Quality education for all tribal children

GPM is so proud of its association with Reach Education Action Programme (REAP) that once again has shown incredible innovation in its campaign to give quality education to vulnerable children throughout India. With great foresight REAP has inaugurated a hostel for tribal children who would otherwise need to migrate from their villages when their families search for work to survive. The plight of vulnerable children in poor tribal families in rural India is exasperated when these families are required to migrate from their villages for up to six months of the year because a lack of seasonal work. Once a family migrates, the children’s education has for all purposes ended, guaranteeing a life of illiteracy and continued poverty. Indeed, among the Katkari tribes, migration to other cities to work at brick kilns and sugar factories is common.  Poverty and landlessness forces mass migration for their survival. Every year after the Diwali holiday, families migrate and return only in June.  They take their children along with them which means that their education is hindered as they are taken out of school.  This cycle is repeated every year and thousands of tribal children lose out on education.

REAP recognized the harsh consequences of tribal migration for children and last month opened a hostel for vulnerable children in the tribal hamlet in Lahe, Maharshtra.  Now, tribal children who would have migrated with their parents to work continue their education as they will stay at the hostel and continue their schooling uninterrupted until their parents return.   A beautiful feature of REAP’s program is the strong cooperation of the village residents themselves. Indeed one member of the tribe has given his house to be the ‘boarding’ for these children while two couples from the hamlet have volunteered to act as the children’s ‘parents’ and look after them.

REAP’s pioneering six month boarding program was initially a hard sell for the parents.  Several meetings were held with the villagers to encourage them about the plan.  Eventually the great merits of the program led to the hostel’s inauguration by REAP’s Director, Dr. Trevor Miranda, on November 20,  in the presence of the zilla parishad area development officials, head masters, school teachers,  village Sarpanch (village mayor) - who also happens to be a teacher in REAP’s program -, school children from the village and residents.  The school officials praised the unique project and said that this is a major step in providing all children a quality education.  The director announced that with the success of this pilot project, more boarding’s would be opened in villages to prevent illiteracy caused by migration.  The director also announced that REAP would provide toilets and solar lights in the village; the crowd cheered in appreciation!

REAP currently networks with about 100 Zilla Parishad Schools in Bhiwandi, Sange, Shahapur and Khardi area to bring quality education to tribal children.  REAP also runs a boarding for tribal girls in Dolkhamb, Shahapur to encourage tribal girls to complete high school.  Currently 40 tribal girls are studying there.
We commend REAP and its founder and director Dr Trevor Miranda for the pioneering dedication and commitment to the education of vulnerable children living in rural villages and urban slums.

Children at the November 20 hostel inauguration

REAP director Dr Trevor Miranda welcomed at the inauguration

Children singing at the opening ceremony

Tribal girls and boys listening to the inauguration speeches

The tribal hamlet in Lahe, Maharshtra

'I can be a doctor just like you!'

A very special guest came with us to class in the slums today. Dr Amit A. Saraf MD, F.C.P.S. (Internal Medicine) came in to our classes to be part of ‘Careers Week’ for the children in the Kalwa slum.

Tori and I, volunteers at GPM, met Amit when we visited Jupiter Hospital in Thane last month. Straight away we understood that Amit is a really nice doctor with a good heart. We needed to get prescriptions for the Hepatitis B shot and while writing the prescription Amit asked us what we were doing here in India. When we told him about GPM, REAP and our educational activities in Kalwa slum he was genuinely interested and amazed that we had come all the way to India to do, in his words, ‘such a beautiful thing!’

Before we left his office he told us that if there was anything he could do for the children in our care, he would do it with pleasure. We were impressed by Amit’s sincerity and we immediately thought that he would be the perfect person to tell the kids about his profession; he would surely  be a source of inspiration to the children living in the slums.

True to his word, early this morning the doctor walked with us through the slums of Kalwa and to the classes run by REAP. He was visibly concerned about the conditions of the slums but was heartened by the warm welcome he received from the children. With a beaming smile on his face Amit excitedly and patiently told the kids about his profession. He passionately explained to the children that if they want to become doctors they need to eat healthy and nutritious food that their parents dutifully prepare for them so that they’ll have the strength to study. He told them that for a career in medicine, and indeed for any profession, they would have to commit to studying hard but they also should enjoy their time playing; ‘the most important thing is to do everything with love’. The kids appeared amazed and genuinely interested in every word the doctor said. Just from looking at the children’s eyes while the doctor engaged with them you could see that they were regarding him with great respect and admiration.

