Lunahar is a small village, located in the Gop block of Odisha's Puri district. Apart from growing coconut trees and banana trees, the people here indulge in cultivating rice, which also forms their staple food. Four years ago, Pratham implemented the 'Read India' learning camp in this village. Not only the learning camps were well received, but they also inspired three women to implement the library program in their village.
The three women - Rashmita Pradhan, Amita Pradhan and Basanti Pradhan - are convinced that the learning levels of children in the village should improve. Rashmita and Amita have a farm of their own, where they grow rice, whereas Basanti's husband is in Gujarat for work. Rashmita recalls that they had experienced the door-to-door visit of Pratham volunteers during the 'Read India' direct intervention in their village. It had made them aware of what learning levels are and why should they be improved. However, last year they came to know of Pratham's library, and they were happy that it involved their participation.
"During the intervention, they had tested the children, and we became aware that children should learn better. But with this program (library), we also can participate", begins Amita. "With an improvement in learning levels, children can progress ahead in life", she says.
The three of them underwent an orientation where they were told about the content and activities of the program. "We found the activities engaging, and we liked them. We agreed that we should implement this program in our village", says Amita, the most talkative of the three. "We also felt that the content was related to the school textbook and when children will use it, they will progress", says Basanti, as she joins the conversation.
The three of them discuss the library every week and plan things for the coming week. They also ensure that children complete all activities that are assigned to them. "We are relatively free during the evening, and hence this is the right time for us to monitor the children. They now sit in one place and learn. It makes us very happy", says Rashmita.
As we continue the conversation, we are greeted by Rakesh Pradhan who wants to be a volunteer for this program next year. He is a part of the library program, and also was a part of the Read India direct intervention in his village four years back. Now in the eighth grade, he was in the fourth grade during the intervention. He likes to read difficult words, and his favourite activity is writing a story after seeing a picture. We try to talk to him, but Rakesh feels shy and refuses to say anything. We tell him to speak in Oriya so that the others can translate it for us in Hindi. "I like to learn in a group", he begins. "Two of us are weak in solving a division problem, whereas the other three struggle in reading. We help each other", he says. Rashmita tells us that Rakesh was at a lower level in Math and these group activities have helped him improve. We ask Rakesh about his other favourite activities, and after an initial hesitation he opens up!
"I love the colouring activity on the tablet. Before filling the colour, I imagine the object, and it helps me enjoy the activity."
Next year Rakesh will be in the ninth grade, and hence won't be a part of the library program. However, he wants to volunteer with us and ensure that his juniors also improve their learning levels like him.
We wish the villagers all the best for the present and future initiatives in education!
The three women - Rashmita Pradhan, Amita Pradhan and Basanti Pradhan - are convinced that the learning levels of children in the village should improve. Rashmita and Amita have a farm of their own, where they grow rice, whereas Basanti's husband is in Gujarat for work. Rashmita recalls that they had experienced the door-to-door visit of Pratham volunteers during the 'Read India' direct intervention in their village. It had made them aware of what learning levels are and why should they be improved. However, last year they came to know of Pratham's library, and they were happy that it involved their participation.
"During the intervention, they had tested the children, and we became aware that children should learn better. But with this program (library), we also can participate", begins Amita. "With an improvement in learning levels, children can progress ahead in life", she says.
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| Rashmita Pradhan, Amita Pradhan and Basanti Pradhan (From Left to Right) |
The three of them underwent an orientation where they were told about the content and activities of the program. "We found the activities engaging, and we liked them. We agreed that we should implement this program in our village", says Amita, the most talkative of the three. "We also felt that the content was related to the school textbook and when children will use it, they will progress", says Basanti, as she joins the conversation.
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As we continue the conversation, we are greeted by Rakesh Pradhan who wants to be a volunteer for this program next year. He is a part of the library program, and also was a part of the Read India direct intervention in his village four years back. Now in the eighth grade, he was in the fourth grade during the intervention. He likes to read difficult words, and his favourite activity is writing a story after seeing a picture. We try to talk to him, but Rakesh feels shy and refuses to say anything. We tell him to speak in Oriya so that the others can translate it for us in Hindi. "I like to learn in a group", he begins. "Two of us are weak in solving a division problem, whereas the other three struggle in reading. We help each other", he says. Rashmita tells us that Rakesh was at a lower level in Math and these group activities have helped him improve. We ask Rakesh about his other favourite activities, and after an initial hesitation he opens up!
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| Rakesh Pradhan |
Next year Rakesh will be in the ninth grade, and hence won't be a part of the library program. However, he wants to volunteer with us and ensure that his juniors also improve their learning levels like him.
We wish the villagers all the best for the present and future initiatives in education!
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