The new project site...by the backwaters

After a bumpy tuck tuck ride past the scenic backwaters, we finally reached S.D.P.Y Central School, where we were the first ever GVI volunteers! It was quite daunting walking into the school for the first time and having children swarm around you, all of them desperate to say hello and to touch you, shake your hand or do a high five with you. The children are all so beautiful, with wide smiles and big friendly eyes.
We were popular with all the children, apart from one little girl, who cried when she saw us. When the Principle asked her what was wrong, her response was, 'I am scared because they are white'. The little girl had never seen white skinned people before, but by the end of the lesson after we had bribed her with stickers, she decided that she liked us after all.
We have taken several classes and our biggest success was teaching 54 Yr 2's how to draw and spell different animals. The children particularly enjoyed drawing the camels. Another memorable lesson was when we read the 'Wriggly Jiggly' story to the children. They did not understand the word wriggly, so we demonstrated what wriggling was and then whenever we said the word wriggly, all the children in the class squirmed around in their chairs! Over 50, six year old children all wriggling in synchronization in front of you, is a sight that you would certainly not forget.
Our main focus however was to provide support for the weaker children, so we asked the teachers to give us the names of the children between grade 1 and 4 who struggled with Math and English. Currently we are testing these children to try and identify what areas they need our help in. It is especially rewarding doing one to ones with these children, as you can really get to know the children's personalities, such as Vinyak who is cheeky and Mohamed who is shy and eager to please.
We are close to finishing our second week at the school and have endured power cuts (which last ALL day), ants attacking our lunch and blocked squat toilets, but we can both say without any doubt, that every second is worth it, for the amazing feeling when you have helped a child understand something.

Alice
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The new project site...by the backwaters