Dr Saraf spent time answering the many questions that the children had about being a doctor and about the medical field in general.  A very poignant moment occurred while Amit showed the children how to use the first aid kits that GPM donated to the classes. He patiently explained the purpose and importance of each item in the first aid kits. One of the children, with a big smile on his face,  told him: “Thank you Doctor, now that I know what to do I don’t need to go to a doctor anymore and I can save some money!” 

This day was incredibly powerful for everyone involved: the kids were happy because they heard encouraging words from a real role model and they felt pride that the doctor spent time and effort explaining his job and came to speak with them. The doctor was glad to have the opportunity to do something good for his community, that otherwise without our invitation and with his busy routine, he had not been able to do; we (the volunteers and the staff) were really happy because this day actually happened and we could feel that everyone was enriched by this meeting. In addition to the wonderful presentation by Dr. Saraf, the rest of the week looks quite exciting with talks by a lawyer, audiologist, engineer and a soldier. We hope that the message of support and encouragement from these amazing professionals will give the children the message that they can reach their goals and thrive.

By Debby Dell’ariccia, GPM –Entwine fellow Fall 2013

Dr Amit A. Saraf MD explaining  First Aid kits

Dr . Saraf  in front of the class

Children, volunteers and REAP teachers listneing to Dr Saraf' presentation

Naftali Bennet in India: GPM, ‘Keep up the good work!’

When Economy Minister of Israel Naftali Bennet arrived in India last month he took some time out of his

MK Naftali Bennet with GPM's Sigalith Kurulkar

busy schedule to address the Jewish Community of India. On Oct 10, hundreds of people flocked from all parts of Mumbai and beyond to hear the Israeli parliamentarian speak at the famous Baghdadi Synagogue, Knesset Eliyahu in the artsy Kala Goda district in the south of the city. In the crowd was Sigalith Kurulkar, Gabriel Project Mumbai’s  (GPM) Program Coordinator.

After a moving speech about the importance of Israel-Diaspora relations, Sigalith approached the Knesset member as he was making his way through the crowd. Sigalith introduced herself and complimented Mr Bennet on his address. She then informed MK Bennet of the activities of GPM, a Jewish initiative providing nutrition and literacy for children living in India's slums. Sigalith mentioned that GPM has had in the past, and currently has Israeli volunteers on its program as well other Jewish volunteers from around the world. MK Bennet was visibly impressed with the work performed by GPM’s staff and international & local volunteers and before he was whisked away by his security detail, he excitedly told Kurulkar that she and GPM should ‘keep up the good work!’

MK Bennet’s inspiring words was encouraging to us at GPM. His evident excitement about this Jewish organization - with ties to Israel - doing powerfully good work for children in need was heartening.

MK Naftali Bennet speaking at Knesset Eliyahu Synagogue, Mumbai

GPM Achievements 2013: Changing the lives of hundreds of children in the slums of India

Thanks to the support of people like you Gabriel Project Mumbai (GPM), a Jewish initiative in the heart of the slums of Mumbai, along with our local partners REAP and JDC India,  will have achieved the following in 2013: 

• Provided 206,000 nutritious hot meals to 750 children ages 3-12 attending classes in the slums.
  Enabled 825,000 hours of learning for children living in the slums. These classes were provided by the devoted and skilled teachers of our partner organization REAP. 
• Dedicated over 600 volunteer hours to the children living in the slums. Jewish volunteers from around the world as well as Indian Jewish volunteers have provided these informal classes in English, Math, Science and Hygiene. 
• Supported the economic betterment of 200 women in local self-help groups, with a fantastic micro- financing program that helps women support their families and strengthen the slum community
• Involved dozens of Jewish volunteers from around the world and Jewish Indians in volunteering with children in the slums 
• Equipped a central kitchen in the Kalwa slums with essential cooking equipment to help local women cook food for the children in the slums. 
• Provided  80 hours of classes in Jewish Social Justice values, Jewish Indian History, spoken Hindi and Indian Culture for our local and international Jewish volunteers. 
• Developed 2 strong partnerships with JDC & JDC Entwine to bring Jewish young adults from around the world and local Jewish Indian young adults to volunteer with the Hindu and Muslim children living in absolute poverty in the slums of Mumbai. We have also nurtured a dynamic partnership with a fantastic local NGO, 'REAP' that provides dedicated, professional and nurturing teachers in the slums. 

