Anand Community Education Project
We are the children of the Anand Community. We live with our siblings and mothers and grandmothers in small settlements among the paddy and lentil fields of the landowners. Most of our elder brothers and fathers have travelled far away, sometimes thousands of kilometres, to find some meagre income - as a dishwasher or a housekeeper, or in the building industry. Some of our daddies have ended up begging. Many have never returned.
But we have good stories too. In our villages, Kailash and his team are running Jeevan Deep Community Centres, which provide some light in our lives. They do not build schools but they do provide education - inspired by the thought that learning can be done all the time and anywhere - and it can be done playfully. So we sing a lot and we dance while we learn. And we prove that however poor we might be, we can still look at our futures with confidence.
Kailash's team also helps our families take care of themselves. In our villages, we have sewing and other do-it-yourself ateliers, adult learning classes, counselling, family care, essential hygiene and basic medical services.
And we have plans. In the coming year, we want to work with art and painting and (street) theatre. Because we have learnt to believe in our talents. From which we can create value. And, perhaps, build a value chain, that, one day, will reach you - our well-wishers, in Beljiyam in Yoorap, or wherever you are.
Chandu, Nisha & Pushpa
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We are a small organisation, on a small budget. But we do need to pay for stuff. Learning aids, medical supplies, sanitizers, water pumps, sewing machines. And because we want to help this community be sustainable, we fancy the idea of the local community workers themselves to get some kind of pay for their work.
We have been running on less than 8,000 Euros per annum for many years. But each year, this is about what we need to raise. And here is where we need your help.
Thank you so much for helping make this possible.
Kailash, Janardan, Francis & Michaela
