Articles from Alumni Newsletter December 1998

POCT Scholars
Pestalozzi Foundations
Asian Reunion, 1999
POCT scholars and capital projects
POCT Fundraising
Alumni Reunions
News from alumni
Pestalozzi Village News
POCT staff news

The Pestalozzi Overseas Children's Trust sponsors the following numbers of bright but needy children for education at good schools in their own countries

India - 16 children

Nepal - 62 children

Thailand - 56 children

Tibetans in India - 50 children

Zambia - 46 children

Zimbabwe - 48 children

THE FOUNDATIONS

The Pestalozzi graduates' Foundations sponsor the following numbers of children for education in their own countries The India Foundation - 12 children The Thai Foundation For Further Education - 50 children The Tibetan Children's Education Fund - 2 children The Vietnamese Foundation - 4 children

The India Foundation also looks after the eleven POCT children studying in Maharashtra. The Foundation plans to expand the number of children it supports in 1999. There are also plans for a Vocational Centre at Gurukul School in Maharashtra.

The Thai Foundation For Further Education also looks after the 50 POCT scholars studying in schools throughout Thailand.

The Tibetan Children's Education Fund was established in June 1998 and plans to expand in 1999.

The Vietnamese Foundation was registered in January 1997 and plans to expand by two more children yearly.

There are plans to establish a Nepalese Foundation in the near future.

THE ASIAN REUNION, 1999

The Asian Reunion will be held at the Pestalozzi Children's Village in England between the 23rd and the 30th of May, 1999. It is hoped that as many of the Asian alumni as possible will be able to attend. Please contact Joanna Nair in New Delhi or Valerie Deacon in London if you require further information.

THE POCT SCHOLARS AND CAPITAL PROJECTS

The Budhanilkantha School Project, Kathmandu, Nepal

The Pestalozzi Skill's Centre at Budhanikantha School, where there are thirty POCT scholars, was set up in November 1996 and is currently an Agricultural Centre. Most of the children in the school are now actively involved with the Centre. They work on all the stages of the growing and the selling of the produce, which includes rice, carrots, squash, cabbages, tomatoes, strawberries, radishes, mushrooms, ornamental plants and flowers. Bees are also kept and honey is produced. All profits made are ploughed back into the Centre. There is also a Micro-hydro unit for demonstration purposes.

The children in the school come from all areas of Nepal, including very remote districts and they return to their villages and, in some cases, they have already helped to encourage vegetable production and micro-hydro projects there.

There are plans to develop the centre to include facilities to learn the skills of welding, electricity, carpentry, sewing and cooking.

The Girls' Hostel, which is partly funded by the POCT, is now half built and will be completed in time for the new academic year in June 1999. It will house 125 girls.

The Doti Project, Nepal

The sixteen girls sponsored by the POCT are the first to board in the area and five of the eight POCT sponsored boys are the first lower caste children to be allowed to stay in the hostel accommodation.

Thanks to the POCT, the Hostels for boys and girls are now self sufficient in vegetable production. Trainings in sewing and knitting are given at the girls' Hostel. An orchard has also been established.

Tibetan Children's Village, Dharamsala, India

The POCT funded Hostel at the Tibetan Children's Village, near Dharamsala, where there are 50 POCT scholars, has been completed. It accommodates twenty-five children.

The Kasisi Project, Lusaka, Zambia

Maurice Murphy has single-handedly managed the building of a Hostel (or Centre) for forty girls at Kasisi Basic School, Lusaka, which includes a Skills Centre to be used mostly by POCT scholars but also by the day children in the school. The second half of the Centre, to accommodate another forty girls, will be ready in January 1999. Further to this, a Centre for forty boys is being considered.

The Centre consists of ten dormitories and is built in a courtyard design surrounded by gardens. One dormitory contains eight to ten girls aged twelve to eighteen years. The ages of the girls are mixed so that the older girls can look after the younger ones. A Matron, who has been selected by the POCT, will look after the girls and run the Centre.

The scholars are selected by school teachers and missionaries. The children are tested and given a medical examination. Thirty two girls were selected in September 1998 and began living at the Centre and studying at the school immediately. Further girls will be selected to begin in January 1999, bringing the Centre up to its full capacity of eighty.