We are extremely grateful for the partner organizations who help us help the children. Thanks to the wonderfully dedicated and professional teachers and coordinators at REAP who are devoted to the welfare of the children and allow us to work alongside them. We also are grateful to the wonderful people at the JDC and JDC Entwine for their support in volunteer recruitment, promoting GPM's mission and strong belief in helping others and alleviating  poverty around the world.

Please join us in our campaign to provide nutritious meals and quality education to the children living in the slums of India. Join us to fight malnutrition and illiteracy and help us give these wonderful children a better future!

Please click here to donate to GPM today.

‘Its more than literacy; it’s a brighter future.' Read about Hayley’s work at GPM

Namaste…. I am Hayley Dsouza working for what I believe is an amazing organization-- Gabriel Project Mumbai (GPM)! My job is Volunteer Liaison and Educational Director and every day I work closely with the international volunteers in giving over educational, practical and fun lessons to the children living in the slums of Mumbai. I love my job as it is so rewarding and even though it is physically difficult (working in extreme weather conditions: rain, heat, mud etc) I enjoy every day I spend with the children who inspire me as much as , I hope, we at GPM have an impact on them!

I would like to share with you some of the innovative educational themes we have initiated for the children in classes at the Kalwa slums. Every class has a well thought out lesson plan and we divide the weeks in to themes so that there is continuity to our curriculum. Of course, the wonderful international volunteers develop the details of the lesson plans with us and this is great as we are exposed to educational ideas from around the world. I feel that the lesson plan development is a true partnership of ideas.
 
Our first theme for the current October-December session was ‘International Week’ where each of our volunteers introduced themselves and told the children which part of the world they come from. They taught them ‘Hello’ and ‘Thank you’ in English, Samoan, Italian, South African and Hebrew. The children were thrilled and excited to learn something other than their local language. Till today, four weeks after the ‘International Week’ it’s so nice to hear them greeting us in a different language and repeating these words when we finish class with them.  During that week we gave out small paper crowns and made them feel like Kings and Queens for a Day, just like the Queen of England; because that’s where Tori is from (England). We made them stand like the Statue of Liberty as that is where Jenny is from (USA) and we made pizza cut of cardboard, inspired by Debby who hails from Italy.  Shira, from South Africa, where there a lots of animals took the children on a safari where the children had lots of fun acting like wild animals, and Eden from Israel showed a poster of  a Holy wall and told the kids to write their wishes on a paper and put it in the crevices of the ‘wall’. What was most touching is what kind of wishes the children wrote down. Their wishes were not ones for asking for a better life, a fancy car or good food or money but simple innocent wishes like “I want to study and become a doctor and make my parents proud”. That touched me the most, to see these kids asking for NOTHING else but to make their parents proud????  WOW!!!! The children asked Eden to take their wishes to the REAL Holy wall in Israel when she returns. (read more about International Week here)

The next week was ‘Water Week’. We explained to the children about oceans, lakes and rivers and also how water comes in different forms – liquid, solid and gas. We performed water-based experiments with them and showed them how water and oil cannot mix.

‘Cultural Week’ followed and we taught different modes of art, music, song and dance. We started with music and we introduced the children to Classical, Opera, Country and Rock ‘n Roll music. We listened to all types of music and also showed them a clip on the laptops. The fascinated faces and moods of the children changed with every tempo and with every cadence. Today, we spoke about films and movies and told them how movies started in 1800’s . We didn’t just tell them that movies started off  black and white with no sound, we showed them!  During the clip of Charlie Chaplin, the children laughed so much! The children laughed every time Charlie Chaplin did something funny and I realized, watching their faces, that they were really enjoying themselves. We told them in time and change in technology movies changed to special effects…and then we showed them a clip of ‘Avataar’!

