From Mrs.K with love...

A Newsletter from the Mitra Residential School, Kachapaju

Volume 4

February 2003

MITRA ( Madsens Institute for Tribal & Rural Advancement ) Christian Hospital, Bissam Cuttack District, Orissa, – 765019

Phone : 06863 – 247505 ; Fax : 06863 – 247540 ; Email : [email protected] The Background

(For friends who are new to the MRSK Family, this page will give you the setting for this newsletter)

issam Cuttack is a village in the hills of South West Orissa, one of the most beautiful and fascinating Bparts of India ; an area with immense health and developmental needs. hristian Hospital, Bissam Cuttack, (CHB) is a 150-bedded mission hospital, originally started Cby a Danish lady doctor, Elisabeth Madsen, in 1954. he Community Health Department (CHD) is a unit of the CHB, that seeks to improve the health Tstatus and quality of life of the people of the area, using CHB as a base. ITRA (Maden’s Institute for Tribal & Rural Advancement) is the operational identity of the MCHD ; MITRA works with 10,700 people in 48 tribal villages. heMalkondh Anchalika Sangho (MAS) is an informal association of 16 of the most vulnerable of the TMITRA villages. ITRA Residential School, Kachapaju (MRSK or Mrs.K !) is a joint venture of the CHB & the MMAS; an attempt to give the children of the 16 hill villages a fair chance at life. “ Who is Mrs.K ? ” In the Hospital Board Meeting, while the accounts of MRSK were being reviewed, a Board member suddenly asked – “Who is this lady, Mrs.K, on whom the Hospital spends so much?” !! The name stuck !

The original idea of a school for Adivasi children, was first conceived in a Community Dreaming Session in Kachapaju village, in May 1997. The dream grew in our hearts, and captured our minds. With constant pressure from the community, sustained by visionary tribal leaders like Juddhisti Saraka, and the encouragement and support of the CHB led by an equally visionary Dr VK Henry, MRSK was born in July 1998. The MAS was the womb, and Mitra the midwife. The Infant Mortality Rate here is very high, both for children and for initiatives. If today, the Mrs.K is alive and kicking, it is thanks to the care and support of many friends like you. Thank you for your involvement.

We began in 1998 with a dream in our hearts and practically nothing in our hands. But dreams can be powerful catalysts. Two families of Kachapaju village gave us some land in the forest. The people of the 16 villages and the staff and students of CHB offered voluntary labour. CHB contributed money for construction materials. And MRSK was born. Over the hot summer of 1998, a simple building was erected, thanks to the work of about 350 volunteers. In July 1998, the School opened – the first batch of 15 boys and 15 girls joined in Grade 1. We aimed to add a class each year, until 2002-2003, when we would have capacity for 150 children – 75 boys and 75 girls – in Grades 1 to 5. And this is how it runs.

Admission is open only to the children of the 16 Maalkondh villages. One fourth of the children come every day from their homes in 3 nearby villages. The others are from further villages, and therefore stay at the school as Boarders. Education begins in Grade I in Kuvi, the language of the tribe. As it has no script of it’s own, we use the Oriya script. By Grade 2, the school mainstreams into Oriya medium. The School calendar runs according to the culture and festivals of the tribe, under the guidance of the parents and the MAS. The school provides the children with education, food, clothes, bedding, books, recreation and health care. The parents contribute a jointly agreed amount – Rs 350 for Boarders and Rs 100 for Day Scholars – per year, in installments, in cash or kind ; they bring rice, beans, chickens, eggs or whatever is convenient to them. The actual average cost per child is estimated at Rs 5000 per year. So the School literally runs on love and fresh air – the love of numerous friends who share the dream with us, and the abundant fresh air that God in His wisdom provides us. To all members of the MRSK family ; to our friends and our well-wishers,

Namaskar !

Hello, and Welcome to the latest ( in fact, it’s 6 months late !) edition of the letter from Mrs K. We aim each academic year to get this out by August. But each year it has got later and later. We apologise to those of you who must be wondering what happened to us. No fears – we’re okay. It’s just that the immediate work always forces itself on to the priority list, and correspondence inevitably suffers. With MRSK reaching full maturity this year (we’ve got to Grade Five as originally envisaged), we hope things will stabilise. Thank you for being part of this roller coaster life of ours. Please continue to share in our joys and sorrows, as we dream of a better tomorrow for the children of this beautiful region.