The Department of Education has been very supportive of the project, which also includes upgrading the school of 800 pupils. A new Headmistress has been appointed to this end.

Maurice Murphy's report on the project follows
19 / 11 / 98
'We are incredibly busy at Kasisi, the rains have not yet started, although the clouds come up each day. Besides pressing on with the building work which is nearly all finished now, we are busy to get the fields ready for planting as soon as the rain falls.

'We have about a hectare and a half to plant so it is a lot to do with thirty girls. I have been in touch with the Conservation Farming Unit of the Zambian NFU, and we are using sustainable planting techniques recommended by them.

'We also have two gardens, one on each side of the Children's Centre, I am now marking these out, and building in drainage and deep growing beds for fairly intensive cropping of vegetables. Although we plan to have chickens, it looks as though we will have to wait to put up the buildings for them.

'At present we have thirty two girls resident at the Children's Centre, (we are using that title rather than Hostel, which has a negative connotation here). They come from three separate Provinces and tribal backgrounds. They are Nyangas, Bembas and Tumbukas, all three with a separate language. However there are many shared words and they are learning from each other what they don't know. English is the official language of Zambia, but many people have only limited ability.

'The girls are at present sharing eight to a large bedroom, but this will increase to ten once we are up to the full capacity of eighty.

'We have two workshops, one 'hard' for wood, metal, pottery etc. and one 'soft' for sewing, dyeing, batik, papermaking etc. These are not fitted out yet, but we have already made a start on a Skills Training Programme. Batik is especially popular. I pick up a local man and take him to Kasisi to teach the girls, simple and cheap training.'

POCT FUNDRAISING

Ladybird Clubs U.K. These have been set up by Valerie Deacon in one hundred schools in Britain and involve fifty thousand children. The primary school children involved learn about the work of the POCT and related issues Meanwhile, children pay for membership into the Club, thus raising funds for Pestalozzi

The London Marathon, 1999 People will run in the London Marathon and raise funds for the POCT.

The Pestalozzi US Children's Charity Inc. The US Pestalozzi Foundation has now been set up, for which a very successful reception was held in October.

FURTHER REUNION NEWS

REUNION 2000
Jiradet Kasemsuk has kindly offered to host The Reunion in the year 2000 at Chiangmai University in the North of Thailand.

REUNION 1998
Our thanks go to Ghanashyam Ranjitkar, who hosted the 1998 Reunion which took place in Pokhara, Nepal on the 18th and 19th of September. Nineteen attended the Reunion, including fourteen alumni and five guests.

The Reunion, which was very successful, included a full day's meeting and a day of sightseeing in and around Pokhara. The following is an extract from Janwipa Chongnoncee's enjoyable description of the Reunion weekend.

'...We started off [for Pokhara from Kathmandu] at around 10am for the road that was so winding, going uphill and downhill (more of going downhill). When we looked out the window we could see that the road ahead of us was far down below through another level of the mountain. For the two and a half hours we only drove fifty kilometres, so you can imagine how steep and winding the road was… We arrived at the 'Little Tibetan Guest House' (which belongs to Phuntsok's sister) in Pokhara in the evening with Ghanashyam and his beautiful wife, Anjana, waiting for us. It took about eight hours to travel from Kathmandu to Pokhara.) Phuntsok also introduced us to his lovely wife and his sister who is the owner of the restaurant and hotel...

'...The following day…we all got up at 5.00 to go on the roof to take pictures of the Himalaya mountains but unfortunately there was so much cloud that we were unable to see them. After breakfast, Ghanashyam took us to see the cave and the underground waterfall...

'...Then Phuntsok took us to visit the Tibetan SOS Village in Pokhara. [The project he was working on previous to his current project at the SOS Technical School near Dehra Dun.] It was a homely place where children were staying in different houses with housemothers looking after them (reminded us of the time when we were living in the Village). They had classrooms for computer lessons and typewriters for typing lessons as well as a mini-training centre for welding. The Director of the SOS Village took us around the campus, then he was so kind to arrange tea for us outside in the garden in the warmth of the sun. We went back to the hotel for lunch. Then Ghanashyam took us to see this beautiful lake about one-hour drive from the hotel. And we hired boats to take us around the lake. It was a moment of tranquillity. We were in the middle of this peaceful lake surrounded by only mountains and green trees with nothing else but fresh air, no pollution, no noise. The water was so clear and still, not even one piece of litter floating around. It was just as though we were living in another world, cut off from all chaos surrounding our life. It was the only moment we could get so close to living nature...Thank you our dear Ghanashyam for introducing this lake to us despite we had a leaking boat and our poor dear Jiradet had to keep taking the water out with a plastic cup already provided for us in the boat!

