Educate 'Sabar' (untouchables) children, India
Donation protected
I am Maitreyee Chakraborty and I am fund-raising for 'Swapnaloke', an organization in India which is doing tireless work for the 'Sabar' tribe and its children - one of the most marginalized tribes of Purulia, West Bengal, India.
Who are Sabars and where do they live?
This tribe lives in Bonkanali village in Purulia, West Bengal, India. There are 10 families and the population is about 80. The village has no running water or electricity. This tribe is severely discriminated against since the British era. They are also the so-called 'lower caste' and hence deemed 'untouchables.' They have no steady income and they survive on meager jobs like tending cows, cleaning up trash in other villages, working as temporary workers in brick kilns, collecting firewood from forests and selling them. When they don't have any income, they hunt field rats, snakes, monitor lizards, frogs, squirrels, cats and birds as their sources of food. 'Sabar' tribe suffers from extreme poverty, degradation from caste discrimination, untouchability, and lack of education.
What does 'Swapnaloke' do?
In November 2020, this organization, headed by Jhemli Talapatra established a relationship with this village. On January 18, 2021, Swapnaloke set up a residential school for the Sabar kids and teenagers. The school was named 'Swapnaloke Sabujangan Vidyalaya.' (Swapnaloke, the Green School). They started with 14 children and now there are 25 students. Along with basic education, they get training in dance, gymnastics, drawing, yoga, computers, and art. They also play various outdoor games.
Aiming to be Self Reliant
The school children are learning to make brooms, hats, flower bouquets, and garlands from local grass and dried palm leaves. They are also making masks and handicrafts with clay, MDF wood and papers which are being purchased by customers.
Health, food, nutrition and treatment are provided for the kids in the residential school. They are given healthy foods. The monthly cost to feed each kid is Rs. 1800 or $23 approximately. There are 25 kids in this village. In addition, they need clothing, school supplies, medicines etc.
Funds are also needed to construct a school room that would serve as an office as well as a shop that can store and sell the handicrafts made by the kids. Currently, there is just one room which is used as a cramped bedroom for all kids and teachers. There is an additional room that serves as the classroom.
Two groundwater wells in the village provide drinking water. But one of them is completely dry and the other is almost dry. In 110F heat, the kids and adults have to walk 2 miles each way to collect water from ponds located outside the village. New wells are needed ASAP.
The needs are dire and I appeal to all of you to donate generously for giving these kids a chance to continue on a path to better their living conditions. Please give them the best gift - the gift of education by donating.
For more photos, please check out Swapnaloke's twitter account:
Here is the website:
Here is the Facebook page:
Thank you
Organizer
Maitreyee Chakraborty
Organizer
Wellesley, MA