On the page alongside is Background Information, for those who are new to the MRSK Family. We will now go on to update you on what’s been happening at MRSK since the last Newsletter came out in January 2002. This year, we would like to share with you the highlights of the last year – from different points of view. And then, we would like to introduce you to the children of Grade Five – the founding members of MRSK, as they prepare to spread their wings and fly. We’d appreciate your feedback and suggestions for MRSK.

Highlights of Life at Mrs.K’s : January 2002 to January 2003

Way back in 1997, in a Community Dreaming Session at Kachapaju, we dreamt of a School of our own – of, for and by the tribal people – a school that would run from Grade 1 to 5 ; where boys and girls would have equal opportunity to quality education ; where the language, culture, religion and traditions of the tribe would be honoured and respected ; where the future leaders of the community would be nurtured and provided their foundations. We did not honestly think such things were possible. But over the last five years, we have seen the dream translate itself into reality ; growing bit by bit, a class a year ; and this year, MRSK reached it’s envisaged shape and size : a primary residential school with 127 children in Grades 1 to 5. Our first batch, that began with us in 1998 in Grade One, graduates in a couple of months time. Some of the highlights of the year :

Leadership and Staffing : In June 2002, the School got it’s first Principal. Chandrasekhar Ray, who has been on the staff of the hospital as teacher and social worker since 1994, was asked to take on the responsibility of running the School. He has been part of the initiative since the very beginning, but also had a number of other roles to play as well. We felt the School needed someone to lead from the front, and there could be no better person than him. It has been a momentous year for him, for besides taking on this challenge, during this year he has also become a husband and a father ! He got married to Salomi, our colleague in March 2002, and they were blessed with a son on the last day of the year ! I must say, that Chandrasekhar’s moving to the School has made an enormous difference. He has brought in a great variety of activity and exposure that provides a much more wholesome roundedness to the educational process. Thank God for him !

With the school reaching Grade 5, a new teacher joined as well – Kolaka. Drinju Hikoka, who was one of our Literacy Animators earlier, joined the team at MRSK this year as a kind of All Rounder - Odd Jobs Man. This now brings the team up to nine : the Principal, 5 teachers, two cooks and one assistant. All of them are young and enthusiastic ; they believe in what they are doing, and are keen to make a difference for their community. In January 2002, Jaysen Kumbriika, our senior- most teacher, got married to Sonu, and a baby boy was born to them in November 02. One of the cooks, Ratnu Kutruka got married during the year as well. The villagers helped build a house for him and his wife, Radha. Much excitement then on campus, and lots of opportunities for the children to learn about life, marriage and child care in the process.

Education : MRSK seeks to be a school with a difference. We are quite saddened with what passes off as education in the schools around us. What we want for our children is a process and content that is appropriate, stimulating and fun. We continue to experiment with methods, drawing on our own crazy ideas and the experience of other groups toying with alternative education. What has evolved is an interesting interactive system. So this October, when the District Inspector of Schools from the Government of Orissa visited us in response to our application for affiliation to the State system, we waited with bated breath. Would he approve of our revolutionary ideas ? The man was good. He went to each class, spent time with the children, interacted with them at their specific levels. And then he came out, and told us – “This is the best school in the district ! How on earth did you guys do this in the middle of the jungle ?“ Tears came to our eyes. He has recommended us to the State Education Dept for recognition. He also wanted all his officials to see this school themselves. So on the 6th of January 2003, we played host for the monthly meeting of the District Education officials. Their response and feedback was both encouraging and useful. Our children our doing well educationally, in comparison with the standards required by the Board.

The extra-curricular activities have also blossomed during the year. The children are now divided in to four houses or teams – the Gandhi house (for the father of our nation), the Madsen house (for the founder of our hospital), the Lincoln house ( named after that great role model for rural children) and the Vinobha House (named after Vinobha Bhave, a Gandhian reformer who worked in this part of Orissa years ago. Each house has team leaders – a girl and a boy – called the Dollo-Nayika and the Dollo-Nayako. They have gardens where they learn to grow vegetables for the kitchen. On Mondays, which are non-classroom days, the children have opportunity for Drama, Singing, Debates, Health Education, Nature Walks and so on. All this has helped the children grow in stature and confidence. In November, the children of Grade 5 went on a trip to the beach at Gopalpur – 230 km away. Their first sight of the ocean was overwhelming – how does a child of the mountains imagine the sea ? – but they soon jumped in and enjoyed splashing about. The kids of Grades 1 and 2 went on their first trip on a bus, and also got a short ride on the train from Bissam Cuttack to . All 127 kids piled on to a bus for a 50 km trip to a visiting circus at Rayagada, in January 2003. Little things for many of us – life-changing, horizon-broadening experiences for the children. Some ask us if we have got our priorities wrong. But what then is education if it isn’t a process that stimulates the hidden potential within each child, through experiences that make one wonder and dream ?

