The past
two weeks at Hosahalli Resource Centre have been enlightening to say the least.
The Centre is made up of two schools: Viveka Tribal Centre for Learning (VTCL),
which is the primary and high school for tribal children between the ages of
five and fifteen, and the Vivekananda Teacher Training Resource Centre (VTTRC),
which is a two year college program for future elementary school teachers.
So
far I have been gathering pictures and information about both schools to update
the VTTRC website and create a website for VTCL. During our free time, we
interact with the teachers and students and try to push past the limits of our
language barriers. The teachers are eager to learn about and compare the
American educational system to their own, while the students are curious about
our everyday lives, as well as taking as many pictures on our cameras as
possible. We have already learned a lot from each other, even through simple
exchanges of Kannada or English phrases.
As friendly and welcoming the
environment is it has its challenges as well. It is little hard for me to work
on a website with no web design background or connectivity to the Internet. I
have to force myself to think outside the box, and use the information and
resources I have wisely. This is much more easily said than done. Yet with such
friendly and appreciative mentors who stress the importance of enjoying our
work, it is hard not to do the best job possible. I have already learned much
more during my stay in India than I have contributed. This is motivating me to
provide the best services I can, regardless of my web development skills, in
return for such a welcoming and informative atmosphere.
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At the
Backwaters of the Kabini River Reservoir near the Hosahalli Resource Centre
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| With some of the VTCL students |
