a great pleasure for all of us
\nto visit and share our knowledge with these children of a lesser
\nGod. Obviously, the most cherishing moment that we had ever come
\nacross. I would suggest to all of our friends back at school to
\nvisit the school and cure themselves of their spoiled nature and
\ntheir 'take-everything-for-granted' attitude.<\/p>\n
From then on we visit the Kartini School once every month
\nalong with the CAS club members, eager to feel the sensation we
\nexperienced when we left Kartini School during my first visit,
\nthe feeling that we presumed has the ability to relax tensions of
\nthe troubled mind.<\/p>\n
We gained the same amount of benefit as they did; in our case,
\nour reward was the feeling of helping some people in need, which
\ncan make us equally happy and give an immense sense of
\nsatisfaction.<\/p>\n
The next Monday when school reopened, during the assembly,
\nVimala told all of the school that there would be charity bazaar
\nin our school two weeks from then, on a Wednesday, and there
\nwould be some special guests present. Groups of students were
\norganized and given tasks to open stalls which would host various
\ngames. The preparations were done accordingly and neatly.<\/p>\n
When the special Wednesday came, when the sun had not yet
\npassed its zenith, we went off to the Kartini School to pick up
\nsome of the students there and invite them to the charity bazaar.
\nPrem Bhojwani, the administrator of Mahatma Gandhi School, was
\nthere too. He was to hand over the accumulated donations to both
\nRossy and Ryan. The money will be put to good use: for further
\ndevelopment of the school and improving the study conditions
\nthere.<\/p>\n
Once we dropped them off at the bazaar, they gave a
\nperformance on the stage we set up amidst the bazaar. To our
\nsurprise, they danced to famous Bollywood songs. Then they played
\nthe games at the stalls and the students in charge provided as
\nmany times as they wanted, without making them reach into their
\npockets to pay, gratis!<\/p>\n
Eye-catching gifts were also won by those who managed to win.
\nAll of us were glad that the Kartini School students really had
\nfun. You could tell by the way they laughed and cheered and ran
\naround the bazaar experiencing virtually all the games first hand
\nenthusiastically. One must not forget a very touching gesture
\nthat these children gave when they took leave of their hosts:
\neach child took our hands and kissed them, gratitude in their
\neyes and humility in their attitude. It really tugged at our
\nheart strings.<\/p>\n
As always, all good things must come to an end, and the fun
\nfilled day was no exception. Mission accomplished, then! Before
\nthe Kartini students left, we gave them gift packets containing
\nsweets and soft drinks; what a day for them! We collected quite a
\nlot of money from non-Kartini School people who had to pay (well,
\nsomebody had to pay; why else would the bazaar be called a
\ncharity bazaar?) and put the money together with the donations
\ncollected a few weeks earlier to be given together to Mrs. Rossy
\nand Mrs.Ryan at a later date.<\/p>\n
With hope in their sights, it is not hard to foresee a
\nbrighter future for Kartini School and its crop of not more than
\n50 students. But it isn't time yet to rest on our laurels; for
\nwhat has been done for these needy children is only a drop in the
\nocean. As Robert Frost says: ... I have miles to go before I
\nsleep.<\/p>",
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