Help disadvantaged Bengali children + young people

My cousin’s Primary school in Eccles near Manchester recently did a sponsored walk for the New Life Centre school in Sarberia, West Bengal. The students worked out that the height of Mount Everest was equivalent to 10 kilometres, and so they planned a 10K track around the playground.

They raised £1200, which is the most they have ever raised before in their fundraising activities, because they were able to empathise with their fellow students in West Bengal. Despite very different environments and home backgrounds, the children in Eccles were captivated by the personal stories of the students in Sarberia - such as the boy who was left abandoned in a tea shop in the village and was adopted by a poor farmer and his wife. This boy started at the New Life Centre school when he was 4 years old and he has just passed his Board Exam (National Standard for 15+ year olds) with flying colours and is destined for a bright future!

Education changes lives in West Bengal, as it does in this country, but we don’t tend to think of it in those stark terms. This boy will be the first of his adopted family to have the opportunity to work somewhere other than tending the fields, a subsistence living. When you are given the opportunity not only to change your work, but expand your horizons, who knows where you could end up?

This is the story of the founder of the New Life Centre school, Alindra Naskar. Here he is seen in the playground of the school. Alindra was educated with the help of a local priest. His ‘lucky break’ has multiplied in kind.

If Alindra’s educational break can result in educating a whole village, what will the students of the New Life Centre school achieve in their lifetimes?

Thank you to the children and staff at Holy Cross and All Saints school in Eccles.

Wouldn’t you like to be involved in this educational success story?

I have written before about the special qualities of the New Life Centre school Sports day, which has just been held again in February.
This photo shows the bicycle race which involves cycling the slowest you possibly can as the slowest wins, and the photo below involves the younger children running to where their shoes and socks are, putting them on and then completing the race.
As you can imagine, both are amusing to watch, and when I have attended Sports days in the past, I have joined in with the parents in their fun.
It strikes me each time that I visit the school that there is a lot of fun in learning, which is a great combination.

What makes education relevant for these children, whose parents are barely literate, is the enjoyment they get from it. This has been an uphill struggle for Alindra Naskar to convince the disadvantaged community in Sarberia that education is worthwhile.
We all take this for granted in the West, because it has been a long held belief, but imagine if you have never known how liberating education can be, and are only fearful of what might happen?
In these seemingly frivolous races the parents are amused and laugh openly with their children, realising that there is nothing fearful about this establishment, where the teachers join in the fun, and the children are obviously pleased to be there.

The prize giving as seen here (below) shows the winner of the race receiving her prize - a bowl for eating! I always try to imagine what one of our children would do if they received such a prize at their Sports day?
Once again Alindra wins over the parents with these practical medals in his mission to educate both the parents and children of this area.

Wouldn’t you like to help more children enjoy their precious time at school?