Syllabuses,  Files,  and  Rounders  

An  Amazing  Month  for  the  Education  Team       To   provide   educational   opportunities   to   children,   especially   primary   school  aged   children,   and   to   support   the   development   and   utilization   of   critical  educational  infrastructure  (MDG  2)       This   last   month,   we   have   successfully   developed   both   a   syllabus   and   file  system  for   the   two  schools  we  partner  with   for  our  education  program.  This  will  allow  us  to  properly  track  and  assess  the  English  development  of  the  students  that  we  work  with,  as  well  as  provide  much  needed  support  in  paperwork  management  and  systems  development  support  in  the  schools.         Here   in   India  the  education  program  has  been  rolling  right  along  with  teaching  as   usual.   The   small   group   of   dedicated   volunteers   has   done   an   amazing   job   at  continuing  to  provide  quality  English  lessons  to  over  100  students.  At  the  same  time,  we   have   been  working  with   our   partners   to  move   towards   improving   the   student  data  collection  and  storage  by  introducing  the  use  of  student  files.  The  school  is  keen  to  develop  their  systems  and  work  alongside  our  team  to  help  track  the  progress  of  

their   students,   and  this   will   be   assisted  with   the   help   of   our  newly   developed   files  and   syllabus.   Due   to  several   holidays   this  last   month,   the  education   team   has  been   able   to   spend  some   extra   time  working  at  the  base  to  research   and   develop  not   just   the   much  needed   files,   but   also  syllabuses.   The   newly  

completed  files  will  be  implemented  at  the  schools  in  order  for  the  teachers  to  have  a  quick  reference  and  progress  report  on  the  children.  The  teachers  will  also  be  able  to  see  the  development  of  the  children’s  English  lessons  with  GVI  in  reflection  to  the  syllabus   as  well   as   be   able   to   use   the   same   type  of   system   to   individually   see   the  development  of   the  students   in   their  other  classes.  These  tools  will  also  be  helpful  for   the   future  volunteers   to  be  able   to   smoothly  pick  up   from  where  each  group   -­‐  and   child   –   got   to   with   the   last   volunteer.   Our   ultimate   goal   with   these   files   and  syllabuses   is   to   ensure   the   constant   development   of   each   child,   and   allow   for   the  

ability  to  individually  assess  for  the  gaps  in  their  learning.    The   month   of  October   also  brought   a   buzz  of  activity  to  the  schools  with   the  continuation   of  the   weekly  extracurricular  activities   that  our   volunteers  put   on   for   the  students.   In   St  Louis  school,  the  arts   and   sports  days   continue   -­‐  with   a   highlight  so-­‐far  being  a  “mini-­‐sports  day”  of  several  activities,  including  shot-­‐put,  relay  races,  and   rounders.   The   children   and   volunteers   alike   had   great   fun   participating   in   the  events   -­‐   while   the   students   were   developing   their   listening   ability,   physical  coordination  and  team  building  skill.      The  sports  class  at  Thamaraparambu  school  is  also  continuing  to  develop  under  their  sports  coach  Shiju.  Teaming  up  with  the  volunteers,  Shiju  has  brought  his  expertise  to  Thambu  with  many  football  activates  and  drills.  The  students  are  developing  their  football  skills  as  well  as  learning  to  work  together  as  a  team,  especially  impressive  in  a  group  with  such  varied  age  and  abilities.      With  the  arrival  of  a  larger  group  of  volunteers  and  the  new  systems  to  be  put  fully  in  place,  next  month  promises  to  be  very  productive  and  exciting.