The day for the Wings site visit had arrived. Grace and Rupa, the managers of Wings, and the KAP board had been planning for months what we needed to accomplish. The previous day, in preparation for the visit, I purchased fresh fruit as a treat for the girls. This is a luxury that the food budget at Wings could not afford. I made the fruit walla’s day by walking out with 25 lbs of mangos, melons, apples, and grapes. The morning of the site visit I was pacing waiting for the cab to arrive. It was late – no surprise. Would the driver speak English or at least enough Hindi for me to get by? It was Ramadan, the Muslim month of daytime fasting, so if he was Muslim we would plan to get back in time for him to break his fast – all things I don’t have to think about in the US.
My cab arrived. The driver spoke English and yes he needed to get back to break his fast at sunset. The driver saw the feast of fruit to be loaded in the car and asked, “Madame, are you doing social work?” I proudly said, “Yes”. The work I have done for The Kiran Anjali Project is the most rewarding and meaningful social work I have done in my over 25 year history as a social worker. Visiting the school was seeing the results of my labors.
It had been 3 years since my last visit to the school and I was anxious to see how Wings had grown. Seeing the happy, curious faces of the girls who were actively engaged in their education was the ultimate reward. Shortly after I arrived Grace, Rupa and I got down to work. First we completed the checklist of items on the site visit form, including the forms for financial transparency. Next, Rupa and I planned to develop a strategy for Wings to apply for other international grants. Finally, I observed the school in action and heard the multiple stories of how education is transforming lives.
Sheryl with Grace, the director of Wings, and her daughter Rupa who helps manage the school.
I want to share a few highlights from the site visit. The physical property is immaculately clean, especially the kitchen. It is a monumental undertaking to prepare 2 meals a day for all the students. I was also particularly impressed with the meticulous records that Grace and Rupa are keeping about each student. The records include health information from the annual physical exam performed by a local pediatrician, height and weight measurements, attendance, and academic progress. This may not sound like big deal but I have visited many schools in India that serve disadvantaged children that keep no records. Wings keeps a separate log that records information about underperforming students: this makes sure that no one falls through the cracks. Grace and Rupa make a concentrated effort to develop a personal relationship with each student, a key element in how Wings maintains a low absentee rate. When a student is absent they visit the home to find out why she isn’t in school.
Grace’s office in the center of the building is always buzzing with activity. One day when we were working I commented about an obnoxiously loud bird crowing outside of Grace’s office. I told her I wouldn’t be able to concentrate with the noise everyday. Grace laughed and said it was a device purchased to deter snakes. Apparently, a few cobras have snuck into the school grounds. Yikes! I had a new appreciation for the noise and suddenly thought of it as a comforting sound.
On my last day I was treated to a student dance performance. They were so earnest and proud as they danced the traditional folk dances. After my goodbyes, I drove away in the hired cab feeling very proud of the work at Wings. I am grateful my social work could help in a small way to keep the dreams alive for the girls at Wings. Yes sir! I am doing social work.
– Sheryl Hoye, KAP President
