The following article was written for our community magazine by Meadhbh O'Donnovan who spent eight months this year volunteering at the blind school in Kullu.
To Teach and Be Taught, adventures at The Chander Abha Memorial School for the Blind
I arrived in the bustling town of Kullu, after an arduous but spectacular bus journey from Delhi, early on a February morning earlier this year. Shortly after the first, of what was to be many, cups of chai, I was introduced to the staff and students of The Chander Abha Memorial School for the blind. The adults and children who were to become my new colleagues and family for the forthcoming months.
I was shown around the three storey building which houses two Non Government funded organisations, The H.P. Mahila Kalyan Mandal (Women’s Welfare Organisation) and The School for the Blind, which is the State level Branch of the National Association for the Blind (N.A.B.). The School for The Blind was established by the M.K.M in 1997. It started with three students who are all now still attending the school and are in their final years of school.
Today there are thirty two blind and Visually Impaired (V.I.) students, ranging from the ages of six to twenty three. The students live in the hostel on the top floor, which consists of two bedrooms a bathroom and a small kitchen. The senior boys have a separate bedroom and bathroom on the first floor. The school, one classroom and one computer room, is on the ground floor. There are five teachers employed at the school and they work on a staggered timetable to cater for the Primary and Senior students.
The senior students are integrated into the government school but take classes here with specially trained teachers every evening. The students rise early and do self study. This hard work by teachers and staff has really paid off which was clearly visible this summer by the students end of year results. Some of the boys received top results out of all students in the government school.
My role at the school since February has been as teacher for the preparatory class. I came here prepared to give my time to the school in any manner that could be useful.
Unfortunately, because the school is funded only by donations and the annual fee paid by the thirty or so members of the governing board, the school has to function on a very tight budget. The school does not take fees from the students.
The teachers here have to divide their time carefully to ensure all students get the time and attention they need.
I was promptly entrusted with, the then six students, of Prep class. It is the starter class which is taught orally, but within it are students between the age of six and eighteen. They are of very mixed learning abilities and are all blind or with very low vision. But there has never been a dull moment with them and some very entertaining ones, especially when it has come to Hindi.
The students also take part in extra curricular activities such as music classes. Something I was immediately struck by, was the children’s affinity for music. Within my first couple of days here I realised the superb musical talents, in particular for drumming and singing. This talent has been recognised on a local level in the Kullu Valley and the students are very often asked to perform at private and public functions and have picked up many well deserved awards along the way.
There are not many facilities at the school apart from the absolute necessities, but the dedication and resourcefulness of staff ensures an optimum learning environment.
If you or anyone you might know is planning a long term stay in Kullu and would like to get involved with the school, volunteers are always welcome, so please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
If you are not staying but would like to donate to the school, items like toiletries and children’s shoes and clothes are always needed and of huge value. The gratitude displayed by these students for something as simple as fresh fruit is aspirational.
It was an immense change of culture moving from Ireland to India, but the spirit, laughter and voices of these children has ensured there was no reason to feel homesick. It has been an enriching and educational experience and I would not hesitate to recommend it to anyone whose mind the idea might cross.
To Teach and Be Taught, adventures at The Chander Abha Memorial School for the Blind
I arrived in the bustling town of Kullu, after an arduous but spectacular bus journey from Delhi, early on a February morning earlier this year. Shortly after the first, of what was to be many, cups of chai, I was introduced to the staff and students of The Chander Abha Memorial School for the blind. The adults and children who were to become my new colleagues and family for the forthcoming months.I was shown around the three storey building which houses two Non Government funded organisations, The H.P. Mahila Kalyan Mandal (Women’s Welfare Organisation) and The School for the Blind, which is the State level Branch of the National Association for the Blind (N.A.B.). The School for The Blind was established by the M.K.M in 1997. It started with three students who are all now still attending the school and are in their final years of school.
Today there are thirty two blind and Visually Impaired (V.I.) students, ranging from the ages of six to twenty three. The students live in the hostel on the top floor, which consists of two bedrooms a bathroom and a small kitchen. The senior boys have a separate bedroom and bathroom on the first floor. The school, one classroom and one computer room, is on the ground floor. There are five teachers employed at the school and they work on a staggered timetable to cater for the Primary and Senior students.
The senior students are integrated into the government school but take classes here with specially trained teachers every evening. The students rise early and do self study. This hard work by teachers and staff has really paid off which was clearly visible this summer by the students end of year results. Some of the boys received top results out of all students in the government school.My role at the school since February has been as teacher for the preparatory class. I came here prepared to give my time to the school in any manner that could be useful.
Unfortunately, because the school is funded only by donations and the annual fee paid by the thirty or so members of the governing board, the school has to function on a very tight budget. The school does not take fees from the students.
The teachers here have to divide their time carefully to ensure all students get the time and attention they need.
I was promptly entrusted with, the then six students, of Prep class. It is the starter class which is taught orally, but within it are students between the age of six and eighteen. They are of very mixed learning abilities and are all blind or with very low vision. But there has never been a dull moment with them and some very entertaining ones, especially when it has come to Hindi.
The students also take part in extra curricular activities such as music classes. Something I was immediately struck by, was the children’s affinity for music. Within my first couple of days here I realised the superb musical talents, in particular for drumming and singing. This talent has been recognised on a local level in the Kullu Valley and the students are very often asked to perform at private and public functions and have picked up many well deserved awards along the way.
There are not many facilities at the school apart from the absolute necessities, but the dedication and resourcefulness of staff ensures an optimum learning environment.
If you or anyone you might know is planning a long term stay in Kullu and would like to get involved with the school, volunteers are always welcome, so please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
If you are not staying but would like to donate to the school, items like toiletries and children’s shoes and clothes are always needed and of huge value. The gratitude displayed by these students for something as simple as fresh fruit is aspirational.
It was an immense change of culture moving from Ireland to India, but the spirit, laughter and voices of these children has ensured there was no reason to feel homesick. It has been an enriching and educational experience and I would not hesitate to recommend it to anyone whose mind the idea might cross.
Comments