Infrastructure Development : Over 2002, Mrs K has acquired two more buildings on campus. The Nightingale House, named after Florence Nightingale. The pioneer of modern nursing, was opened on the 9th of August 02, by Mr Birendra Korkora, Tahsildar of Bissam Cuttack. It was built with the support of The Friends of Bissam Cuttack in Denmark. The House was originally planned as a Health Centre, where the Mitra Community Health Nurses could stay and serve the children of MRSK and the people of the villages around. But the people of Kachapaju village, especially the women, were adamant that the nurses need to stay right in the village amongst the people itself. So the Nightingale House now doubles as School Sick Room and hostel for the girl children, giving them the privacy and facility hitherto impossible. We are extremely grateful to Dr Frederik Zeuthen and all the other friends in Denmark who made this possible. This group has been our single biggest donor so far. On the same day, a second building was also inaugurated by Mr LN Rao, School Inspector, and Dr Sahu, Medical Superintendent. This has 2 residential units for staff, and was sponsored by the Rotary Club of Aars, Denmark. That evening, teacher Jaysen and his wife moved in to the new house. We say a heartfelt thank you to Liz and Jan Bocher and all the friends at Aars for your support. Their second gift helped get the needed furniture too.

Visitors : We have had a number of friends visit the School this year. We try to use them as an opportunity for the children to learn something about the world – the places they come from, the languages spoken and so on. So the relationship is on equal terms with the children and the visitors asking each other questions and sharing information.

One of the big events was the visit of the District Collector to the School. For those unfamiliar with our system, the District Collector is the head of the government administration for a whole district – in our case comprising 800,000 population. The present Collector is a doctor turned administrator, Dr Pramod Mehruda. He came to visit in response to the invitation of the people of the area, who said they’d like to see what a Collector looks like. He spent a whole day with us, and discussed needs and plans with the 200 and more tribal people who had come to meet him. He was very happy with the School, and offered his encouragement and help. For a start, he agreed to sanction the repair of the road to the School. Those of you who have visited us will understand, because what passes off as a road at present quite stretches the definition. Work has just begun, so three cheers for the Collector !

Other News : In December 2001, Inge Klieter, our friend from Praesto, Denmark, and her son Jens Peter had visited us with a camera crew. They had decided to help us by making a small documentary movie on the Christian Hospital and it’s work. They did a good deal of video shooting in the MRSK too. Inge came back in Jan 2003 with the product – the children of MRSK feature prominently. We will soon be showing it to them, and their reactions would definitely be worth recording. We are grateful to Inge who has shown the movie to friends in Denmark, and already raised support that will cover costs for 7 children at the school this year. Our thanks to the Klieter clan.

And now let’s meet the Batch of 1998………….as they prepare to graduate from Mrs. K’s academy to the big world out there. (Note : . indicates a boy, and # says she’s a girl)

# Kumudini Mundika, 11 years old, from Bukurumaska village ; a sweet little girl, brought up by her widowed mother, who is also the health worker for her village. Her mother re-married this year.

· Sibo Mambalaka, 13 years old ; from Kolahathi village ; the first from his village to ever go to school. Good at studies and at Volleyball.

# Pulmai Kradika, 13 years old, from Hurlu village ; a very bright young girl, always keen to learn more. Sensible and mature, she hopes to study on.

· Shyama Kumbrika, 10 years old, from Hurlu village. He was the first in the class to need to get admitted I hospital, when he fell off a tree during the holidays and fractured his forearm. He’s fine now. # Rubi Saraka, 12 years old, from Kachapaju village ; the daughter of the tribal leader who led us into this whole dream of the School.

· Trinatho Gogeranga, 11 years old, of Tangadapa Village ; his first day in school was traumatic ; he cried so much ; until he saw some strategically placed toy cars. He decided to stay on, and has now blossomed into a confident youngster. He wants to be a Driver when he grows up.

# Bothi Godika, 12 years old, of Bolodaguda village. When we began in 1998, kids of this village were dayscholars. But by the end of Grade 3, the village made a request to allow them to move into the hostel. So Bothi and he friends moved to hostel, and this improved her attendance and studies.

