INDIA
In December 2022 and January 2023 AidforAll’s co-founder Connie and filmmaker Charlotte went, for the first time in 3 years, to Kolkata to the Jhalak school that AidforAll has been supporting for several years.
They were treated to a drawing competition (which revealed some serious talent in 3 or 4 students) and a beautiful dance show. They gave out gifts and prizes to the top students and urgently needed supplies to everybody.
After touring the property it became clear that a lot of urgent work needed to be done. But the kids are enthusiastic and keen to learn, the new teachers are dynamic and full of ideas. After touring the property it became clear that a lot of urgent work needed to be done. Take a look at the photos below of the condition of the ceiling and roof of the youngest kids’ classroom - it is completely falling down. We look forward to making a difference, with your support, to these kids’ lives.
Jhalak school, Kolkata
Visiting Kolkata for the first time in 2014, our main focus in India is helping the Jhalak school for Underprivileged Children in Baruipur. This school is owned and run by the De family, based in the US, offering classes in the morning before school, as well as a hot breakfast and after school computing classes to ~100 very poor children.
In 2014, AidforAll renovated a building that was to become the Computer Room and filled it with a range of computing equipment. The following year, a new library was built (Chris putting his excellent DIY skills to good use), painted and filled with books - rather than the estimated 6 weeks this took just over 1 week!
Some of the graduates of this school have gone on to college, with tuition kindly paid for by the De family. AidforAll also give backpacks and school supplies to whomever needs them and award special prizes to the top students from each year. Many have aspirations to become a teacher, some want to join the army and 'defend their country', others to become a female police officer or architect.
The Coronavirus pandemic meant that nobody from AidforAll was able to get in to India since early 2020. In fact co-founder Chris was just finishing a visit in Vietnam to one of AidforAll’s projects as the borders around him were closing.
January 2022,
Jhalak school kids get new backpacks
School founder Prof. Kaushik De and his son Nikhil distributing fruit and milk to the Jhalak school community
Dynamic new teacher (and also lawyer) Susmita, matching backpacks to boys - she knows them well!
Wonderful new Jhalak school teachers Sujan and Susmita look on as Connie gives out prizes for students with top marks over the year
Susmita one of the two new teachers, arranged a special dance performance from the children. They had never done it before, Mums worked hard on some beautiful outfits.
