To Teach and be Taught, My Adventures in the Chander Abha Memorial School for Blind Children,Kullu. Episode 4

We finally have a full house again at the school and hostel. Unfortunately some of the students who live in quite remote places were delayed by up to three weeks due to bad road conditions and landslides caused by severe rain. The heavy monsoons have eased now though and all are back safe.


Chess Demonstration at the Red Cross Event

The great news here at school is that the school has employed a new computer teacher. Also some of the teachers working hours have been adjusted so that some start later in the day. This means that the senior section students now have three teachers as opposed to one. It takes a huge amount of pressure off the one teacher and is obviously a huge benefit to the students.


Hand Painting

We have also initiated a new programme for two of the Prep class students. There are two girls aged seventeen and eighteen who sit in Prep class with the other children of six, seven and eight years. They have severe learning disabilities and have been brought up with no education so the teachers have no option but to put them into the Prep class. But it is a difficult position for the girls as they are aware of the huge age gap and are sometimes very uncooperative. So now we have them upstairs in the kitchen before and after lunch. They will learn how to prepare food and maintain a kitchen and basic household chores. So far it seems to be a success and it is incredible the difference in their behaviour when working upstairs. It is not expected that they will complete


Cultural Exchange- learning a new African song

We have three volunteers organizing activities on Sundays for the children. They have come from Germany and Kenya and are associated with the Kullu Project, an NGO set up a few years ago by a man from Wales and a man from Kullu. It is fantastic for the children to have a few hours of fun activities on Sundays. They have nothing but themselves after school hours to amuse each other which, inevitably leads to a bit of mischief sometimes. And the kids are always enthusiastic to learn new songs in any language.


Home Science Class - making Pakoda, a tasty local dish

The school recently attended a huge Red Cross fundraising event in a local park. It was held over three days and all schools in the area participated by setting up stalls and selling various local foods and other bits and pieces. Our school set up a stall for one day to demonstrate the teaching techniques used at the Blind School. And again it was obvious to me how important these events are to raise public awareness and hopefully encourage other blind students to attend. Unfortunately the Chief Guest of the function was due to visit the stall but cancelled at the last minute however the students had a visit from a local film star so of course they were delighted and it really made the day for them.


Lunch Time

On Friday I experienced yet another treat that I could not have imagined. It was Teachers Day. A national day of celebrating teachers. The children themselves organized a programme of songs, poems and dancing with tea, samosas and decorations for all to feast on. All teachers were encouraged to play musical chairs which ended in a battle between the two computer teachers. It all ended with all students and teachers dancing around the tiny classroom with three students singing and a few drummers. I might take this idea back to Ireland!


Teacher's Day- Full Enjoyment

I have had great support since the last blog so sincere thanks to all and Ill let you know where everything goes.

And I’m sure you will be glad to know that all the hundreds and thousands of goats and sheep who migrated to the mountains for the summer( via my village ) are still alive and well and making their way back to the valley for winter, so here come the noisy evenings!

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