My Experience with Ekal  
   
Ekal School Visit Report  
By Jayendra Shah  
   
I visited 3 schools (Haripura, Jamani and Pada) in Dediapada tribal area of Gujarat on 12th January 2005. I had 3 other visitors from Baroda on 12th January 2005. Two local EVF members and the EVF Sanchal head also joined us.  
   
The schoolteacher and students welcomed us with a great enthusiasm and gratitude singing devotional songs (at one school) and performing welcoming dance (at other schools).  
   
I was most impressed by the sincerity of teachers and students at schools. The school children also presented some cultural programs and demonstrated academic progress achieved by the children. I have taken about 40 minutes video of the schools visit and will be happy to share my experiences through this video.  
   
I certainly can say that the children in these schools have same potential as other children anywhere else and by sponsoring such schools donors are providing opportunities to them to achieve their potential. The teachers and local administrators were very sincere. In fact donor’s contribution can make such a great difference, changing lives of 25 to 35 children, because of great set up and commitment by EVF members and teachers.  
   
In short it was very fulfilling experience to see that with very little money (about $10 per week) one can bring such a great change in their lives.  
   
Running a school with Rs 15000 (A$480) for the whole year total does not leave much opportunity to waste the money on any other unnecessary expenses. Looking at schools, EVF movement’s popularity worldwide and sincerity of EVF members in India, I tend to believe that your hard earned money does go to the right cause.  
   
 
Ekal Vidyalaya visit by Ms. Girija Vijay and Dr. Kamla Kant Vijay.  
   
Date of visit : 9th December 2004
School Visited : 2 Schools of Bhopal Area (Madhya Pradesh)
 
   
Experience of Smt/Sri Girija & Dr. Kamla Kant Vijay:  
   
We are connected with Ekal Vidayalaya Foundation of USA since inception. In May 2004, I became regional Vice President of Southeast region. Most of the donors were carrions in knowing now the Vidyalayas are run. On Sunday, Dec. 19th  me had the opportunity to visit two Vidyalayas in Bhopal(M.P.) area with the effort of Mahendra and Asha Shuklas. We were most impressed to begin with there were approximately, 70 person to joined us for one yatra. The enthusiasm of children and ladies was remarkable.  
   
The villagers welcomed us with enthusiasm and gratitude, very impressive decorations of Rangoli & flower arrangements. The teachers performed the classes at both schools of respectively 49263, children. They had musical programs and simple refreshment of black Garban 30 peas (channa) 2 Imarati along with tea 2 at the end wild berries. At 2th  school we were offered lunch of corn chapattis. Bati 2 Jaggery. The reactions of villages were welcoming. The simplicity was obvious. It was really very truth filling experience to know that we are contributing to the education of tribal areas where only missionaries were able to reach.
  
   
We the Vanyatris were really changed up and tried to do too much visit two Ekal Vidyalaya thirty K.M. Apart but I was really impressed by the eagerness and earnestness of Vanyatris and the enthusiasm and hope in the eyes of parents and students.  
   
- Girija/Kamla Kant Vijay
  
   
Visit to an Ekal Vidyalaya in India  
By: Medhavi Gupta, Year 9 student, Sydney, Australia  
   
A boy showing his writing skills
at Ekal Vidyalaya
 
During the visit to India this year, we visited an Ekal Vidyalaya. It was an inspiring and overwhelming experience to see a functioning school in a remote village.
 
The village Bhutakheda is located about 325 Km. from the city of Indore in Madhya Pradesh. The nearest main road is about 12 Km. The approach road to the village is mainly dirt and rocks, and a good 1.5 hour journey by car from the main road. The village has a population of about 500 people. There is no electricity in the village. The main livelihood is farming.
 
About 30 students attend the vidyalaya. The village is fortunate to have a permanent building for the school. When we arrived at the village, we received a very warm welcome by about 100 -125 people. After formal welcome, we went to the school. The teacher, Maya, is a local girl about 20 years of age. She knew how to handle kids. She was trained by the Ekal Vidyalaya people on how to teach the children in a systematic and easy to understand way. Every 6 months, she goes for a training course to the nearby city.
 
   
The class started with a prayer and chanting of mantras. Children then demonstrated their knowledge of Hindi alphabets, numbers, simple addition and subtraction learnt at the Ekal Vidyalaya. They wrote complex Hindi words on the blackboard. These skills would be used later, when they owned and farmed their own fields. It would stop them from being cheated or losing any money, as they would be able to read contracts and work out fair payment. They also had general awareness about things such as who the Prime Minister of India is. At the end of the class, they sang some bhajans. The children were all disciplined and attentive in class.
 
We were quite impressed with the general cleanliness and hygiene of the village and its people. We found out that apart from a teacher, the school also have a “health instructor”. She is also a local girl, who teaches children about hygiene and health.
 
A girl reciting the Hindi alphabets
 
   
The school runs in the evening, because some children help their parents in farms during the day. Because there is no electricity in the village, they study with the help of kerosene lamps. The teacher drops each child to their homes after the class. The dedication of children and the teacher was quite amazing.  
   
After our class visit, we spent some time with the villagers. They seemed to understand the importance of education, and felt very privileged about having Ekal Vidyalaya in their village.  
   
The students of Bhutakheda
Ekal Vidyalaya
 
Our trip was organized by the Bhopal office of EVF, India. We were very impressed with their organizational skills. Everything went as per the plan. 2 EVF staff accompanied us to the village. We found them completely selfless and dedicated to the cause.
 
To make sure that everything is going well, every two to three months, Ekal volunteers visit the village. They talk with the villagers about any problems that they might be having with the school, as well as making a report and grading the standard and progress of the students in the school. We found that the Ekal volunteers and villagers have developed a good bond between them. The whole system is very well organised. Every school, even in the most remote parts of India, are looked after. Ekal has opened a total of about 24,000 schools, and has more than 720,000 students.
 
   
We were amazed at the happiness of the people. This trip made us realise how lucky we were to have a chance to have a good education. These children are the future of India and deserve a chance. It’s only fair that these children get a chance at a proper education too, and advance along with the rest of India. We are the ones who can help them in achieving their dreams.  
   
You can see more photos from our visit by going to:
http://picasaweb.google.com/babitatrade/EkalSchool?authkey=nFkCuwY-PGw