Dear Readers ,
We regret that this update has been a bit delayed – the lockdown has possibly caught up with us as well! However, thanks to this delay, here is some GOOD NEWS that has just come in!
The results of the Uttarakhand Board were declared on 29th July, 2020. Of the 10 children who appeared for the 10th, 5 secured first division marks and 4 got second division. Of these, Abhilasha topped her school with 81% and secured 96% in math, while Himanshu topped his school in Garjoli with 83% and secured 95% in math.
Two girls appeared for the 12th and one of them – Usha – secured 73 %.
Great to see that the regular tuition classes are yielding results !
Now on to the usual update!
We hope you are all doing well in these trying times. Despite the lockdown, we were able to conduct a few activities for our library during the last quarter, keeping in mind the various safety norms and government regulations from time to time.
Telephonic conversations for english speaking
Jaya carried out telephonic English speaking and conversation lessons with one BA student from Siltona. Mamta, who is doing her B.Sc. in Nainital, was facing a lot of difficulties with speaking in English and had requested us to continue our lessons with her over the telephone. We found this method to be quite effective and hope to be able to continue such remote classes in the future.
Mamta shares her learning experience with us, in her own words:
“My name is Mamta Bisht and I stay in Siltona . I study in Degree college Nainital in BSc. I study in Hindi medium and in the college lectures are in English so I have lot of difficulty in understanding. My result also become bad.
When college closed because of Corona I start to learn English from didi. Then lock down so I was sad. But didi said she will teach me on phone if I promise to give full hour every day. I had to do homework also before next day class. Didi and I do translation, conversation and discussion on story I have to read. She also ask me to say “every day in every way, I am better and better” This gives me confidence. I am trying my best and I think I will not feel afraid of English.”
Special training on computers and smartphone use
Due to lack of exposure to technology like most youth in the region, Kavita from Byasi was also having trouble in doing her B.A. assignments from the Kumaon University. She had started learning basic use of computers in the library before the lockdown and was taught how to use a smartphone to download her assignments and to upload her completed work during the lockdown. Technical literacy is indeed the need of the hour.
Classes for online school work
The schools in the region started online teaching by sending lessons and assignments on WhatsApp. Unfortunately, most kids didn’t have access to television, laptop, or smartphones. Some did not get support from their parents or elder siblings because of network issues and data charges.
Very cautiously and keeping the norms of physical distancing in mind, we asked some select children to attend the library from the last week of April. Jaya became a member of the various school WhatsApp groups and we either downloaded the assignments on the library computers or took printouts and helped the children to do their studies. The children were also made aware of the dos and don’ts to be followed during the pandemic. They were made to wash their hands, sanitize their tables, keyboard & mouse, wear masks and maintain adequate distance while attending the library. The senior children also started attending computer practice sessions with adequate precaution
Unfortunately, there was a spike in Covid cases in the area in the first week of May and we had to put a halt in our initiative. We, however, feel honoured and proud that information of our efforts spread amongst our friends in the area, and some of them even adopted the same methods!
This is what Tannu who is in Class 5 & Vikram who is in Class 6 have to say –
“हमारे लाइब्रेरी में दो गुड़िया है जो बिल्कुल अस्ली बच्चो जैसे दिखते हैं। ओ बहुत दूर से आये हैं. अमेरिका और लंदन से. हमने उनका नामकरण भी किया। अब वे शीलू और चिंटू है। हम उन दोनों को बहुत प्यार करते है और उनके साथ सब मिल कर खेलते हैं। सब उनको गोदी में बैठाना चाहते हैं। जब से कोरोना आया है, हम उनको गोदी में ले कर खेल नहीं सकते। उनको मास्क भी पहनाया है। हमे लगता है उन्हें बुरा लगता है कि उनके साथ अब कोई खेलता नहीं, लेकिन उनको कोरोना नहीं हो इसलिए ऐसे करते हैं. जब करोना चला जाएगा तब हम उनको बहुत प्यार करेंगे। Go Corona go !” (No matter how hilarious this sounds, the kids still chant this quite often.)
