The End of the Beginning: Brick Lanes Project

I began this journey by writing a report on the educational status of migrant brick workers in Chaksu, Rajasthan. It turned into a collection of living, breathing stories that changed my own life in only a few months time. I spent long hours researching and typing in our apartment, almost giving up a time or two, but the images I carried with me from my trips to the brick lanes kept me going. Family, friends and acquaintances jumped on board with the project as stories unfolded about these kids and their lack of resources. Their generosity brought about a visible change in these struggling communities and helped us kick start a project that will continue on into the future. The brick lanes project wouldn't exist without the Kumarappa Institute, which has maintained a committed presence in these communities for two years and will continue to facilitate their improvement in the realm of education. Moving forward, Kumarappa plans to build five more schools on the brick lanes in the next two years. The institute is also working on a sustainable approach to outfitting the students who come each year with uniforms, shoes, and school supplies. Kumarappa is also making connections with other NGOs to provide literacy tutoring and vocational training classes to older children and parents. 

Educating impoverished communities like these is big scale stuff, and requires the assistance of much more qualified people than someone like me to help solve the host of problems that exist. More than that though, we need parents who care about their children's education. Kids need parents who are invested enough to stay up that extra hour to help with homework; who say "I'm proud of you"; and who set good examples of what it means to be good citizens of the world. Impoverished communities need us to care, not out of some ideology of Christian duty, or out of guilt for what nice things we have, but because we personally want to see them thrive and succeed. This is why I'm so thankful for the time I spent on this project--everyone participated because they wanted to, from parents on site to people across the globe. We all want to see these children grow, learn, and flourish. 

The pictures speak for themselves. The children beat all. Their tenacity and strength is juxtaposed against their starving bodies and thirsty mouths. I'm in awe of their ability to sit in an open room when it's 95 degrees outside and study for three hours. I'm enraptured by their smiles and their sweet, brown eyes, but more than that I'm interested in their futures. They are struggling, but they aren't helpless. They have the willpower to press on and also have respect for those willing to educate them. These are key ingredients for success. I believe that we will see these children thrive. The hard reality is that some of them will not make it, but we must hope and work for the ones who can and will. We cannot get discouraged by grim circumstances, or depressed by kids whose situations don't improve. Above all, we have to maintain hope and use what skills we have to build up the weak. Thank you for joining in with me on this project.