Visiting Schools - Meeting the Future Green Cops of Hirwai

Hi,
Its been a real long time since i have written anything here. But now is the right time to share my experiences with  all of you. This is Hirwai's fourth year and i am so glad too say that it has been a fulfilling period in terms of the work we have done and the energy we have felt with these school children. It is not only the school children but also the families of the children whom we have befriended along the way.    

These days the whole Hirwai team is busy visiting the various schools spread out across the city of Nagpur. Its been a real pleasure meeting the children, their teachers and inspecting their projects. Although it is a bit of a tedious task, but the very enthusiasm and the creativity of the kids compel us to proceed further every year.

It gave me immense pleasure to talk to all the tiny tots. I especially remember two kids from the pre-primary section who had grown sun-flower plants and they were so enthusiastic about it. The amazing fact was that they knew a lot about the plant, the flower, why is it called by its name and also the uses of the same. The girl looked just like the sunflower herself, so very fresh and endearing!!!

Nursery development was a new concept which we had introduced this year and it was a bit confusing for the students as well as the teachers, i think. There were some very good entries but not up to the level of our expectations. Maybe next year it will be a much fruitful effort.

Personally, i like the fourth category the most. The tree census activity in itself is a very interesting experience and when we i see the documentation done by the children, it leaves me amazed at the level of knowledge and the zeal to gather more information. I cannot but forget the enthusiasm, the knowledge and the creativity of a student who wanted to share so many things with us. She was so well prepared with her work that we didn't realise how time flew while talking to her. Given a chance she could have spoken to us all through the day!!!

Then there was this group of students from the not-so elite school who had done the most wonderful tree census i have ever come across during these past four years. The very perfection of the project left us spell bound, given that they had very limited resources. But the precision and the level of accuracy of the kids left me absolutely spell bound.

So this is the latest update from me for the time being. Will get back to you as soon as we finish the school visits so that there is more information to share with you all.