The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Teaching them to think differently

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jul 15, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Teaching them to think differently

Staff Reporter

Volunteers from abroad train underprivileged children in skills to sustain themselves

BANGALORE: For these children, this programme has opened a new world through which they have access to better learning tools and a chance to widen their horizons. Ten volunteers from the Field Services and Inter Cultural Learning (FSL), hailing from six different countries along with the organisation, Women, Health and Development (WHAD), are trying to introduce creative techniques to teach English, Mathematics and Science in a school at Devera Jeevana Halli.

The volunteers have roped in teachers of the school to encourage creative thinking and better understanding of the subjects to the students.

The Little Angels School, located in an economically backward area of the City, has 185 students from nursery to the seventh standard. The WHAD representatives teach them tailoring and embroidery to make them capable of sustaining themselves and become independent. The exercise has been a learning experience for both volunteers and the students.

Eugene Vinod Soans, vice-president, FSL India, said: "The school was selected as the children who come here are not exposed to the modern education system. The teachers are not competent and professional." Iada Deva Chandrika, the principal of Little Angels School said: "A high incidence of flesh trade is prevalent in the area. Quite a few women here are sex workers and their children have no future. Their children come to our school. Through this programme, we are trying to prevent the next generation from getting into the flesh trade and making them aware of their rights. We are also giving them an opportunity to think creatively," she said.

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