PROJECT WHAT? (has happened)

Sadly Emily and I are coming to the end of our second visit at Project Why in Delhi, India. Things have noticeably changed in the two years since we have been away, and its all good.

We first noticed the difference in the special needs class. Particularly in Muna. He was always a joy but he is now on a whole different level!  His level of communication has improved and his ability to learn and retain new things is finely reflected in his captivating recital of 10 little monkeys.  We brought with us some books that have CDs that go with them and these have gone down a treat with Shamika's class.  They have moved from the basement room to a third floor flat and everyone seems to be thriving up there.  We think it must be the only special needs class in the world to be up so many flights of stairs! The staff are bursting with energy and firing up the kids.  It's a delight!

The Women's Centre just seemed to have more people and all of them are doing great work. In a recent project the kids reflected on their feelings about Project Why.  Some spoke about it being a home and the fellow pupils and staff as a family, they love that they have clean toilets and access to safe drinking water.  Project Why is a passionate  advocate that ensures the local kids get access to proper government funded education.  After hearing horror stories from the Project Why kids of how their schools were not providing even the basics (like toilets) along with descriptions about verbal and repeated physical abuse on the children - Project Why took action!  As a result the schools were taken to court and the ruling is now having a positive effect on many government schools in Delhi as they are being forced to make improvements.  

We have just finished our first day at the Okhla centre. We are so pleased to see the pale blue and candy pink building we loved so much on our last visit but to be very honest we were not looking forward to the fact that it didn't have a toilet.  Last time we braved the slum communal toilet facilities but it definitely wasn't a kodak moment. But hey what you know - they have built their own little piece of toilet cubical heaven!  In addition they now have two wonderful air coolers and a set of fine plastic plates for lunch that would look great in a Peter Jones hamper!  What a makeover!  Also there has been a few staff changes and the team is clearly focused, with a mission to teach and smile while doing it.

At all the centres the kids' English has really improved and that goes for the teachers too!

We will bring this blog to a close answering a question we get asked a lot. Do the kids remember us from last time? The answer is yes. Some remember the bubbles some remember the games others remember Alan's beard.  Project Why makes a massive impact on the kids it serves.  They make countless happy memories here.  They feel safe and are enjoying learning. 

How many of us went on to pursue a certain something because a teacher, who we loved, once ignited a spark in us?  We hope that all the staff at Project Why know that the work they do every single day makes a difference.  Sometimes when you are busy it is easy to forget what a positive impact you make and what an amazing thing you are part of.

To all the staff at the project - Anou and her family, Rani, the teachers, cooks, transportation guys, those who keep the place looking lovely ... there are so many local people that are part of this project - they are all wonderful!