| Sajha.com Archives | |
| Username | Post |
| nepali | Posted
on 01-Dec-01 08:44 PM
" "Ganesha's Project" is a philanthropic project whereby Nepali schoolchildren who are living below the poverty line will also get the opportunity to attend information technology lessons, and will therefore be able to follow the trend of the present fast technology progress, which is 'overrunning' them. As a pilot scheme from November 2001 until July 2002, we want to equip the Shree Bachhauli Secondary School in Bachhauli, Nepal with donated (by European standards outdated) computers. We will then teach the pupils with a view to making them use the computers independently. To make this project a big success we still need a lot of support.. " >http://www.ganeshas-project.org/index_en.html |
| diwas k | Posted
on 02-Dec-01 03:47 AM
Ganesha's Project is a great idea. Unfortunately that is where it ends. It has been my experience, working with GAA's Kanti Hospital Project (then called SAV-KCH), Gongabu school projects, and even the "panchayat work" we used to do in 5th and 6th grades in Godavari School, that people are aware of their needs, wants and their limitations. Its just that they do not have adequate resources or means to fulfill those needs. I was amazed at what educated decisions people were able to make when we gave them a hand in meeting their immediate needs, without letting them feel they were less able (financially or otherwise) than anyone else, and thus letting them maintain their sense of self worth. Ganesha's Project wants to introduce computers to children living below the poverty level. First, I am not sure the IT_mania can alleviate Nepal_ko hardships any more than it has been able to lift the US out of its economic slump, but this comparision may be wrongly placed here. It is easy to look inwards from outside, identify problems there, and come up with solutions. But do those solutions really belong there in those circumstances? One would have to actually move inside that community, be a living-breathing part of it, and learn from within. And computers are not too useful in Nepal_ko situations that Ganeshas Project sees itself being involved in. Community works (like those attempted by Ganeshas Project) would best serve those children by giving them opportunity and motivation to remain at school (and not end up as child-laborer). Here are a few ways to achieve this goal: 1. Provide the basic learning tools (books, chalk, blackboard), a roof that does not leak and other physical infrastructure. 2. Provide medical attention and health awareness to those children.. this message will be passed on to their families. 3. Let them participate in their regular chores (like daura and ghas etc..), and let them know why those tasks are equally important and better options than ending up in some carpet factory. 4. Train them to form opinions appropriate for their age. A growing-up child who is opinionated has less chances of being abused and supressed than others. (my observation...) 5. Let them just be children, and don't force ideas upon them. There are far better ways to be productively involved in a community service work than I have mentioned above, but trying to change a community is not one of them. Disagreements welcome, _diwas k |