Sibylle, our French volunteer, is leaving RIDE to start a trip in Kernataka and Kerala. You will find bellow her feedback about her experience at RIDE.

” I stayed two weeks as a volunteer at RIDE office. During that time, I had the chance to understand RIDE’s priorities and key actions and see how my competencies could match with their needs. I realized I could help them through marketing and communication skills.

Working for RIDE is being flexible about the schedule as we face in India several electricity cuts every day (which is surprising at the beginning!). In between work office sessions, Jeyaraj took me everywhere : I visited several schools and villages and had the chance to meet with kids, teachers and key project coordinators. It was very interesting for me to see how Jey works with local NGO’s and how he manages so many different projects (children labor, women’s rights, self help groups, microcredit projects ..etc)

Being a volunteer at RIDE is also a amazing chance to understand and see the Indian culture from a daily life perspective. As I stayed at Jeyaraj and Britto’s house, I really felt like a new family member. They go out of their way to feel at home, safe and throughly looked after.

I cannot thank them enough for their kindness. I had a wonderful time !”

Last week, was the 6th edition of the Education Exhibition in RIDE Rural School in the village of Sevilmedu.

As part of our outreach program, 150 students from Loyola College Chennai are going to visit RIDE in November this year. The event will be held in two batches at 70 to 80 students each staying for one week. They are going to visit the RIDE Education Center in Arpakam and surrounding villages. After a presentation about the RIDE program, given by RIDE director Mr. S. Jeyaraj, the students will gain essential knowledge about village life. Thereafter, a model game about village infrastructure and facilities will be prepared in groups. As students play an important role in future India, RIDE looks forward to offer this program hereby spreading its message about “Education to Empower”.

One of the most successful SHGs are running a milk business unit and is coordinated by Ms. Kuppamal. This 65 year old resolute lady and mother of 3 sons is also responsible as the SHG leader. With the help of RIDE Ms. Kuppamal has been educated in fields of agriculture and project management. So her SHG could become as one of the most successful projects within the RIDE women empowerment program.

Together the village women were able to buy qualitative milk cows which give around 10 liters of milk per day. A part of the fresh milk is offered to the Musaravakkam village people. The other milk is been supplied to a government milk farm in Chennai. The earned money is going to be invested by the women into their family’s income, house keeping and new farm machines for their agricultures.

Recently these hard working people were selected by the NABARD (National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development) as an excellent society. For their success the bank are going to commend them with an extra financial support. RIDE is very proud of this SHG as these people could transfer our mission “Educate to Empower” in this great way.

Ms. Kastuvi comes from a family of weavers, weaving the Silk Sarees for which Kanchipuram is so famous. In the 1990s RIDE published a survey reporting that over 40,000 children were working in the weaving industries in and around Kanchipuram. It was then RIDE director S. Jeyaraj and his wife Britto who went to visit weaver families to try to convince them to send their children to school, rather than allowing them to work. RIDE argued that education can turn to sustainable improvements of life conditions. In addition RIDE offered a loan progam to those families who cooperated, to compensate the loss of income, help pay off their debts and be used towards school fees and expenses.

Ms. Kastuvi’s daughter Mohanar (now aged 25) is one of these released children. This is her story: Unfortunately, Mohanar failed in the 6th Standard (class) at the age of 11. Her mother, Ms. Kastuvi, who has 3rd Standard
degree herself, and her family decided to take their daughter out of school so that she could contribute to the family’s income. She took up the role of supporting her parents as they weave, sitting under the loom for hours at a time.

One day RIDE came to the family’s house and told Mohanar and her parents how important good education is, especially for a girl. The argument of a long-term success of her daughter’s education and the possibility to receive a loan convinced Ms. Kastuvi and her husband to send their daughter back to school.

After 2 years in child labor, Mohanar went back to the government school and finished 12th Standard. Recently she was able to achieve her degree in Bachelor of Computer Science. Ms. Kastuvi believes that the successful education of her daughter is a direct consequence of RIDE’s effort in child labor eradication.

At the moment we are planning meetings and seminars at schools as well as some cultural program. This will be presented in the five different Tamil Nadu districts of Kanchipuram, Vellore, Tirumvanamalei, Tiruvallur and Villupuram. Further information coming soon on our website and Facebook page.