First Science Fair at Andovar School!

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First Science Fair at Andovar School

Porayar, Tamil Nadu

January, 2016

Andovar school students assemble for the
first science fair on food, nutrition and health

Last week our Andovar school in Tamil Nadu enjoyed its first science fair. It was a simple beginning of what we hope will be a regular event as our school gathers resources. The theme of this fair was simple-the topic was health and how the best medicine comes from the kitchen!

Oral presentations were given by the 7th and 8th grade students. In South India, there is a famous proverb that says "Kitchen is the hospital with mother as doctor and food as best medicine".

Students brought fruits, native vegetables, herbs and greens, milk, milk products, and spices from their homes. They discussed the special properties of each food item in maintaining health. 

Students brought native foods to discuss
nutrition and health benefits

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There were not too many scientific details discussed about the food items but practical information was given about important health issues. Students discussed how each respective food item was a remedy for common health problems.The students got good experience presenting before a group.

Students practiced speaking and presentation skills

A skit with Traditional VILLU PAATU (musical bow) accompaniment was also presented based on health and food. The skit was about modern hospitals and how common ailments were better treated by prevention.

Villu Paatu or musical bow used to accompany
dramatizations with song and verse


Of course there was room for creativity and artistic expression!

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Happy New Year From Porayar School

Thanks to your help the students at Andovar School in Porayar, Tamil Nadu India are back in classes! 

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The school was closed for about a month due to heavy rains and flooding. Thanks to your generous help we were able to send $3000 for roof repairs and to build a temporary building to replace badly damaged classrooms. 

Since the geographical area where the school is located is prone to flooding, our new school will be designed with proper drainage and as many precautionary measures as possible to minimize the risk of damages from future storms.

The children gathered together at the New Year to send their thanks and wishes for the coming year to all of you. The message reads, "May you be blessed with power to spread good cheer and smiles all around in this New Year 2016!"...signed Headmaster, Teachers and Students of Andovar School

Teacher's Day Celebrated at Andovar School : End of Year Support Requested

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Architect's Vision of the New School

The flooding and heavy rainfall in South India has abated and the students at Andovar School in Porayar, Tamil Nadu are returning to classes. A $3000 disbursement from our school fund will be sent to the school for roof repair and to build a temporary building to replace a badly rain damaged building. The 2015 tax year is coming to a close and any end of year donations are warmly welcomed as we gear up to start fundraising for the new school in 2016.

Just before the flooding in November, The children hosted Teacher Appreciation Day. The kids brought treats for the teachers and had a cake cutting celebration for them in appreciation. 

Our school staff is comprised of 6 teachers-3 men and 3 women. Together they have over 130 years of service rendered to our school! 

Students assemble for Teacher Appreciation Day

Mr. Venkatesh leads the ceremony to honor teachers

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Please help: Our School Damaged By Major Flooding Hitting Southern India

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Please Help Our School Recover From Flood Damage

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Roofs caved in from torrential rains

Word has come from our school administrators in Porayar, India that our school has been badly damaged by flooding.  The state of Tamil Nadu where our school is located received 47 inches of rain in November- six times the yearly average for the month. Flooding has hit nearby major cities such as Chennai and Puducherry as you may have seen in the news. Our school has been closed for the safety of the children and we are trying to reopen now as the water subsides.

The major damage was to building roofs that were already in a precarious state before the flood. Roofs for two classrooms totally collapsed and other are leaking but repairable. Several classes have no where to meet at this time due to the damage. (see photos below)

Our plan is to build a simple building of about 850 square feet to house the two classes that currently have no habitable classrooms. This structure will be dismantled and brought to the new school location once the new school is completed and used as a bicycle and storage shed.

We are hoping that you may be able to help defray the cost of the temporary classroom to avoid depleting our new building fund that is slowly growing. The need is urgent. Cost for the new structure will be around $5000.

Donations are fully tax deductible. Thank you most sincerely and kindly from the kids in Porayar, Tamil Nadu, South India.

Some roofs repairable

Water starting to subside

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Our Andovar School in Tamil Nadu: Changing Lives One Student at a Time!

