Off beat off beat

skills that are taught may someday be their only means of

Dream a Little Dream

livelihood, and this enables them to make a concentrated
effort to master them. All classes from K.G to class 10 are
trained in candle making, tailoring, confectionary, carpen-
try, hairdressing, paper making, bead and bag work among
other things. D’ Souza hopes to introduce more skills in the
near future, keeping a firm eye on the growing and changing
trends and needs of the time.
But Brother D’ Souza doesn’t stop there. He believes
in, “No freebies. If I teach them this today, I’m teaching
them that for life”.
So, the children are also taught to sell the products they
make. Once an week in a colourful van, gaily painted with
bright blue, red and yellow with a logo that is similar to that
of Superman but in place of ‘S’ is a ‘P’, the children go out
into town with a teacher and put their trading skills to the
test.
Apart from the food products like cakes, spring rolls,
pizza, etc., they also sell things like bags, candles and neck-
laces. Brother D’ Souza hopes that before long the students
will be able to not only use the van, but also manage to pay
for its maintenance.
“Term it as- ‘Education for self sufficiency’. I must be
able to communicate, must be able to calculate, I must be
up to date with the rest of the market, must have the skills”,
he says.
However, in spite of all efforts by D’ Souza, the teach-
ers and the students themselves, it is disheartening to be in-
Little footsteps, laughter and warm smiles… are what When it first started off, the staff consisted only formed that the drop out rate is very high. D’ Souza explains,
you are greeted with when you enter Providence. of volunteers. Realizing that Providence would not “When you are poor, and your mother has a baby, your first
‘Freedom in the midst of discipline’, best describes the be able to run on volunteers, (because students would job is to look after the baby; it’s not to come to school”.
atmosphere of the School. Energy, eagerness to learn have a different teacher everyday or at the most 3 Sometimes they do return after 6 months or so. But with
and innocence emanates from the students there. weeks) a few permanent staff members were em- some classes having up to 40 students this poses a problem
In 2000, Brother D’ Souza found himself won- ployed. for the teachers because they not only have to teach them all
dering, why there weren’t any arrangements made With only 5 students admitted in its first year, over again, but at the same time manage and carry on with
for educating the poor; if provisions were made for there are today, 210 students in all. the rest of the students.
orphans, rehabilitation centres for different addic- Aware of the needs and backgrounds of the chil- Most of the children who are admitted into the school
tions, homes provided for the aged, schools for the dren this school provides a unique approach to educa- come from families that are living a hand- to- mouth exis-
differently-abled, etc. This tion. The children receive, tence; some come from broken families and most share their
disparity led him to start not only academic train- one bedroom homes with their parents and three to four sib-
Providence, a school that ing but are also trained in lings.
provides free education for various vocational skills. Providence, situated just adjacent to St. Edmund’s
marginalized children. This helps the children to School is “a constant reminder that it is not only the rich
Providence has a mix develop their talents and kids who have the right to education”, D’ Souza adds.
of students from different interests. This is why, even though they prefer to admit students at
cultural and religious back- “When you are 10 a younger age, it is difficult to follow up on their progress
grounds and even ages. years old, how does your later. At present, there is a 16 year old who is in K.G. In such
“I think the only per- mother know which (trade) cases, Brother feels that their age has to be kept in mind and
son who has a hand in is the best for you”, is how respected.
the growth of Providence D’ Souza reasons for teach- The first batch appeared the NIOS last year. For D’ Sou-
would be God”, says ing them numerous trades. za, the purpose for NIOS is motivating the students to stay
Brother D’ Souza. The children know that the in school. “Some students are not capable of appearing for
the exam, but the certificate is important to them and their