Good Samaritan School

We are at the school now. Another 45 minute terrifying drive to get here. The school is beautiful. Built on three acres of former farmland. It has power for lights and they’re wiring it for ceiling fans, too. We haven’t seen the kids yet, but they spied us and some of them started crying. Hmmmm. The driveway is lined with palm and mango trees, newly planted. Right now we have nursery, K1 & K2 classes. To get licensed for 1st Standard, we have to pay another fee (bribe).

The biggest challenge has been convincing families that there is a need for education at all. Especially for girls. Most of these kinds come from generations of farmers. Most girls grow up, get married, and never have use for what they learn. Our task is to convince them it’s even important.

We left the school after spending some time with the kids and went down the road to Kishor’s house. It’s a simple home. Hand hewn wood timber frame. The walls are made of woven bamboo mats that have been packed with a mud/cow dung plaster that is thick and strong. In front there is a collection pile of cow patties they use to cook over. There is electricity for lights and a fan. There is a latrine, very clean, and chickens running around with their chicks. Everything is very clean. Outside there were lots of trees for shade, including a custard apple tree. Yum. It has a thick metal roof. The house was long and divided up with walls into separate spaces.

Kishor says the government is giving them money to build a new house later this year because they are below the poverty line. It will be made of concrete. They will tear theirs down and build the new one in the same space. After seeing the slums everywhere, I wonder how exactly they determine what poverty is here.

Kishor explained that this village used to be a few miles away. The houses were spread out and each had land for farming. About 35 years ago the government built a dam. Te resulting reservoir displaced 71 tribes. We went to see the reservoir. It was Beautiful. Water buffalo were swimming in it. But I feel sad for those who lost their homes to it.