21st January, 2008

Wannes De Loore is a Test Engineer based in Belgium. Late in 2007 he decided to visit India and volunteered some time at SISP. This is his report...

When I arrived in Kovalam on November 30th 2007 I really had no idea what to expect. I had a vague idea about what went on at the school from the website and from my friend Seppe's stories. However, the practical aspects were a big black hole for me. Fortunately, I had already agreed plans with Paul, albeit in an Indian way. I would give computer lessons to pupils. How I did that was something I had to invent. In retrospect this flexibility was a good basis to start from.

Everything seemed a bit chaotic, but that is the case throughout all India. When I arrived at school on Monday morning, Paul introduced me to the children as "the new computer teacher". It felt a bit strange to be called a teacher.

On the first days, however, I went with a few social workers to the village where SISP's children live, to try to better understand their backgrounds. It was a huge shock for me. A confrontation with this degree of poverty was actually a step too far for me. When I went on housevisits with a few teachers, my heart broke completely. The bond which grew with the children fully involved me in their situation. I had planned to take photographs, but it raised a lump in my throat, and my aperture remained closed.

At school, however, everything ran extremely smoothly, even if I say it myself. After a week I got assigned to Group B and we made reasonable progress with our one and only computer. We went from zero to a more or less beginner level. The students didn't need to know how a computer works ...

The camaraderie and friendship with the rest of the staff also improved every day. It is extremely nice to quickly go from unknown to being fully included. From day one, everyone was willing to help and to answer questions. And the collaboration with the kids was wonderful. Although at times communications were not easy, we somehow managed. It is not easy to instruct in a language (English) that you're not a master of because it's not your mother tongue, but it's even harder to try to understand lessons in a language that's not your mothertongue or the teachers. Full respect for Group B!

Outside the lessons there were fewer problems. The kids were really happy when I played with them or when I sat with them at lunch time.

The height of success for me, however, was introducing George (Sir) to the Internet. He was as happy as a child when we corresponded via email and also when I showed him that there were newspapers in Malayalam on the world wide web. The dedication and enthusiasm of George will remain with me forever. Whether giving English lessons to Group B, tuition in the evenings, or playing cricket on Tuesday afternoons, he was always keen. It is not so surprising that last year he established a special care class.

George is not the craziest person at SISP. That honour goes completely to Paul. Despite his half-century age his heart and soul are totally dedicated to his brainchild. What began twelve years ago as a kind enterprise at his own expense has now become a self-supporting project in itself. The best example I can think of is the new school - totally made possible by the generosity of donors from across the world.

I am honestly very happy to have been given the chance to experience life at SISP for a month. I have learned a lot from it. Funding for the ezieling and faith in a dream is essential to make it roll. That everyone can help a little bit to make live easier for the poor, even I you think you can't do much, it does mean a lot for those who're really hungry everyday. That the sorrow we are so common with on television, really exists. That knowing of the existence of all this sorrow, is not the same as seeing and experiencing firsthand of the same suffering. And that the use of toilet paper actually is unnecessary. Thanks Werner!

Wannes