So...I realized that my last post contained so little actual information that it probably left most of you without much sense of where we were and what we were doing. Well, fear not. This post aims to remedy that.
For the first several weeks of our time in India, we had the privilege of staying and working at Shanti Bhavan Children's Project, a rural boarding school located about 2 hours outside of Bangalore, in the South-Eastern state of Tamil Nadu. Shanti Bhavan, affectionately known on campus as SB, opened in August 1997 as a project of The George Foundation, a non-profit based in Bangalore.
But before you can understand how special Shanti Bhavan is, you must first understand the prevalence of the caste system in India. It is hard to believe that such a hierarchy of inequality still exists today. The Indian Constitution of 1949 banned the caste system, but because it had been enforced as law up until that point, castes remain an ingrained social structure and a source of intense discrimination. The lowest or "Untouchable" caste faces severe restrictions such as menial jobs, social segregation, and extreme poverty.
The children of Shanti Bhavan come from families of this "Untouchable" caste. They are the first in many generations of their caste to receive an education. Students are accepted at age 4, attend SB through their high school graduation, and are then supported through their college years. The school is built on the foundation that every child, regardless of the social status they are born into, deserves a quality education. The students at SB are definitely given that. In addition, they are taught important values and shaped into well-rounded individuals, primed to reach their full potential and break the cycle of poverty.
"Shanti Bhavan" translates from Hindi to "Haven of Peace", and it is just that. Compared to the rest of India - the pollution, the noise, the chaos - SB feels a million miles away. It is truly beyond description. And the students!!!! They are absolutely amazing - funny, smart, talented, lovable, not to mention humble, generous, and totally ready to change the world.
So, what was our part in all this? I'm so glad you asked. :) The first part of our time at SB was spent running an intensive Arts Camp with a team of 8 other ASTEP (Artists Striving To End Poverty) volunteers.
Each day we taught one 90 minute "Concentration Class" for students who expressed specific interest in Musical Theatre and two 60 minute classes for students from other concentrations (Music, Theatre, or Visual Arts). We also taught a 90 minute "Collaboration Class" in different volunteer pairings - I taught a Partnering Dance class with one of the Visual Arts teachers, (who also happened to be one of my Very best friends from college), and Harrison co-taught a Comic-Book creation class.
In addition to classes, we led tons of games and daily "fun activities" which included scavenger hunts, tye-dye-ing, water balloon fights, and even s'mores - a special treat as we had to bring the marshmallows all the way from the U.S.!! We also had a group of students assigned to us as "Journal Buddies". We would get to spend 30 minutes each evening with our buddies, after which they would journal, and we would read and respond to their journal entries each night. This was one of my favorite ways we got to bond with the students.
Overall, we worked with about 120 students, grades 6-12. Some of the graduates of SB come back from college or even take time off from their jobs to participate in camp. I think that says something about how much they love and appreciate their arts education.
Why the arts though? Again, I am SO glad you asked. ASTEP's role at Shanti Bhavan is pivotal. First of all, art, music, and dance is an important part of Indian culture. Exposure to training in these areas from people of different cultures broadens their worldview while simultaneously helping them understand their own cultural identity. But young people gain so much more than arts training from arts education. Obviously, we have had a long-standing belief in the power of the arts, and it was no different at SB. We were able to witness first-hand our students exploring important values like courage, wisdom, and belief, and gaining life skills such as leadership, self-confidence, and creative problem-solving. We watched them develop a skill set which will serve them on and off the stage for the rest of their lives. And last, but certainly not least, it is FUN!! These students are under immense pressure and carry a heavy academic load throughout the year. ASTEP camp is a time for them to let go of that and be silly and spontaneous. The growth that comes out of this is extremely valuable.
Obviously, I could advocate for arts education forever. I hope if you're reading this though, I don't have to work too hard to convince you. :)
Of course, I'm already behind on this blog, but I promise I will keep it coming.
Sending so much LOVE to all!
xoxo,
C&H🍟
Ps. My apologies for my picture-free posts. We don't have a laptop with us and uploading any photos to the blog via iPad has proven difficult. I will keep trying, but no promises!!
Random Fun Fact: the SB students decided that I look like Carol Burnett because of my "HILARIOUS" faces. Haha. Well...technically they said Miss Hannigan, but I will still take it over Kung Fu panda. 🐼
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