Our favorite school

Our favorite school

Lius Widjaya and Prashina Samtani and Jyoti Nagrani and Bhavna Nathani, Jakarta

In keeping with Gandhi's tradition of charity, our school,
Mahatma Gandhi School, decided to 'adopt' a school in the
academic year 2004-2005.

Kartini School of Pluit came to mind. This is a special school
that was founded by twin sisters Rossy and Ryan. A special school
for children of poor garbage dump workers; its further
development is their main objective.

Located under a bridge in Pluit, North Jakarta and surrounded
by garbage of every imaginable sort, the school has around 45
students enrolled. Hats off to the twin sisters for their
commendable efforts!.

During one of the daily assemblies, we were told of a project
that was still in its early stages by our thoughtful principal
Vimala Nandakumar. She suggested that all students donate
generously. Donations could be anything, ranging from unused
school uniforms, books, food to stationery, and not limited to
just money. The Community and Social Service (CAS) Club was thus
formed. She then moved on to describe the condition of the
school.

We were told the school could not even afford electrical fans
to cool the students while studying, never mind air-conditioners
like the ones we have installed in our classrooms. Also, she
described the school's dirty and unpleasant surroundings, and the
lack of maintenance of the few classrooms they had.

The response was very good; the very next day most of the
students brought things to donate as well as money. All donations
were stored in charity boxes ready to be donated to the less
fortunate students of Kartini School.

The next Saturday we went to Kartini School along with the
principal. We were shocked by its woeful condition. The
description of the school that we had been given proved to be
dreadfully true.

The school's surroundings was reminiscent of a scene from of a
true garbage dump. Puddles of unknown liquid (most probably oily
mud we would presume) litter the trail leading up to the school's
entrance. The whole place was just too desolate, the atmosphere
too gloomy, and of course, nobody should forget about the foul
stench emanating from the surrounding garbage.

We could not have believed that children actually studied here
if some children clad in tattered primary school uniforms and
dirty casual outfits accompanied by some teachers did not emerge
from the school to greet us.

But what surprised us was the excitement reflected in the
students' eyes; the children seemingly immune to the desolate
surroundings, as if they could not care less.

Such was the hurried greeting that some of the students were
still carrying either a book or a pencil in their hands. We
thought they had rushed out of a class that was still in
progress. What was still more heartening was seeing the "less
than the less fortunate" children of the surrounding area craning
their thin, starved necks to try and catch a "morsel" of what was
going on inside the "class".

Their smiling faces and their tattered uniforms, along with
the so-called school surrounded by a garbage dump as the
background, combined to from a very forlorn yet artistic picture
in my mind. One would have been forgiven for thinking that these
victims of poverty could go to school in a much better place, but
we should never hold our breath in expectation for a better
situation if we take no action.

We then proceeded to teach them basic English words in one of
the classrooms, such as words for parts of our faces, names of
various colors, numbers from 1-20, etc.

We taught in a small classroom, but every child present in the
school cramped in to listen. Yes, we mean all 45 or so students
tried to get into the classroom whose ceilings could collapse at
any moment.

Needless to say, some could not get in, so they watched us
from outside and tried their best to follow what we were
teaching. Next, we played games by asking questions related to
what we had just taught them. Those who could answer correctly
were presented gifts, either a snack bar or a pencil we brought
from home.

The children learnt rapidly and most could answer very well;
their ability to learn matched their eagerness to learn new
things. A student from Aceh thrilled us with her smart behavior
and diction. After the English lessons, it was time for story
telling.

One of our friends who was with us, read them a kindergarten
storybook. The students, though many and crowded, were very
silent as they listened attentively and excitedly. (Something
that I think rarely happens in the classes of schools that the
more fortunate go to!).

At the end of the sessions we gave each of the students a
small hand-made paper packet containing biscuits and a juice
drink. The children smiled in gratitude, though most were shy and
did not utter a single word of thanks; we could see from their
illuminated faces that they were indeed grateful.

Sympathy and lightheartedness dominated my afterthoughts and
feelings after we left the compound.

What a day it had been! It was a great pleasure for all of us
to visit and share our knowledge with these children of a lesser
God. Obviously, the most cherishing moment that we had ever come
across. I would suggest to all of our friends back at school to
visit the school and cure themselves of their spoiled nature and
their 'take-everything-for-granted' attitude.

From then on we visit the Kartini School once every month
along with the CAS club members, eager to feel the sensation we
experienced when we left Kartini School during my first visit,
the feeling that we presumed has the ability to relax tensions of
the troubled mind.

We gained the same amount of benefit as they did; in our case,
our reward was the feeling of helping some people in need, which
can make us equally happy and give an immense sense of
satisfaction.

The next Monday when school reopened, during the assembly,
Vimala told all of the school that there would be charity bazaar
in our school two weeks from then, on a Wednesday, and there
would be some special guests present. Groups of students were
organized and given tasks to open stalls which would host various
games. The preparations were done accordingly and neatly.

When the special Wednesday came, when the sun had not yet
passed its zenith, we went off to the Kartini School to pick up
some of the students there and invite them to the charity bazaar.
Prem Bhojwani, the administrator of Mahatma Gandhi School, was
there too. He was to hand over the accumulated donations to both
Rossy and Ryan. The money will be put to good use: for further
development of the school and improving the study conditions
there.

Once we dropped them off at the bazaar, they gave a
performance on the stage we set up amidst the bazaar. To our
surprise, they danced to famous Bollywood songs. Then they played
the games at the stalls and the students in charge provided as
many times as they wanted, without making them reach into their
pockets to pay, gratis!

Eye-catching gifts were also won by those who managed to win.
All of us were glad that the Kartini School students really had
fun. You could tell by the way they laughed and cheered and ran
around the bazaar experiencing virtually all the games first hand
enthusiastically. One must not forget a very touching gesture
that these children gave when they took leave of their hosts:
each child took our hands and kissed them, gratitude in their
eyes and humility in their attitude. It really tugged at our
heart strings.

As always, all good things must come to an end, and the fun
filled day was no exception. Mission accomplished, then! Before
the Kartini students left, we gave them gift packets containing
sweets and soft drinks; what a day for them! We collected quite a
lot of money from non-Kartini School people who had to pay (well,
somebody had to pay; why else would the bazaar be called a
charity bazaar?) and put the money together with the donations
collected a few weeks earlier to be given together to Mrs. Rossy
and Mrs.Ryan at a later date.

With hope in their sights, it is not hard to foresee a
brighter future for Kartini School and its crop of not more than
50 students. But it isn't time yet to rest on our laurels; for
what has been done for these needy children is only a drop in the
ocean. As Robert Frost says: ... I have miles to go before I
sleep.