Monday, December 28, 2009

Australian Volunteers




In October, the students had a wonderful time with the American Embassy school Volunteers in Jodhpur. We will be having five professionals from Melbourne, Australia who have taken time from work during this Christmas and New year to spend time with the children of five Government schools in Jodhpur, Pali and Jalore districts of Rajasthan. The highlight of the trip will be, a three day sports and educational programme the first of its kind organised during this winter vacations at Government school in Pali district. We look forward for a memorable and fulfilling trip.

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Jugal’s Story… Change Does Not Have to Take Long…

Jugal is a silent student. He is good in all the subjects but not in English. He could not even answer in the class, but he was curious and determined to learn English. He joined the summer camp 2009 organised by HOPE worldwide in Pali District, Rajasthan. That was the turning point in his learning. He never missed a class; he was so inspired by the methods used by the HOPE staff in teaching spoken English that he encouraged his older brother to join. It is said that every change takes time but in Jugal’s case it was not true. Jugal’s change was so obvious that even his school teachers were surprised. Jugal now does not just understand and speak English but he also helps the other students. Jugal is thankful to HOPE worldwide for being his inspiration... His ambition is to study for the I.A.S (Indian Administrative Services). May his dream come true…


Jugal with Ramesh Sharma(HOPE staff)


Thursday, December 10, 2009

What a little encouragement can do…



Dinesh always looked very serious; a smile on his face was very rare. He is a 6th standard student. He is the youngest in his family of six children.
Last summer Dinesh enrolled himself in the summer camp organised by HOPE worldwide. He enjoyed the activities like drawing and painting, craft, outdoor and indoor games but when it was time to learn, read, and do homework or merely write down from the blackboard he was not good at that. Dinesh’s sisters were also coming for the summer camp but they were doing better. The HOPE teachers would interact with the students during their lunch break to counsel, inspire and encourage them to do better. Dinesh mentioned that it was difficult for him to concentrate as he was insecure and scared of being punished. He wanted to do well in his class but he was not able to. The HOPE teachers encouraged him in small things. They would use encouraging words like “ neat and clean work; nice spelling, good work, great job”. Recently in the class tests he scored 8 out of 10. The encouragement has helped him to do well in other subjects also. Even the other government teachers started noticing the difference. It has helped him to understand his weaknesses and help others who are like him. Now he is among the good students in the class and he smiles more often.


Dinesh with Roseleen(HOPE staff)

Mistakes make us better



Vikram is a student of class seven, in Govt Secondary School Maderna Colony, and he desires to study well. His father, a taxi driver, has no time to help Vikram. Vikram respects his father for the way he provides for his family. Unable to understand and no one to guide him though, he started disturbing the class while the teachers taught lessons. He was very scared to answer for fear he would make mistakes and be laughed at. He started attending the spoken English classes conducted by HOPE worldwide in the school. He noticed that they were encouraged to answered and taught mainly through spoken exercises. He started enjoying the exercises and was no longer worried about making mistakes. It helped him to understand that making mistakes only made him better. Now he can make his own sentences and is well behaved in the class.

Vikram is very happy that he is learning English and he is thankful to HOPE worldwide, for we helped him to understand the importance of making mistakes. (Inset: Vikram and Sukanya(HOPE staff)).