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Architect's Rendering of Our New School

Following up on my recent visit to our school in India, I wanted to share some experiences of current and past students of the Andovar School. Our school implements the UNI5 principles of teaching that aim to develop the whole student from the levels of consciousness, physiology and psychology. Some of the UNI5 teaching tools include meditation or quiet time, yoga and holistic teaching/learning methods. The result in terms of the students' success is visibly palpable when I spend time at the school.

This visit, I asked students past and present to write down some of their experiences so that I could share them with you. I will summarize the experiences of several students over the next few blog posts.  In this blog post I will highlight a young man named Anuth's experience. Anuth attended Andovar School from 2000-2003.

Anuth is Muslim and before he attended Porayar school he was only exposed to Muslim culture and religion. Attending Porayar School, he was introduced to students from several different religions. Together in class they studied the underlying equality of all religions. He learned to appreciate that there is only one God and many names for Him.

Anuth's horizons opened up to include all people of all religions as equal. Here is a quote from his written experience, "Lord Buddha got enlightened under the Bodhi tree and in the same way I got enlightened at the Andovar School. I learned to treat all the students as equals. Now I feel very comfortable and easy with people of all religions through my educational experience at the school."

Anuth's experience is a common one among the students from Andovar School. Christians, Hindus and Muslims all attend the Andovar School, They learn religious appreciation and tolerance by celebrating all the holidays of each religion. They also learn the significance of the each religion's holy scriptures and teachings. They recite a significant verse from each religion's holy book daily.

Lunchtime at Andovar School

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Getting to Know the Students at Andovar School

Getting to Know the Students at Andovar School

Enjoying the Cultural Festival in August

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Whew! I finally got back to my computer to tell you more about my visit to the Andovar School in Porayar, India and the new school project. This summer on my school visit, both the lower school and the upper school students had prepared cultural shows for me. It was a blast! 

The kids at the lower school gathered in front of me and presented me with drawings and welcome cards. There were several mothers of students in attendance and the atmosphere was very festive. The students enjoyed reciting their lessons with great energy and vigor. I was almost deafened by their efforts!

Lower School Greeting Committee 

Lower School Teachers

Parents Watched the Show

After the Show I Passed Out 

 Ice Cream Treats to the Students

The next stop was the upper school and an even more elaborate show! Most of the girls were involved with the show. A variety of folk and classical dance numbers were performed. The students wore their best outfits and it was evident that the teachers and students spent a lot of time rehearsing the performance. The boys sat patiently and watched. When I asked them why they were not dancing they broke into peals of laughter.

Plans Unveiled for Our New School in Tamil Nadu

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I just got back from visiting the Sakthi Foundation schools in Porayar, Tamil Nadu, India. This was an important meeting for myself and the school administrators.It was our first meeting to review the plans for the proposed new school. 

Mr. Venkatesh is the school administrator and his grandfather started the school over 60 years ago.  We traveled to see the 5 acres of land that his family plans to donate for the new kindergarten to 12th school. Here is Mr. Venkatesh and myself standing on the land dedicated for the new school. There is plenty of room for a sport field/playground, garden and the new school building.

We also looked over the architectural rendition of the school and the proposed preliminary blueprints of the two story building that includes 14 classrooms, library, computer room, 2 science labs, recreation hall, exam room, staff room, office and indoor toilets! The total size of the building will be around 15,000 square feet and will be able to accommodate around 250 students. Kitchen facilities will be constructed outside the building and the children will take their lunch in the courtyard. See below.

I met with the students and they asked enthusiastically when the new school would be completed. I explained that a lot of people in the USA, Canada and other countries would be contributing to make the school a reality and we would do our best to make it happen quickly. 

Total costs for building the the new school will be $331,249. This is about $23 per square foot. We will accomplish the building in two phases. First phase will be to build the ground floor to accommodate 1-10th grade. The 1-10 grade students will move in immediately when the ground floor is finished. The second floor will be constructed as funds accumulate.  See one of our meetings below.

While I was there I toured the village of Porayar. Our kids come from the poorest families and the general living conditions are less than basic. There is a water shortage in the town and water is brought in by truck a couple of times a week and there is a crowd to greet it. See photos below of school children's neighborhood and the water truck.

Despite all their challenges, the students are bright, lively and enthusiastic. The students and teachers prepared a wonderful cultural program at both the lower and upper schools to entertain me. I will highlight that in the next segment.

I have a big job ahead of me and I am hoping that you can help me through contributions, networking and prayers!

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