'...Ghanashyam told us that for dinner tonight he would take us to a well known restaurant nearby. While waiting to go out for dinner, Phuntsok's wife and sister let us try the 'hot' Tibetan beer which was brewed by special millet seeds in a large bamboo container with a bamboo straw to drink from. It was brewed in hot water and smelled really nice and tasted 'hot'. Then Ghanashyam took us to Boomerang Restaurant for a lovely Indian meal. We had a lot of singing especially from Jiradet, Dilip, Phuntsok and Utai. Manjiri also sang us lovely Indian songs and she has a beautiful voice (she must have inherited it from her father). We stayed up late and everyone was exhausted from the whole day trip.

'Next day was the day dedicated for the all day Conference. Ghanashyam had arranged for the Meeting at the Stupa Hotel, we only had to walk a little further down the road. We met Sir Richard and Lady Butler and Major Rai there.. The Conference room was on the fourth floor, on top of the roof and we had to walk upstairs with the spiral staircase on the last floor. We were on top of the roof with beautiful scenery of the town below us and the picturesque lake and mountain right behind. The Meeting went on well with pleasant atmosphere surrounding us. The hotel service was so impressive, every time we had a tea break the waiters had to climb up the spiral staircase carrying trays of tea pots and milk pots etc. at the same time...

'...The Meeting finished at five p.m..at seven p.m. we went back to the Stupa Hotel for dinner. This time they had arranged a table for us outside in the garden. There was again a lot of singing ... Sir Richard and Lady Butler had asked us to design the Ladybird logo to be printed on T-shirts and stickers. We ended up having many competitors and designs, all trying to explain their drawings and the meanings behind them. Ghanashyam had made a short but impressive speech to express our appreciation to Sir Richard and Lady Butler for providing us with this opportunity to meet each other again and to know the 'new' faces that we had not met before. When Ghanashyam finished his speech, we all clapped and sang for him...'For he's a jolly good fellow...'

'...By five o'clock in the morning we were woken up by our dear Ghanashyam knocking on everyone's door to make sure we did not oversleep (which would have been most likely, especially for those who had just gone to bed!) Breakfast started early at 6 o'clock and the bus came to pick us up at 7 o'clock for a trip back to Kathmandu...

'..I can't say how much the Reunion means to us, for those who have attended. Even though the actual formal Meeting took place only on one day, the rest of the time meant a great deal to us. It gave us time to stay together, to get to know each other if we had not met before (because there are many generations in Pestalozzi village) and for those who have met to learn what and how they have been doing. During those days we had breakfast, lunch and dinner together, we sang, we danced, we were on the same bus, we went to the same places and joined in the same activities. That is the real meaning of the Reunion for us! If we were to meet for just one day at the formal Meeting and said goodbye when the Meeting was over, it could not have meant so much.

'However, all these events could take place only because of Sir Richard and Lady Butler who had given us the opportunity. We are so grateful and deeply appreciate their thoughtfulness and kindness towards all of us. No words can express the gratitude that we feel for them. Thank you Sir Richard and Lady Butler for all you have done for us and we shall try our best to continue the work in providing better education for the children in our own countries.'

ALUMNI NEWS...ALUMNI NEWS...ALUMNI NEWS

The following news comes from Len Clarke
'I went to Pestalozzi in August 1959, when the Village at Sedlescombe first opened, after growing up in the West end of London. It was an amazing experience as I had not been used to living in such a large group. I thoroughly enjoyed my time at the Village and I have some wonderful memories of the staff who took us through those early days and the children I shared a life with.