The absolute highlight of the week was when we told them that they were all movie stars and they had to put place their hands in paint and make a hand-print on posters with their name below their hands. Yes, it was just like the famous ‘Hollywood Walk of Fame’!

In short, I take great pleasure and feel much joy seeing the children’s happy faces each time we go to class. The children know that they will learn something new every single day. They know that we have come to give them knew experiences and they know that people care for them. The children eagerly wait for the volunteers to come and their moods completely change. They are tired in the heat of the classrooms, but thanks to their dedicated teachers, and our input, we still have all students in full attendance every day, all wanting and waiting to learn; not an easy feat in the slums of Mumbai.

I am so happy and proud to be a part of the GPM …Thank You…Toda…Dhankie…Fa'afetai…Gracias.

Please support GPM and give generously to our annual appeal. You are supporting our Nutrition and Literacy programs for the beautiful children living in the slums of Mumbai.

Donate now here!

Meet the new cohort of JDC-GPM Indian Jewish Interns

The latest cohort of Indian Jewish JDC-GPM Interns is on its way to make a significant difference and a positive impact to the lives of vulnerable children living in Mumbai slums. The inspiring interns, local Jewish youth active in the Jewish community in Mumbai, is dedicating their time away from career and work to provide an structured program of social and learning experiences to underprivileged children living in the slums. The program is under the auspices of JDC India, Gabriel Project Mumbai and in partnership with local NGO – REAP. REAP has been at the forefront of child literacy efforts in the slums and remote villages of India for close to twenty years.

Salome Nagaonkar, the group's youngest member at 17, led the first encounter with children from the slums in Chinchpokli in central Mumbai. The children were taken to the Nehru Science Centre for an exciting day of science, activities and fun. The 40 children were divided into groups and visited exhibits on the centre’s multi level science complex. The children were encouraged to open their minds, explore and expand their knowledge of sea creatures and animal wildlife and partake in fun activities including a 3D movie – a new experience that really fascinated the children. 
This innovative initiative brings together young Indian Jews and Jewish volunteers from around the world to collaborate on providing care and support for marginalized children living in the slums.

We welcome: Nurith Samuel, Ari Hyam, Salome Nagaonkar, Osrah Samuel,Shamir Talkar and Amiel Palkar to GPM.  We wish these talented and dedicated individuals all the success in pursuing a life of community service and tikkun olam.

Click here to read more about the JDC-GPM Jewish Indian Intern initiative

Little kings and queens for a week

“Ciao, Hello, Namaste, Hullo, Talofa, Shalom !” It was ‘International Week’ in the slums of Mumbai and the current multinational GPM-Entwine cohort introduced the children to several different cultures through dance, song and games - and the children were simply fascinated by it all! 

After the children ‘flew’ around the class like airplanes and ‘landed’ in different countries, Tori, from the UK and Jenny from the US presented their respective countries with fun games and activities. Tori showed pictures of Buckingham Palace and The Queen with a crown on her head while Jenny spoke about the Statue of Liberty that also has a crown on its head. The children then received colored paper crowns of their own and were taught how to wave like the Queen of England-there were lots of giggling!

Shira, who was born in South Africa, talked about safaris and animals. The children acted like elephants, lions , monkeys and other wild animals most of which can be found also in India. People passing by the classes in the slums were quite shocked to hear roaring lions and screeching monkeys!

Eden from Israel explained the magical part of the Western Wall in Jerusalem where many people write their wishes on pieces of paper and place them in the cracks of the wall. The children then wrote down their wishes and told the rest of their class: how they wish to be policemen, nurses, rickshaw drivers or doctors, how they would like to do well in school and how much they want to make their parents proud. Eden told the children that when she returns to Israel she will place their wishes in the crevices of the Western wall!

Deborah, from Italy cooked pasta for the children, a food that they have not tried before. Some children really liked the new taste while others asked for some (Indian) spices to add to their pasta! The few words of Italian were difficult to pronounce but the children had a ball trying them out.
Leah from the US had spent several months in Samoa and introduced the children to the culture of this tiny Pacific island. The children had fun learning a cute mixed Samoan and English nursing rhyme about walking, talking and love.

