Loft Digital, a hi-tech innovation consultancy based in the City of London, has generously agreed to support CRS by donating 1 per cent of its profits annually. They have undertaken to give not less than £2,000 in the current year. In addition, the employees of Loft want to use their skills to help slum children, by teaching them to “code”, that is to write computer programmes. This project is being developed with CRS at the moment.
Children
Partying in style
Children from some of Kolkata’s poorest slums were privileged to enter the gates of Raj Bhavan on 14th December. Raj Bhavan, a grand palace built in Neoclassical style and completed in 1803, is the official residence of the Governor of West Bengal. 45 children from CRS Education Centres in Basanti Devi Colony, Bibibagan, Sukantanagar and Hastings were selected to attend a Christmas Party hosted by the Calcutta Foundation, an NGO, in the grounds of the palace. The children enjoyed playing group games, and received gifts and food packets. They also met with the Governor himself, Shri Keshari Nath Tripathi.
A carnival atmosphere … Part 1
One hundred children from across the CRS Education Centres in Kolkata were selected to attend a Mega Children’s Day Carnival on 6th November. The event was hosted by La Martinere School, a private school in central Kolkata with an extensive campus. Each child received a gift bag and food packet, as well as 250 Rupees worth of coupons to spend at the carnival, on food and games. They all had a most memorable day with the staff and children of La Martinere School making them feel really special.
School teacher exchange programme
The Diocesan Board of Education in Derby, UK, secured a British Council grant for an exciting new exchange programme. In September, seven head teachers from church schools in Kolkata visited schools in the Derby diocese. In October the visit was reciprocated with a group of teachers from Derbyshire spending two weeks in India where they visited a range of education institutions from well-funded, prestigious schools to some of the CRS Education Centres which serve poor children in the slums.
It is hoped that this is just the start of enriching and long-lasting links between schools in the two countries. The British teachers noted that many of the Indian schools showed an extraordinary passion for transforming the lives of the poorest children, but few resources and little training. Among the follow up plans are UK teachers providing professional development for teachers in the slum schools through peer mentoring and model teaching, and fundraising to improve or replace 15 buildings which host the CRS Education Centres.
Students gather to thank teachers
Across India on 5th September, children report to school as usual but classes are replaced by activities of celebration to show appreciation for teachers. Events took place at all the CRS Education Centres including the Training Center for Differently-abled Persons (TCDP). The young people with different physical and mental disabilities normally learn skills such as chalk making and book binding. But Teachers’ Day provided them with an opportunity to thank their instructors, give them gifts and entertain them with dance. The students were also watched by their carers, usually their mothers, many of whom travel some distance to attend the TCDP. They greatly value the opportunity that the CRS Centre gives to nurture their children in a positive atmosphere.