Everything Under The Sun: Giving Poor Indian Youth A Lift Into Adulthood

Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Giving Poor Indian Youth A Lift Into Adulthood

Handmade prayer flowers made by the children.

Poverty can strike pretty hard in India, especially those who live in its slums. The slums aren't just populated by adults; children live there with their families. Because it is such a difficult life, families who live in deep poverty depend upon children to contribute to the family's income. But that expectation doesn't help children to escape from a life of poverty, because there is no time for education, no time to be a child.

A team of adults, part of the nonprofit group MANAV SADHNA, which is based at Gandhi Ashram in Ahmedabad, in the west Indian State of Gujarat, founded and operated a program directed towards helping youth, EARN N LEARN. One of the members of the team, Vandana Didi, has dedicated her life towards serving at Manav Sadhna, the parent organization for Earn N Learn. Vandana had the good fortune to meet Mother Teresa when she was very young. She has a Bachelors Degree in Architecture from SPA, which she utilizes in design work with the youngsters served by Earn N Learn.

The features of Earn N Learn are adapted to the needs and life circumstances of the youth it helps. More than 50 boys and girls ages 12 to 16 participate in the program in Ahmedabad. The mornings are spent in a school program, then there are chores to be done. The children then spend the rest of the day at the Gandhi Ashram. There they eat, participate in a tutoring program, and then have fun time with each other involving arts and crafts, joking around, and working together. The youth even have field trips and enjoy camping and hiking in the forest. The children receive support from international volunteers and some have even learned English.

The part of Earn N Learn adapted to the children's need for income involves creating goods that can be sold. That's what they do in arts and crafts activities. Many of the products are made from paper; such items as cards, bookmarks, photo frames, gift bags, jewelry, etc., are made and then sold for income. The work is nothing like what the children would experience in exploitive child labor, since it occurs for a limited period each day, involves the creative process, and allows the children to interact with each other while making the products. The children in Earn N Learn have a varied day and also receive a valuable education that can help them move out of the life of poverty with which they are so familiar.

Earn N Learn youth planting a tree seedling.

Vendana Didi discusses her work with the children, "I love to encourage women and children to live with dignity. I try to use my skills and creativity to bring smiles into the lives of others The children have taught me how to be happy in any circumstance, how to live in the present moment, and how to enjoy my work." Earn N Learn has been in existence for twenty years. Recently the program expanded to include 20 girls, also ages 12 to 16, who meet at Rudra Women's Center, instead of the ashram.