We visited the the school during the month of February. This School has classes for girls only from KG to Class X. It is also a hostel where the poorest of the poor are being educated and the children can be sponsored for their stay and fees. It would cost Rs.4,000/- per year for a child.

The girls were thrilled to see the Parivaar members and interacted with us with smiles on their faces and our hearts literally went out to these children. This programme was only for 78 girls from the KG to Class V. During our next visit we plan to cover the girls from Class VI to Class X.

The girls looked ever so pretty in lovely colourful printed frocks We got a huge hall from the School to have our programme for them. We decided to have a Drawing Competition and many of the kids came well prepared with their colours and pencils while we gave them drawing sheets. The kids were split into 2 Groups for the drawing :

1. Class KG, I, II & III – TOPIC – Any topic of their choice.
2. Class IV & V. – TOPIC – Scenery of a village or city.

Time given was 30 minutes for the drawing competition. The children were excited got very serious when they began their drawing and colouring. It was a pleasure to see them – each doing their best and even helping those who did not bring their colours. At the end of day one could see the immense talent displayed in their drawings.

Time up and the papers were collected and it was indeed tough deciding the winners – in their own special way they were all winners. There were 4 prizes for the first group and 4 prizes for the 2nd group, – there was only one child from the K.G. Class so she was also given a prize being the youngest.

Before the names of the winners were announced all the 78 children were given 1 Nano cake, 2 Five Star chocolates, 1 pencil, 1 rubber. They simply loved this. The House-mothers who look after these children were also given a big packet of Biscuits each. The prizes were Colouring Books and Crayons. The prize winners were –

Neha K.G.
Rima Gayan, Class II
Sujani Ray, Class III
Sharmistha Das, Class III
Krishna Mondal, Class III
Jayanti Pailan, Class IV
Tanushree Hazra, Class IV
Purnima Dutta, Class V
Pinky Mandal, Class V

The above drawings/photographs are being forwarded separately on Picassa.

Mrs Mita Chakraborty spoke to the children on Health & Hygiene and had their rapt attention.

On the sidelines we went around the school and checked out their Computer Room – there were several computers but most of them were not working. Mr Pradhan immediately agreed to send an I.T. Technician to repair the same.

The Lady in charge (General Secretary) Mrs Purna Chowdhury, who has been with this institution from 1980 has allotted us one big room where we can put up posters and charts and also their drawings. The theme is Saving the Environment, Health & Hygiene. We decided to give them a theme on Saving the Environment and letting them make posters and charts within a 15 days’ time frame so that we get them involved and they will learn much more this way. We will also visit them on some Saturday afternoons and talk to them and get their views also on saving our planet.

Finally it was time to leave but not without a feeling of joy and contentment which reflected not only on our faces but also on the children’s faces. Group snaps were taken and then we left with the children smiling and waving out to us…it was a Sunday well spent, with a deep feeling of contentment.