Daily Report -- Day 2

2.6.14

We started the day with a nice breakfast at the hotel. Then we got ready and left the Hotel to

visit the various schools. As there was some time left to reach the schools, we went to see a cactus nursery nearby, “The Pineview Nursery”. It has a collection of more than 1500 rare variety of cacti. It is also called a jungle of Blue cactus. Established in 1971 it has cacti from various places like South Africa, America, Argentina, Mexico, etc. and exports cactus to various countries. We then moved downhill towards the “Teesta Bazaar Junior School” on the banks of Teesta River. The children and teachers were eagerly waiting for us. They honoured us with traditional “Khada”. The Teesta Bazaar Junior Basic School was established in 1951 and has 92 students with the age groups of 3 to 14 years. The Headmaster welcomed us and delivered a speech. Then Mr. Saom Namchu, the project Director of GFF introduced NER Group and EKIN India to the students and teachers. We then gave gifts to the students which included a set of library books, a steel library cupboard, 2 water filters, a set of teaching learning materials and two computer sets. We also presented them a metal plaque on which the names of NER, EDI, GFF and EKIN were inscribed. A short skit on importance of cleanliness was presented by the volunteers of Ekin India which was thoroughly enjoyed by the kids. We then distributed sweets to the kids and told them the importance of computer education. We were then served tea and snacks.  The children as well as the teachers were very grateful to NER group for the generous gifts and heartily thanked us.

After this lovely visit we drove uphill towards Kalimpong town and proceeded to Jubilee Government Primary School. This school was established in the year 1934 and provides free education. The school is a co-education with 107 students. The medium of teaching is English and school is running from class L.K.G to IV. Here also we were received very warmly by the students and the teachers. They welcomed us with a speech and presented beautiful “Khada” to us. There we distributed two computer sets. We distributed sweets to the kids and presented them with a plaque with NER, EKIN, EDI and GFF inscribed on it. They served us tea and snacks. Few teachers of St. Thomas School, Longshyel also came there and felicitated us with their traditional “Khada”. Longshyel is the most remote area in the Kalimpong sub-division and there are actually no roads connecting that area. So everyone could not go there and only Akanksha and Saom went there. So the teachers came to meet us and expressed their gratitude to NER group and EKIN.  We then proceeded to Ramlal Dahal School.

Ramlal Dahal High School was established in 1948 and recognized by the government in

1984. It has nearly 160 students. It is now the centre of education which is providing the best education to the marginalized sections of the sections of the society and also to the tribal children of the area. Students from far off places come to study here. In fact, some of them have to walk for two and a half hours to reach the school. It was really wonderful to see the teachers working so hard to encourage the kids to study. On reaching there, the students, who were standing on both the sides of the road leading to the school, clapped their hands and welcomed us. The principal delivered a speech and expressed his gratitude for the concern NER group had shown for them.  Saom introduced NER Group and EKIN to the students and teachers there. We gave two computer sets to them. Like all other schools we were honoured with lovely “Khada”. We had tea and snacks and then bade them goodbye.

After the visit to three schools we were free to visit some local sight-seeing points. We went to “Deolo”, the highest point in Kalimpong. The scenic beauty and tranquil environment left us enthralled. We had a great time there. After that we returned to our Hotel and relaxed for some time. We then went for a walk to the market. After returning to the Hotel we had our dinner and went to sleep.