· Komulu Saraka, aged 11 years, of Kachapaju village, is a bright kid. He knows the hospital well, as his father was admitted with TB Meningitis when Komulu was little. The family is doing well.

# Basanti Urlaka, aged 11 years, of Jobba Village, is a very loving child. She is good at her studies and comes from a village which is way off any motorable road.

· Robi Hikoka, aged 12 years, of Jerpa village, is already a tall, young man. He’s a bit shy, but very quick to learn. He is good at volleyball too, and has lots of potential.

# Shila Kradika, 11 years old, from Hurlu, which is just a ten minute walk from the School. She enjoys school, and gets home to help in chores there.

· Mutudu Hikoka, age 12 years, and from Jerpa village. He’s bright and quite naughty. Last year, while learning to ride a bicycle, he fell off and injured his elbow. We had to take him to an Orthopaedician 180 km away. Thankfully there was no residual damage. # Rajanti Kulisika, 11 years old, from Lakhabatta village, is actually a staff-kid. Her father was the Mitra cluster supervisor for the area. He resigned his job so as to support his wife when she stood for elections as Sarpanch (like a Mayor). She won. We are glad the glory has not gone to Rajanthi’s head.

· Bhimsen Bidika, 12, from Darasing village, is the only non-tribal boy in the class. We are glad to see that caste has made no difference in the childrens minds, and he has done very well in school.

# Jayanthi Saraka, 12 years, of Kachapaju village, is the daughter is the Nayak of the village – a traditional, hereditary post. Difficulties at home have affected her. And we hope she will overcome it.

· Sibo Brekabadaka,11 years old, of Bolodoguda village ; his interest is mostly in games and sports. And now that he stays at he school, there’s enough time to play.

# Puja Urlaka, 11 years old, from Jobba village ; she is brilliant in her studies. She and her class-mate, Basanthi, are the first girls from their village to ever go to school. Thank God Mrs K came along in time.

· Buduhi Protika, 12, from Bolodoguda ; another of the kids who became a hostelite in Grade 4. He loves to play. The school provides opportunity for both outdoor and indoor games that he enjoys.

# Puspa Sahu, 11 years, from Bukurumaska ; a pretty little girl, who comes from a non-tribal community. She and her friend, Kumudini, are the first girls from their village to go to school. She has slightly impaired hearing, but is able to cope with school and life quite well.

# Indrabati Tangaranga 12, from Kachapaju ; a bright young girl, who is very keen to study more. She is very good at drawing pictures, and her English handwriting is one of the best in the class.

* * * * *

These children were the founders of the school. They joined when all there was was a single building in the middle of the forest. A ramshackle shed served as a kitchen, it’s roof made up of broken pieces of asbestos contributed by different families in the area. They didn’t know what they were letting themselves in for. Neither did we. But join they did. And today when we see the way they have grown and blossomed, it is truly amazing. They now step out as responsible youngsters. Childhood is much shorter in such areas. And the young take on mature roles much earlier than in the so-called developed world. And here we have a group of young people, with ages ranging from 10 to 13 ; 9 boys and 11 girls ; the future leaders of the Malkondh people. In another perfectly timed miracle (coincidences can’t happen so regularly ; the p value is less than 0.001), the Government of India has opened a Navodya Vidyalaya right here in Bissam Cuttack town. These schools are centrally administered, and provide free of cost a quality of education not available nearby. The School begins with Grade 6 and goes on to Grade 12. And it’s just in time for our first batch. The kids had to take an entrance exam, which was on the 9th of February. The competition is stiff, but we believe; and we shall overcome. The results are awaited, while alternative plans are being made for those who don’t get selected. There are 5 Government Residential Schools for higher classes within 50 km radius; and we will be approaching them for places for our children this year. What lies ahead for our children we do not know. We have learnt to trust and let go. We end with the words of Kahlil Gibran in `The Prophet’ :

“ Your children are not your children.

They are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself.

They come through you but not from you,

And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.

You may give them your love but not your thoughts.

For they have their own thoughts.

You may house their bodies but not their souls,

For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.

You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you.

For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.

You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.

The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite,

and He bends you with His might that His arrows may go swift and far.

Let your bending in the Archers hand be for gladness ;

For even as He loves the arrow that flies, so He loves the bow that is stable. “

Goodbye for now, and keep in touch.

With lots of love,

Johnny Oommen Chandrasekhar Ray Team Leader, Mitra Principal And all the staff and students of the Mitra Residential School, Kachapaju

February 2003