Distribution of Stationery items
Once the online classes started, we realized that many kids did not have copies and stationery for their notes and assignments. With book shops closed, the children were facing unprecedented difficulties. We, therefore, distributed our entire stock of copies and stationery items donated by the very thoughtful Neela, who sends us a hamper of stationery items at the beginning of the new session every year by parcel post all the way from Mumbai.
Assistance for data charges
In order to ensure that the children got the chance to use the internet in their parents’ or siblings’ smartphones and that they would not be financially burdened, we paid for their internet charges. We decided to pay Rs 100/- per child to cover for 1 GB of data for 28 days so that the children could finish their assignments and homework. Some kids did take advantage of this facility, but we cannot be very sure of how effective this has been.
Our Fourth Anniversary!
Happy Children’s Library turned four on June 1st this year. We could not hold any celebration, but instead from our available funds, we arranged a set of stationery for each child for the year. Depending upon the class of study, separate packets were made and one child from each family was handed over the sets for the family as part of the birthday celebrations. A total of 65 such kits were distributed.
All set to be distributed!
Stitching bags and masks
Some of the senior class children wanted to learn the art of sewing and stitching. As per their request, Jaya started teaching two children this craft. The children were also taught to make masks and cloth bags as part of another initiative.
What started with two children, subsequently turned into something much bigger. The library became a centre for the stitching of 500 masks which were distributed among the villagers. This community distribution was done by Mr. Rohit Agarwal from Khairna. Five young girls from Seem & Byasi also managed to make some pocket money from this stitching initiative.
Stitching our own bags and masks, stitching our hopes and dreams
Tuition classes for class 10
The last remaining board examinations were scheduled from 22 June onwards. We engaged Vijay, who had conducted Math & Science classes in early January to hold revision Math sessions for Class 10 students. 6 children from Seem & Dhon attended for a week. We hope they all do very well in their exams.
Planning for the next quarter
Schools are not expected to re-open until mid-August and with unlocking efforts starting, we are proposing to resume tuitions in Math and English for a limited number of children. We have targeted about 50 kids and have roped in Kripal Bisht and Vijay for the junior and senior math sessions respectively.
These sessions are scheduled from 9 – 12 Noon in 3 groups for Class 5 to 8 and 4:30 – 6:30 PM for Class 9 & 10 in order to restrict the number of kids and to maintain health & safety norms.
Fellowship programme
We would like to thank all the applicants who took the trouble to apply and to interact with us for the fellowship programme. Unfortunately, we had to cancel the programme this year, but we do hope to conduct it from April, 2021. If there is anyone who’s still interested, please keep checking this space!
Here’s wishing you all a safe return to normalcy. Take care!
Great job wish u all d best 👍👍👍
Congratulations to the kids n mentors for the excellent results💐💐💐💐… nice to see the activities going on despite the lockdown n hopefully soon from ‘corona go’ it’ll b ‘corona gone’😊
Bravo! When educational institutes across the globe are closed, Happy Children’s Library has figured out innovative ways to continue new learning initiatives.
Overwhelmed by what you folks have achieved. This is authentic work. Thank you so much.
Wish you can generate the resources (and people) to start a few more. The hills really need this type of support, I believe. All the very best !!
Heartwarming to see all the work being done by Happy childrens library!!
सभी बच्चो को हार्दिक बधाई विशेष रूप से जया अतुल की लगन व समर्पण को कोटि कोटि नमन
Extremely proud of what you have done for these children! Congratulations to these children for their grit and zeal to learn against all odds.
I feel blessed to have known you. My best wishes to you and may your good work spread wider and more students get the benefit of your hard work🙏🏼🙏🏼🎉🎉🎉
Wonderstruck as always . Your initiative and enthusiasm to keep the library going is amazing . The exam results shows that your efforts is bearing fruit .
The world is a better place because of you guys and the kind of support you are to these beautiful children. The vibrant space provided by Jaya and you to keep the children positive and focused when sometimes the here and now is too much to bear, is indescribable. All our wishes are with you. 🙏
So proud of what you both are doing in the present . Living an exemplary life and setting in indelible and positive mark in the lives of future generations.
All the best and the fondest of wishes
Ani bhai