Student Stories

INSTITUTE OF GLOBAL EDUCATION
DR. RICHARD SCHNEIDER. CEO
NEWSLETTER FEBRUARY 2011

Dear Supporters, Friends and Interested Parties:

We are already nearing the end of February. Our students are busy taking internal exams and preparing for the big external (final) exams beginning in less than a month. The schedules have been revised due to the bandhs (strikes) in the state over statehood separation issues. The students have experienced many disruptions in schedules, and even graduation delays due to these bandhs.

David and Unagesh will receive the Master of Business Administration (MBA) this year. Dilip (Jacob) will receive his Master of Computer Application. Veeranagulu will receive his Master of Engineering in Advanced Manufacturing Design. Prem will complete Chartered Accountant which is equivalent to Certified Public Accountant. Venu will complete his Bachelor of Commerce in Computers. Ravi is on his way to Mumbai for a six month specialized course while completing his first year degree.

These are all remarkable achievements and great success stories for both the students and for IGE. It seems more difficult to keep interest and funding for these wonderful and successful students than it was when they were ten year olds in MGS. We never anticipated that these young people would go so far but realize that their further education was essential to assure that they overcame the social and economic barriers to their futures. They have succeeded. We have succeeded. Some recent graduates are already beginning to pay back to the Scholarship Fund and these graduates will soon be doing the same.

The rest of our students are doing very well. It was a joy to see them all together for our annual get together. Our youngest student, Gopi, graduates from Tenth Level with honours in a month, and will go on to the Intermediate Level (the equivalent of Junior College). He wants to be an optometrist. Several of the Master level graduates have joined together and completed all the legal work to create their own Granny’s Welfare Association to extend and support the work of IGE. We are seeing and experiencing the fruits of your years and years of love and support. It was a happy and deeply meaningful milestone to have David beside me as an equal doing half of our joint workshop on Embracing Peace Education at the Consortium in Shillong.

The students still need your financial support and your love and caring. We ask that you continue to walk beside them and IGE as we trek into the future together to assure the success of those who are still to fulfill their dreams and ours.

If you are in Canada please send your donations to:
Chair, IGE, PO Box 2385, Salmon Arm, BC, VIE4R3.

In the USA and Europe send your donations to:
3402 Cypress Lane, Athens AL 35613 USA.

You can also donate online using PayPal.

Please send your comments, opinions and suggestions to me at:
1706 N. Schofield, Portland OR 97217 USA.

I will be traveling the next few months and will return to India late summer. Let me hear from you.

Richard, aka Grandpa

[This post was written by Ravi]

I am Ravi Lal. I was born in a small village near the hills. The name of the village is Putanithanda. My mother’s name is Premela and my father’s name is Lakutathi. I have a brother who is two years older than me. I was born on the 9th of July 1993.

Until I was  seven years old I did not know how the world was. The village where I live is a very poor village. I started my education in my village in a very small Telugu medium school. At that time my uncle was working for a school in Mucherla. He asked my parents to send me to this school where he had been working for three years. So my parents were interested in sending me to the English medium school. But I did not want to go there since I would miss them. At that time I was only seven years old. At last I changed my opinion and I wanted to learn English. This school was in Mucherla which was 10 kilometers from my village. My father took me to this school to admit me.

The first time I went to the School there was a Indian man named  Rees who did not want me to study there because I was a tribal boy and very low caste. He did not give me admission. I was very disappointed. My Father took me to that school again.This time there was a white women standing at the gate of school and greeting the students in the morning. The first time I saw her I was little scared since I had not seen white people before. This very good lady took me to her office and talked to me for a very long time. I did not understand what she was saying. After talking to me she took me to a class room and said this is where you belong. I was very happy.

She looked into my eyes and said you will do very well. I thought this is a very good lady and she would give me wonderful life. At that time I  spoke only  my tribal language, Lambadi, and not even Telugu, the language which the people at Mucherla  spoke. Granny gave me a chance to study in that school. I was very happy and  at the same time I was sad that I would  miss my parents and my brother who is older than me. All the students at the school called this white lady “Granny”. I called her Granny that day for the first time.

The next day I joined the school and Granny left for the U.S.A. We did not know it at the time but a very sad and bad thing happened after she left. Granny was not going to come to Mucherla again. At that I did not  know Granny very well but after I knew that she would not be back  the news made me cry. We were told Granny had died in Costa Rica on January 3, 2000 . I knew that I lost an important person in my life. I was not lucky  enough to spend more time with Granny. At that time my Uncle was still working for that school and he helped me to learn Telugu.

A few months later a white man from America arrived in India .  At that time I was not scared of the white people. I came to know that he was Granny’s husband. All the students called this white man Grandpa.

Grandpa lived in a house near the school. He was living alone in the house.There were three boys living there with him after a few days. So I was interested in living with him because it was 10 kilometers from my village to the school. I thought it would be very nice to live with him. So after few months he asked me to live with him. I was very happy to live with Grandpa.. I learned lot of things from him.

He provided me a very good life. He gave me  things which I could not get or even know about. Once Grandpa gave me 10 rupees for a haircut. At that time I was 9 years old and I loved candies. So I thought “Why could not I do the haircut myself and buy the candies with the money Grandpa gave me”?  So I cut my own  hair with a knife and bought the candies with the money Grandpa gave me. I thought that I was smart and I could save the money and buy candies with the money which Grandpa gave every time for a haircut. But I was disappointed that the haircut did not come out good. Every one asked me why my hair on my head was strange. So I had to tell them what I did. Grandpa asked what I did with the money he gave me. I had to tell him the whole story. I had very good years from then on.

Uncle Ray came to visit our school from Canada . He took my picture that was later in a book that Uncle Ray published. I had a nice talk with him. I was scared at first but he was nice to me and I immediately liked him. I could feel his caring for us.

The school Principal and Grandpa had disagreements and Principal expelled me from the school. Grandpa went back to U.S.A. I was very worried about the things going on at the school. By this time I loved Grandpa very much. I was very worried that I would not see Grandpa again. I was afraid that I would not study. At that time I completed my 5th Class and I needed to go to 6th Class. Grandpa, like a God, came to India and he put  me in a private school in Vijayawada . I started my school life again. I stayed in the hostel for two years. This year I am living with Grandpa in his apartment. I love staying with him. Both of us like going shopping together.

We have our dinner together. When he goes back to U.S.A. I miss him very much. When I find Grandpa online Yahoo messenger I feel very happy and we both chat for a long time. I am very happy to be his Grandson. My parents also know how much I love Grandpa. They also like this. Grandpa and I visit my village and my parents from time to time.

I really thank Granny for giving me this nice opportunity to study. I also thank Granny for giving me this wonderful Grandpa. I thank all the people who are helping Grandpa for our education.There are 24 students along with me and Grandpa takes care of all us. He works very hard to raise funds. In about 6 years from now I will take care of Grandpa as he is taking care of me. I am 14 years old now. I thank you all for helping me and my brother.

[Ravi graduated from Tenth Level in April 2008. He and Grandpa are working on the next step in his life adventure]