| Tribals
show us a different way of valuing life...!!
On 25th February
2006, our staff set out on a unique journey, one that
has never happened before in Magic Bus - an interaction
of participants of the Voyager project and
22 tribal girls from Peth and Ambivali
- small remote villages near Karjat. The one year Voyager
project would end with this last interaction of voyager
Asha Sadan and Magic Bus. One of the
girls expressed, "though this is the last day we
are not going to be separate. This is a new beginning
for us with what we have learnt from magic bus."
The Magic Bus girls
were very eager to meet the tribal girls. The tribal
girls were all Marathi speaking while some of the MB
girls were not, but making friends was not a problem
at all- truly language proves to be no barrier to make
friends!
The girls exchanged about their days and how they lived
in the city and in the village.
One of the village girls shared, "I am in ninth
standard; I go to school in another village. I get up
early in the morning, do household chores, walk down
the hill for about an hour to the school. On days when
there is no school I work in rice fields throughout
the day." When asked does she finds her lifestyle
difficult she said "it is part of my life I do
not think it as something difficult."
One of the Asha Sadan girls was so inspired by hearing
the above statement, she expressed " I always crib
when I have to sweep the floors of our institution,
I will henceforth love the broom and never mind sweeping
again"
Our children went home with a humbling experience and
a gratitude for their present environment - though less
privileged than most of us!
Thus, it was a different
experience for us and yet so similar - while these children
grew up in an environment so different from their urban
counterparts and yet they all have similar needs - a
need for a space to enjoy their childhood and to discover
themselves.
A reunioun of the
Asha Sadan girls and the Magic bus team was held a few
weeks after the daytrip, this was a ceremony where the
children were awarded certificates for completing the
programme. One of the girls expressed, "Initially
I thought this was the end, but after thinking hard...I
realise...this is just the begining...it is now that
we have to take our lessons out in the world..."
another girl shared "On Magic Bus sessions we learned
not to litter and throw litter in bins....I was visiting
a freind in the hospital and there was an elderly couple
visiting another patient...they littered on the floor,
seeing this I was not able to contain myself and I requested
them to throw the litter in the bin...they started arguing,
but another man next to us supported me and finally
I picked up the litter and threw it in the bin....it
felt very nice to do a good act and above all be supported
for it!"
Tribals Rappell down their mountain!!
On 10th March 2006
Magic bus ventured once again to Peth - this time to
interact with 103 children from three villages around
Peth! The day was planned for only 80 children but many
more came as they were eager to know about MB. So we
took all of them with us. Mb staff took rapport building
activities like MB songs and games which the children
enjoyed a lot. The main activity was to do rappelling
with the children. The children enjoyed this activity.
There were some children who were scared initially but
most did it with support from MB staff.
It was remarkable
to see the participation of young girls. There was a
girl called Maya who must be around
11-12 years of age. She was very hesitant initially;
her friend (another girl) was hesitant too. But after
a while the friend agreed to do rappelling, seeing her
Maya agreed too. When she actually went to do rappelling
she was a bit scared. She was stuck at a place for a
very long time, but she did not give up. The MB team
were encouraging her constantly. Slowly she understood
the technique and completed the descent. She was very
happy and had a broad smile afterwards. When asked how
she felt she replied "I was scared initially but
I feel very good now."
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