Sarnath inhabitants, village people with large families and minimal incomes, mostly survive by agriculture and labour, by selling produce and small household items, spinning and weaving silk, operating tea and snack stalls or pulling rickshaws.  Much of this work is seasonal or sporadic and earns little in a month.  Often there are many mouths to feed from this income, and a lot of daily chores to be performed by family members. Even young children are not exempt from the arduous work of carrying water and firewood, helping with cooking, and caring for their even younger siblings. Many live below the poverty line, and numerous children do not attend school because families cannot afford it, and often do not understand the importance of education.

 

These days, although many more Sarnath children attend school than before, in many cases, their education is basic and lacking in imagination and colour. It is still a fact that the majority of village children learn by repetition and not by questioning, lateral thinking or creativity.

 

The Project runs dance classes and craft groups, and twice weekly creative activity groups focussing on recreation, yoga, meditation, art, dance and music, indoor and outdoor games, reading and discussion groups, current affairs, general and world knowledge, and positive thinking and action for the earth and its inhabitants. The activities of the group provide a sense of community wellbeing, and of belonging. The children benefit from the specially designed games which sharpen learning skills, increase development and broaden thinking.  As well, they enjoy a fun, relaxing and nurturing environment, and a chance to interact with their peer groups, things often lacking in both their home and school lives.

 

Although there are boys in the Project, the emphasis of the Project is on Education for Girls. In India, poverty and cultural attitudes to girls and women mean that the education and well-being of girls is often overlooked and neglected. Traditional values in poor village communities limit opportunities for girls and mostly keep them in domestic servitude, without rights and without choices. Many rural girl children in India do not attend school, or only attend school to the end of primary level, and enter arranged marriages soon after that. It is generally accepted world-wide by NGOs and international organisations, that to educate a girl is to educate her whole community. Girls who have benefitted from education will also educate their own children, and the cycle of poverty and illiteracy will slowly be broken.

 

It is clear that due to the positive and encouraging environment of the Project Office, the group activities, and the special care and attention of the staff, the children are demonstrating the benefits through their improved attitudes and school attendance, higher exam grades and aspirations for their futures.

 

In the past, few would have believed that children from such impoverished and backward village and rural situations could meet with such opportunities, or could achieve such good levels of education. The Project has always inspired the children to dream, and has promised to help as much as possible for them to reach for their goals and not give up.

 

The Project activity is increasing, annually taking in new small children, with more on the waiting list, and the activity groups are becoming more popular. We are hoping in future to plan for more activities and classes, such as table tennis, sewing, computer skills, and English language.

 

There are always more families bringing their children to the Project office seeking to join the after-school creative activity groups. We hope to continue offering the children a more positive and bright future, with the chance to see their dreams come true. The evidence already shows that the children are benefiting from this chance to participate in the many extra-curricular activities, to meet new friends, and they feel happy and proud to be part of this Project.