This blog got triggered by a conversation I had with a recent returnee from the US, who upon joining promptly wanted to know ”when does the giving campaign start and end in India”. I was taken aback by his question, which prompted some self-evaluation and introspection as to “Hmm.. How come we don’t have an annual giving campaign in India (in the society)” followed by “Do we really need one”.
Yes, do we really need a giving campaign in India? This question needs serious thought and self-evaluation in all of us.
First question I pondered was why does the USA which has an extensive Social security program need a giving campaign? The answer is in alignment with the overall expectations of the American Society, which is to enjoy rights without responsibilities… Children have a right to parentage, but not the responsibility to take care of their parents in time of need. In India, even lower middle class families are anchored by elders, no matter the bitterness of life in general, they do get taken care of often under tremendous financial and emotional burden by the working class. So typically, the working class in India takes of the generation above and the one below. If these were systemic then why else would you need a giving campaign?
With the IT industry, and wannabe IT folks, mushrooming it is now very fashionable for corporate employees to go through a guilt trip of “Ok what do I have to do for the poor?” It will invariably lead to discovery that children aren’t being educated enough or right. Followed by a determination or resolution that “I want to change the system”. Well, don’t hold your breath. Usually, such initiatives end up with the following:
1. A day with colleagues, to meet with the children (who can barely read even at grade 6) to inspire them about the opportunities in the industry.
2. A day to paint their classroom.
3. Collect old clothes, supplies etc. distribute them
4. This one is the icing on the cake. “A mobile library, full of books” which will go to school periodically so that the children can learn. Trust me this is the most useless of things you could do. These children can barely read their text books, let along sparking their curiosity with more complex books in English language !!
Sadly, such initiatives are mistaken for worthwhile efforts and worse, people even gain mindshare for this. I have few tips for the so called charitable folks.
a. Identify teachers who spark curiosity in the minds of the people, pay them extra money to teach these children in a school.
b. Ensure that you pay people to follow-up with these children after school, to ensure that they study.
c. Get them to understand the concepts in their native tongue, work in parallel in educating them about English as a language or a tool for communication. Once they begin to think then transliteration is easy.
Most of the so called charitable schools, particularly those that are started with a conversion agenda, give an illusion of education but leave the students just as ill equipped to grab the opportunities as they were on the day joined the school.
In this topic, hats off to my wife, who has gathered around twenty children and has been patiently working with them for 5+ years now, getting them to understand the subjects and English as a language. Some of the kids have done really well. So much so, that he conversion factory immediately grants them a “double promotion” and sets them for a grand failure… Well, our society has its own way of punishing those that do well too…
So my appeal is,
a. Don’t get into this so called “charitable initiatives” just as a check mark that your kids need in terms of social service for their admission to schools in the USA
b. Don’t organize needless interaction with students to inspire them.
c. Trust me -- by painting their classrooms they will not gain any knowledge. If you can, teach them, make learning subjects simpler for them. Explain things in their own language.
d. Educate them about the opportunities in higher education/employment through several government initiatives/reservation. Equip them to leverage them, so that they are setup for success in life.
e. Charity is not a photo-op, nothing could be more insulting for these children…
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