The aim of ‘International Week’ was to simply broaden the children’s understanding of what is beyond the world they know-the slums of Mumbai. Indeed most of the children have never left the slums and have no exposure to the rest of India let alone the rest of the world. 

A fantastic moment happened at the end of one teaching day when groups of children could be seen throughout the slums wearing their crowns and royally waving like the Queen. The smiles on their faces showed that in the slums that day they were all little kings and queens.

'Look at us! We are waving like the Queen of England!'

A boy makes a wish

Leah with Anju, the teacher and her baby Ayush who also wears a crown

Talking about the countries of the world

Walking through the slums wearing crowns

Listening to a Samoan poem

With Eden...

Roaring like lions on safari in Africa

Yummy pasta from Italy

More yummy pasta from Italy

'Hello' and 'Thank you" in many languages

Placing a wish: 'I wish to make my parents proud!'

In class 

 What sound does a monkey make?

Ciao Mumbai

We are so excited to have Deborah Dell'Ariccia as one of the five current participants of Gabriel Project Mumbai -Entwine Global Jewish Service Corps volunteering with underprivileged children in the slums of Mumbai. Born and raised in Rome, Italy, Deborah attended the local Jewish school and became involved with the Hashomer Hatzair youth movement in the city. After high school, Deborah spent a year on a kibbutz and dedicated her time to social justice causes in Israel. The year in Israel was a life-changing learning experience for Deborah who received training in education and leadership while being sensitized to social justice issues. During this time, she worked closely with the Bedouin community.

Deborah returned to Rome and became an integral part of the Jewish community’ Educational staff as a Youth Director for two years. She has worked across Europe on informal Jewish Education programming. Deborah has helped facilitate a broad range of programs including the 2007 Maccabi Games in Rome, European Adrachà seminaries and local synagogue activities in Italy.

After making Aliya in 2007, Deborah continued her studies at Beit Berl in Informal Education and Social Science and participated in the academic course "Education and Social Changes” where she volunteered in a variety of organizations, all focussing on children The breadth of her knowledge and teaching experience is an amazing asset to the group of volunteers currently working with underprivileged children in the slums of Mumbai.

One of the social organizations that Deborah has been active is ‘Mesila’ that supports Sudanese and other refugees in Israel. She has implemented awareness and neighborhood programs that bring the Israeli and refugee communities together as well as: coordinated creative and educational activities for foreign children, worked on leadership and group development with a group of elderly North-African Jewish women at Community Center ‘Beit Dani’ and received a scholarship through "Shahak Project" where she was responsible for creative and recreational activities at an emergency center for abused children.

It is fitting that Deborah, a certified Yoga instructor, declares that her main driving force in life is “to empower people in seeing the strength they have within.”

“I am really happy that I am able to join GPM , an organized social service program I India, helping the most marginalized children in the slums. I am excited to be able to use GPM as a springboard to better understand Indian culture. I have a lot of experience and training working with different demographics of children and I am eager to apply my training at GPM.”
 

Introducing GPM's Director of Alumni Relations: Rachel Karlin!

With over 60 volunteer alumni of GPM activities in the slums, we are so excited to welcome Rachel Karlin as Director of Alumni Relations. Rachel is in the process of organizing and gathering all past GPM volunteers together in an online group platform to discuss and share ideas.Rachel's aim is to keep past alumni connected with each other, connected with the issues pertaining to poverty, social justice, literacy and nutrition, and stay connected with the beautiful children they have impacted while volunteering with GPM.

Rachel is a seasoned technical writer who devotes her free time to volunteer at soup kitchens, teen shelters and environmental causes. She has successfully balanced her professional life in the high-tech industry with her dedication and passion for advancing social justice issues.

At her current position in a multinational hi-tech company she is an ambassador for the community relations projects and strives to spread awareness about volunteering opportunities to other hi-tech employees. She has an MA from Wayne State University in Technical Communication and an MA from Bar Ilan University in Creative Writing. 

Besides joining Gabriel Project Mumbai as Director of Alumni Relations, Rachel is a source of great guidance as the latest member of the Gabriel Project Mumbai Advisory Committee.

We are so happy to have Rachel with us!