Wednesday 13th February
Last week our guest speaker was Marion Hadingham who spoke to us about a special educational project in India.
Muskaan
Building Hope, Respect and Life Opportunities
for children from the slum communities of Bhopal, India through
Engaging and Relevant Education
Marion's was accompanied by husband Kevin who is Chair, International Service, Rotary District 9790.
Muskaan is a school which provides hope, opportunity and self-respect, through effective and relevant education, for children from the slum communities in Bhopal. India.
The slum communities commonly comprise uneducated rural poor from the lowest tribal castes. The children work at scrap picking or labouring to support the family’s subsistence lifestyle and getting to school is difficult if not impossible. If they get to school the children are rebuked and bullied by students and teachers alike for their caste, their cleanliness, and their poor performance….so they drop out quickly, perpetuating the cycle of poverty and disadvantage experienced from generation to generation.
Muskaan was established in 1997 by a young social worker Shivani Taneja, who worked with the street kids and their communities to identify and address why the children were not receiving education. Muskaan has developed an education model which includes flexible attendance hours, respectful and engaging child-centred teaching, and curriculum materials which are based upon life experiences in the slums – not middle-class mainstream lifestyles. Muskaan has many demonstrated successes at all levels, including 6 students who are currently studying degree courses at college.
Marion Hadingham volunteered at Muskaan over a period of 4months in 2008-2009 while husband Kevin was working on a project with the Public Works Department of Madhya Pradesh. Marion is a highly experienced teacher, particularly in the areas of Special Education and Student Welfare. She was so impressed with Muskaan’s practical application of modern education principles and practices (in stark contrast to the widespread practice of rote learning) that she is a passionate advocate to increase the awareness of, and support for Muskaan in Australia. She has established Muskaan Support Australia Inc. which has the website: www.MuskaanSupportAustralia.com
Marion told us about the exciting “Bollywood Bedazzled Charity Ball” being organised for 27 April 2013.
Nalin Perera willing to organise a group to take a table at the ball. Please contact Nalin if you are interested.