'After an education at the local secondary modern school (Claverham) I decided to emigrate to Australia. One of the other children (Graham MacDonald) had already emigrated and 'it seemed like a good idea'! After about 18 months in Australia, I decided to join the Australian army and spent the next fourteen years travelling around Australia and south east Asia. I was fortunate enough to go back to the UK on a few occasions and meet up with 'ex-Pests' and ex staff.

'I settled in Brisbane in 1982 and I now work at the Queensland Art Gallery as a security supervisor. I am married with 2 children - one adult (John), who is also married and lives in Sydney, and a 14 year old (David) who attends a local high school. My wife (Coleen) is studying environmental science at Griffith University, as well as keeping David and I fed and in working order!

'Pestalozzi had a profound effect on my life and I am eternally grateful for the experience. It exposed me to valuable philosophies on children's education and their general upbringing. I hope that my children will benefit from it and also live some of it in their lives.'

Len would like to know what happened to one of the Tibetan children who went to the Village in the early '60s. His name was Chime Tashi and Len 'hosted' him in the early days. If anyone knows where he is, please let POCT know how Len can contact him.

THE INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE

How The Programme Works

In the summer of 1997 the Pestalozzi Children's Village Trust (PCVT) admitted twenty Pestalozzi scholars as the first group to undertake the new International Baccalaureate programme. The first IB programme will run to July 1999. Ten further students were selected and began their course in September 1998. Pestalozzi Scholars return home only for the summer vacation (July/August).

The International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB) course is run and managed by Hastings College of Arts and Technology, with parts of the course being conducted by PCVT teachers and other staff at the Sedlescombe site.

The course is taught in the medium of English. The course focuses on maths/science but Scholars also need to study two languages. Scholars have to take three subjects at an Upper Level and three at a Subsidiary Level.

The course is very demanding and only the most academically able and most mature young people succeed. Selection is therefore very important and rigorous.

The IB Diploma Course runs for two years, after which Scholars will be required, in most cases, to return to their own countries to complete their studies or begin working.

During College holidays and at weekends Pestalozzi Scholars work on the 'Creativity, Action and Service' (CAS) parts of the IB programme, including the work to be done in connection with the Development Education Centre (see below).

1. As part of the IB course Scholars are required to undertake a creative activity which can involve musical, artistic or literary pursuits. Public performance or display of creative work is a feature of this activity.
2. The IB course requires each Scholar to engage in service to the community. This takes a variety of forms. They are involved in local primary schools and day centres and most are members of the local Rotaract Club (the junior Rotary Club).
3. The third 'leg' of the non-academic part of the IB is action which can involve activities such as sport, dancing, singing, chess.

Selection

First consideration is given to young people already being sponsored by the Pestalozzi Overseas Children's Trust (POCT) with the appropriate academic standard and of the right age. In the initial years it may not be possible to select Pestalozzi IB Scholars from the group of children sponsored in-country by the POCT. In this case Scholars will be selected from those sponsored by, or known to, other international NGOs and recommended to PCVT.

The Scholars are chosen for their all-round academic ability, for their leadership qualities and for their interest in helping their countries through sustainable development or as teachers. Selection of Pestalozzi Scholars is based on a student's academic record over the previous five years and recommendation from the pupil's school. These qualities are also judged by those nominated by the Trust to interview prospective Scholars. Independent testing of candidates also includes English Language tests in reading, writing and listening, a Maths/Science test, an invigilated written essay and a personal interview.

Development Education Centre
In 1997 the Trust set up a Development Education Centre. Pestalozzi Scholars are involved in promoting the Centre with its focus on inter-cultural understanding and awareness of crucial matters such as sustainable development, conservation and appropriate technology. Workshops are run for supporters and the general public on subjects as diverse as Birds and Badgers, Straw Bale Building, Recycling and the Himalayas in a Day. INSET days for teachers are also arranged covering topics such as 'A Global Approach to Teaching'

(Thanks to Val Winslade of PCVT for the information in this report)

POCT STAFF NEWS

Valerie Deacon has been the London Office Administrator since July 1997

Maurice Murphy has been on the Kasisi Basic School Project in Zambia since the summer of 1997 where he is overseeing a POCT capital project

Joanna Nair has been the Regional Co-ordinator for Asia since August 1997 and lives in New Delhi