I went to India in the spring of 2002, and it changed my life.
I taught English in a school of 40 children aged between 4 and 9. I woke up before dawn so that I could trek to a little viewing spot and witness the amazing sights before I sat down to teach children who really wanted to learn!!!
Starting the day teaching double English to a class of 7 year olds is never easy. I remember in my first week it took about a half hour everyday to organise them all, ensuring they all had the correct books out, they all had paper, sharpened pencils and organising the kids with forgotten text-books were all hurdles I had to deal with, fun anyway but especially so when the kids speak very minimal English.
A week into my teaching I woke up with a terrible headache one morning, and as I walked into my class for the usual start of double English I randomly asked a child sitting at the front to go next door and get me a stick, my intention was to use it as a pointer aiming it at individual letters on a poster, naively thinking that reciting the alphabet would be an easy start to the day. Before I knew it I had this child so scared to get up he was hugging the table so he wouldn’t have to get the stick. I quickly understood that this child in tears thought he was going to get a beating and that was why I needed the stick, although I had only just walked in and he had certainly not caused any mischief. I was astonished that a boy this young could have such connotations about school. He’s meant to enjoy it not be scared. In his mind it was logical for him to be sent to find a stick so he could be beaten. I quickly stood up, dismissing any need for the stick and resumed the lesson using my finger as a pointer.
The next day I walked into the class with a stick and threw it straight out of the window, I tried to explain to these children that I would never beat them and they shouldn’t be scared of me. As they smiled, I thought they were grasping what I was saying, until 3 of them raised their little hands and offered to go outside and bring the stick back inside for me!!
I cannot say that it was easy, but teaching in Darjeeling was a wonderful experience for me, and I can tell you with a smile and a great sense of achievement that in my last week after almost 3 months of teaching, when I walked into the same class of 7 year olds it didn’t take half an hour to prepare the days lesson. They would all be sitting quietly with the (correct) books out, their homework (done) in front of them, pencils sharp and perhaps a flower for me on my desk, but I also had them raising their hands and telling me which kids hadn’t done their homework!! (Although they had come on so far, I must insist I never encouraged them to snitch on their classmates)
When you see children improve this much in anything they do, and you know you have contributed you feel proud. When you walk into a school and see the drab walls, the paint chipping and poor quality materials it’s expected, but when you see children who aren’t used to using their imagination and being creative that’s where you, as a volunteer can make the most difference. It’s where you want to make the most impact, it certainly was in my own experience, and when I left the walls were filled with colour and drawings of any and everything they wanted to draw!!
I thank MondoChallenge for helping me get to Darjeeling, not only because as a student at the time I couldn’t even come close to the £3000 fee for Africa-Asia Venture, or the £2,500 for Raleigh International and Cross-Cultural Solutions. But as the director Anthony Lunch told me when I went to speak to him about my excursion, I had more to give than money. I had time. They understood that and I thank them for giving me a chance to endure a life changing experience that I will never be able to forget.
