Daily Report -- Day 6

6.6.14

On 6^th June, our team was divided into two groups. Ms. Akanksha along with Mr. Saom went to St.Thomas School in Longshyel. While the others stayed at Reon SSS Primary School to complete the painting work.

Programme for Akanksha:

The visit to St.Thomas School in Longshyel was really an overwhelming experience for me. Longshyel is the most remote area of the Kalimpong sub-division. This area hardly has any connectivity with the main land. There are no roads constructed in this area. In fact I was extremely surprised to know that even today this area doesn’t have any electricity supply leave aside mobile network. No wonder the whole village had gathered in the school to see the installation of the solar lights NER group had given them. We can’t even imagine what the value of those solar lights is for the people there and how grateful the people are to NER Group. For going to Longshyel, I left the camping area at 7:30 in the morning and walked for half an hour till I reached the end of the road where Saom picked me up in his car.  We had to travel a long way to reach our destination. We crossed the tourist town of Lava (at the height of about 7200 ft. from sea level). We also saw a newly inaugurated (inaugurated on 3^rd May 2014) Buddhist Stupa at Ugyen Samten, Lava. We passed the picturesque tea gardens of Kalimpong. Despite the rough roads, the journey became enjoyable because of the lovely weather and breathtaking view all around. The journey took us longer than we had expected. We reached St. Thomas at 1:30 p.m. The teachers and the students were eagerly waiting for us. I was moved on seeing their humility and gratitude. It filled a great sense of pride in me that I am a part of NER Group and EKIN who are doing so much for the these underprivileged people with the help of EDI and GFF. The school Principal welcomed us with a speech and honoured us with “Khada” and a beautiful badge. Then Mr. Saom delivered a speech and introduced NER Group and EKIN to the people. We then gave the various gifts to the school members comprising water filter, a set of teaching learning material and a solar light system. They asked me to switch on the light of the school which is undoubtedly a very prized possession for them. Many villagers had also gathered there and they all were expressing their gratitude. The students then presented a very entertaining cultural programme comprising a skit, few dances and poems. We then had lunch. After that we distributed sweets to the students and then bade them goodbye. We then headed towards Kalimpong which took us nearly four and a half hours.

Programme for the rest of the team:

After having breakfast, all the team members got ready to finish the remaining work of painting the school. The first coating had dried and we applied the second coat of paint on the walls, doors and windows. It took us nearly six hours to complete the work. But none of us was feeling tired or exhausted. The lovely smiles on the faces of the students encouraged us to do as much as possible and the work became pleasant. The students were very pleased to see their renovated building which now appeared so beautiful. We all thoroughly enjoyed the day.

We installed new lights at the St. Thomas school:

And it was not easy at all reaching this place:

Daily Report -- Day 5

5.6.14

We woke up in the morning at around 6:30 am and were served nice Bed tea by the camping staff. We all got ready. Excellent Italian food was served in breakfast. After having breakfast we went to school for a short welcome ceremony. A very motivational speech was delivered by Mr. Saom Namchu of GFF. He introduced NER group and EKIN to the teachers, students and the villagers present there. We distributed 33 set Desk and benches, 1 set library books with one steel library cupboard, 2 sets water filters, 1 set teaching learning materials, 150 Wp Solar light system, four ply wood partitions for classrooms. NER group also sponsored full floor repair in the school. The students presented a very nice cultural programme. The EKIN India volunteers too performed a dance for the kids which they really enjoyed. Mr. Johnson, the director of the school, extended his gratitude to us. After this short programme we started the day’s activity. Earlier this school was in a bad shape with no floors and all the classes were run in a single room. We can imagine how difficult it used to be for teachers as well as students to study different subjects and in a single room and how distracting that would have been. NER and EDI got wooden partitions made to separate all the classes. EKIN and GFF volunteers painted the school. It was indeed a great experience whitewashing and painting the school. We all were really excited and enthusiastic. In fact we were playfully fighting with each other to get a chance to do more. The kids were so happy to see their school building getting painted. We worked till afternoon and it took us nearly 4 hours to finish the day’s work. We were helped by the GFF volunteers. Then we took our lunch which was delectable. After that all the male members of our team went for a bath in a stream which was quite far and it took them nearly two hours to reach and another two to come back. But the experience was indeed great. In the meantime the girls interacted with the local villagers and learnt their traditional tribal Lepcha dance. In the evening we all got together for dinner. After the dinner we spent some time chatting, singing, dancing and of course enjoying the mesmerizing beauty of the place. We then went to sleep.

Daily Report -- Day 4

4.6.14

After an early breakfast we left the hotel at 7:30 a.m. It took us nearly three hours to reach Dabling. It was an interesting drive and we enjoyed the scenic beauty and serenity of the outskirts of Kalimpong. The distance was less but due to rough and bumpy roads we had to drive slowly to reach our destination. On reaching Reon Dabling Government Primary School, we were very warmly received by the teachers and the students. We were really moved on seeing the struggle of the people and the efforts they were making to get educated. It takes the children nearly three hours to reach the school and another three to go back. After reaching their homes they have to do their daily chores. But still they are so keen and enthusiastic to study. This school was established in 1971 by some conscious people of the village. Since then the school is running successfully with quality education. Unfortunately the condition of the school is very poor. In fact the side wall of the school had crumbled down just the day before we reached there due to heavy rainfall making it quite dangerous for the kids. We distributed our educational items comprising of a) 14 Desk and benches, b) 1 water filter, c) One library Cupboard, d) One set library books and one set teaching learning materials. The kids presented a wonderful cultural programme which left us speechless. The EKIN volunteers also presented a short skit on Health and Hygiene. The people were really grateful for the gifts and we got an immense satisfaction by helping them. After this lovely visit we went downhill to Sadhu Sunder Singh Memorial High School. The students extended a wonderful welcome by giving us a guard of honour with a Band. The students and the teachers honoured us with traditional ‘Khada’. This school was established in 2011. There are about 78 students. Earlier this school had a wooden building with thatched roofs but now with generous donations by the members of National Missionary Society of India, they have a nice cemented building which was inaugurated very recently on 23^rd May 2014. But the school lacked furniture like Desk and benches, library, computers, etc. NER group sponsored 33 desk and benches, two water filers, one library cupboard, one set library books, one set teaching learning material and two computer sets. The students presented a cultural programme which was highly commendable. It was so heartening to see children from such humble background giving such a splendid performance. It was really an overwhelming experience to see the students so grateful and excited on receiving the gifts NER group had generously given them. After having a delicious lunch we headed towards Reon SSS Primary School. We drove further downhill on the rough road for 10 to 15 minutes till we reached the last road end called the village of Katarey. From there we walked for half an hour till we reached the school. The teachers and the students were waiting for us. They presented us with the traditional ‘Khada’. After this short ceremony the students were dispersed for the day. We had camped on the ground of the Reon SSS Primary School. Our camping staff was waiting for us. The tents were very cozy and comfortable. The food served was hot and delicious. For most of us it was the first camping experience and undoubtedly a very enjoyable one. It gave us a great opportunity to know each other even more. We all sang songs and danced and had a wonderful time.