A Ray Of Hope

Great minds think alike. This saying must be true because just now as I was signing on to begin this post, I noticed that Mr. Smith had left a comment on my last post mentioning the very subject I plan to write about. Is he good or what?

The large white building in this picture is the dairy. See the little blue topped shack to the left? That is the house of the family on the corner that I mentioned in the last post. My purpose for showing this picture, though, is to let you see the vacant lot across the street. This is how it has looked for the last year. Every once in a while the garbage would pile up and have to be removed, but for the most part this is how it has looked. Don't think it was going to waste though, oh no. It was a very handy public bathroom for all of the construction workers next door. Recently, however, a woman in our neighborhood has decided that she could put it to better use. With the permission of the Indian equivalent of the Home Owners Association and the financial support of those in the neighborhood, she has taken over this piece of land to make a school. For now they are only meeting after school to help those who have nowhere to go after school or those who need help with their homework. After all, if your parents can't read, they aren't going to be much help on your homework. When the buildings are completed they will meet all day for those who aren't even in the free public schools.

As you can see, the buildings are humble. They are also very inexpensive, and fast and easy to erect. Apparently not fast enough though. As of this afternoon they have 46 children enrolled and are meeting in the park across the street until the buildings are done! I love this woman and what she is doing for the kids in our small corner of India. I am looking forward to helping in any way she sees fit. I also plan on involving the Smith kids, because seriously, can you think of a better learning experience for them?

P.S. On a totally unrelated topic, check out Merinda's comment about TP on "A Taste Of The Everyday". It's good to get a new perspective on these things.