Sorry this post has taken so long! The days have been very busy and I haven't had time to find a place to browse the web and update the blog. So now let me back track.
On Tuesday March 31, 2009 I woke in Bangalor expecting the Lyttles to go and tour a local school without me. We had a flight that evening so I thought I had the day to browse Bangalor until we left for the airport. I am glad they waited for me to return to the hotel at noon! When I arrived at the hotel they were waiting with a man named Rajenthar (? I am not sure how to spell that I will call him Mr. R for the blog) and invited me to join them at the O.M. school. Since this man offered to take them to the airport from the school, I thought it would be best to tag along otherwise I would have to find my own way. Well the trip to the school was not anything I had expected. On the way to the campus, Mr R informed about himself and OM Ministries. He started the christian missionary program in 1964, today it is all over India and employees 5000 people. There main focus is to help the Dahlit caste (the untouchables) to rise up against oppression and find greater standing in Indian society. They provide education to the children and adults, job training, AIDS/HIV counseling, and are activists for the women and caste as a whole.
We arrived at the school and you could hardly tell it was once a chicken farm. The old chicken coups had been converted into about 10 classrooms and offices. When we got out of the van we were led into the 4th grade class and were greeted by very eager and curious children. They welcomed us with a song and in return we sang one for them. During our song, 5 children entered the room with bouquets and presented them to each of us! I thought that was the sweetest gesture!! The young girl that gave me my bouquet was so cute and tiny that I gave her a hug immediately. I don't think she knew what to think about this, cause she was a little reserved. I forget that hugging isn't as accepted here as in the states.
After the flowers were presented, the kids quoted a few of there favorite bible scriptures and then we went to the next room, to the 5ht grade class. These kids each told us there dreams for adulthood, which were primarily doctors and engineers. After this meeting, we broke for a home style Indian lunch! My first and it proved to be very good.
While we were there, we met a team from a church Scotland. They were there to help with minor repairs and decorations. Also one of the women is a woman's activist and is forming a team with O.M. to help with there mission. They told me of the brothels that met the previous day. Many of the Dahlit women are forced into prostitution to help generate income for there families.
After lunch, I visited with the children for a bit. Some of them told me that they will wake up at 5am to catch the bus and it can take up to 2 hours to get to school. I found the young girl that gave me the flowers and discovered that her name is Samrin. She took me to her classroom and I could see on the sticker board that she is the class leader. She seemed well behaved. I met with several other children and they were all fascinated with the camera. They asked me to take pictures with them and they loved to see themselves on the LCD screen. Just before it was time to go, Samrin gave me a hug, then they all lined up for hugs. I could not believe that these sweet children were considered Untouchable!!! Sadly some of them may not complete their education. Many times as they get older, the families need them to work in order to contribute to the income and school will take a back seat.
I found out that 70% of the children are untouchables. Several of them, at young ages, are fluent in four languages (English,Hindi (national language), Tamil (state language) and the local language ( forgot what that was). At the end of graduation, all will be fluent.
O.M. currently has 100 schools and goal is to have 1000 by the end of the year.
O.M. is for Operation Mobility
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