In the last months, PPES got some great work done. The school now has a brand new Library which kids just adore so much. They also have a newly appointed teacher to train them in spoken English.

The coming months have so much more in store..

School Library
PPES’ library can easily be awarded as one of the most famous sites with its students. Students throng at the library whenever they get a chance other than their designated library hrs (One class per week).

The library is a store house of about 735 English and 235 Hindi books, with a few that are bilingual. They stand neatly stacked in purple, yellow, green and blue book shelves. The books are on different genres from story books on favorite cartoon characters to encyclopedias.
We’ll soon have books in Urdu as well for students who learn Urdu language at school. Students identify with it as a personal space that they get to explore each moment they spend there.

However, the library wasn’t the same a few months ago. It has recently been expanded and renovated. Earlier it used to be a tiny room with just one book shelf. Now, it is a large spacious hall. There is also a computer to keep track of catalogue and check out of books taken by students to home.

The library just got a conference table that is used for reading the newspapers and magazines. It has a colorful cabinet of board games that girls love to play during breaks.
Sony, a PPES graduate is the librarian.

The New English Teacher
The academic curriculum of the school has English as one of the main subjects that students learn from class nursery. When you meet PPES’ girls, you’ll hear them greeting you and trying to strike a conversation in English. That’s an amazing drive that they have in them.

PPES channelized this drive by appointing an English teacher this October 2009 for the girls. He is Rizwan Khan and trains girls in improving their spoken and written English. In just a few months, the girls seem so excited about their lessons. What with they now telling you the nuances between ‘Does’ and ‘Do’; asking you politely ‘Again’ when they don’t comprehend you. However, that happens only rarely.

Rizwan also trains teachers as part of ‘Train the Trainers’ program. He is guiding PPES teachers and staff in improving their spoken English. Our teachers are from the village and this is an amazing program for them that PPES has started.

Meet our student Priyanka
It is difficult to miss out Priyanka’s vivacious sight at the school. No doubt that our little 14 years old is one of the most talkative and curious students. Her smile shines from miles away! Priyanka joined PPES when she was 10 years old. At the time, she was a very shy little girl. Today, she's become a teenager, confident and healthy, preparing for the 10th grade Board Exams.

Not only does Priyanka never miss school, but she loves it! Her favorite subject is English. She wants to speak fluent English and that's one of the reasons why she always welcomes our international guests. That and because she is just curious to know from which country her guests are from.

At school, Priyanka is known for her perfect attendance. Last June, she was awarded with a school trip to Amritsar and to the India-Pakistan border for her perfect attendance. "It was the best award ever because I love traveling! But traveling in India takes too long.

That's why I have decided that I will become a pilot to fly fast". She just needs to decide which country to visit first! She says America!
Priyanka is full of dreams for her family. She has 2 little sisters who also go to school at Pardada Pardadi and a younger brother. They live with their mum - Nemvati, dad - Dhaniram and grandmother - Ganga Devi.

They live in a small house. There are 2 bedrooms. Life is not always easy at home, but “I will buy them a big house with my salary". Her dad works at a sugar mill between November and March. The rest of the year, if he doesn't find a job he stays at home. Her mother takes care of the house and the buffaloes, her rare friends. And after school, Priyanka and her sisters take care of the cooking.

Priyanka's dreams are high but not impossible! And it's our mission at PPES not only to let her dream, but also to make her dreams come true.

PPES thanks its donor friends on Global Giving for their continual support.

Do keep your feedback coming as it only strengthens the bond between us.

Share your ideas with us on what all you want to see at the school.

Links:

• Follow us on our Blog with an all new face!
• Pardada Pardadi's fresh Newletter!

Pictures:

• The Library then! (JPG)
• The Library now! (JPG)
• Meet Priyanka! (JPG)