In our previous post we mentioned that Lieke wasn't with Gerrit and Vincent because she was visiting schools and camps in another district. She also visited a Residual Bridge Camp, founded by Logica. Underneath her story.
Because Vincent and Gerrit were too busy implementing the CMS at the head office of the MV Foundation, I had the privilege to visit the Logica
bridge camps in Kurnool District. Mr Baskhar, the District officer, accompanied me on the ten hour ride from Hyderabad. Driving around in India is overwhelming but fascinating. On the highway (where trucks, motorcycles, bikes and cows are also allowed), I had some near death experiences, but somehow the drivers always seem to manage and just miss the upcoming truck by 2 cm’s….. Respect Indian drivers!! Going into the rural areas the landscape changed into a rocky desert like surrounding, in which farmers still try to do some agricultural activities. Men and women working on the field in 42 degrees…. It seems unbelievable for us, but it is daily reality for half of the Indian society.
In the Kurnool district many cotton plantations are located. Passing the fields we saw a few children working and fertilizing the cotton seeds. The plants are only 1 meter high, so it’s very convenient to use children, according to the farmers. Baskhar explained me that the children only earn 20 rupee a day… which is about 30 eurocent, unbelievable isn’t it! Some of them are even contracted, and committed to do the work for a whole season. The parents send the children to the cotton plantation for a few months to do bound child labour. I have read a lot about child labour, but once you see it, it hits you in the face…. this is still part of reality…
After a long and bumpy ride we entered a tiny village, cattle everywhere, small brick houses, and kids running around by seeing the car. A big yellow sign got my attention. We had finally reached the Bridge Camp supported by Logica and Hivos. The kids were very exited by seeing a white tall blond alien like me…. I asked some children what kind of work they did before coming to the bridge camp. Half of the group had been working in agriculture and on cotton seed plantation. Some girls were working in domestic work. “I was a Rickshaw Driver”, said one of the boys, who was about 4 ft tall.….. How bizarre, no wonder the traffic is chaotic in India, if 10 year olds are driving around!
First they were bit shy, but after singing Hoofd, Schouders, Knie en Teen, Knie en Teen…. (a Dutch song which includes a funny dance), they were having a blast and started to show me their classrooms and their excellent skipping skills (touwtje springen). It was so nice to meet the kids and talk to the teachers who are fully committed to get the children back to the right level, so they are ready for the public schools.
Gerrit and Vincent had asked me to hand out some Logica pens and the key cords to the kids and teachers in the camp. Especially the key cords were very popular, the kids loved them and teachers immediately attached their mobile phones to it, and were walking around if they owned the world! After a DOEIDOEI screamed out by 60 happy kids, we went back on the bumpy road, heading back to Hyderabad. 
It was very special to visit the Logica Bridge Camps. Once you see it with your own eyes, the work of the MV Foundation really comes alive. It is great that Logica and Hivos are able to support the struggle of the MV Foundation against Child Labour in India, and try to give these wonderful kids a sustainable future!
Because Vincent and Gerrit were too busy implementing the CMS at the head office of the MV Foundation, I had the privilege to visit the Logica
bridge camps in Kurnool District. Mr Baskhar, the District officer, accompanied me on the ten hour ride from Hyderabad. Driving around in India is overwhelming but fascinating. On the highway (where trucks, motorcycles, bikes and cows are also allowed), I had some near death experiences, but somehow the drivers always seem to manage and just miss the upcoming truck by 2 cm’s….. Respect Indian drivers!! Going into the rural areas the landscape changed into a rocky desert like surrounding, in which farmers still try to do some agricultural activities. Men and women working on the field in 42 degrees…. It seems unbelievable for us, but it is daily reality for half of the Indian society.In the Kurnool district many cotton plantations are located. Passing the fields we saw a few children working and fertilizing the cotton seeds. The plants are only 1 meter high, so it’s very convenient to use children, according to the farmers. Baskhar explained me that the children only earn 20 rupee a day… which is about 30 eurocent, unbelievable isn’t it! Some of them are even contracted, and committed to do the work for a whole season. The parents send the children to the cotton plantation for a few months to do bound child labour. I have read a lot about child labour, but once you see it, it hits you in the face…. this is still part of reality…
After a long and bumpy ride we entered a tiny village, cattle everywhere, small brick houses, and kids running around by seeing the car. A big yellow sign got my attention. We had finally reached the Bridge Camp supported by Logica and Hivos. The kids were very exited by seeing a white tall blond alien like me…. I asked some children what kind of work they did before coming to the bridge camp. Half of the group had been working in agriculture and on cotton seed plantation. Some girls were working in domestic work. “I was a Rickshaw Driver”, said one of the boys, who was about 4 ft tall.….. How bizarre, no wonder the traffic is chaotic in India, if 10 year olds are driving around!First they were bit shy, but after singing Hoofd, Schouders, Knie en Teen, Knie en Teen…. (a Dutch song which includes a funny dance), they were having a blast and started to show me their classrooms and their excellent skipping skills (touwtje springen). It was so nice to meet the kids and talk to the teachers who are fully committed to get the children back to the right level, so they are ready for the public schools.
Gerrit and Vincent had asked me to hand out some Logica pens and the key cords to the kids and teachers in the camp. Especially the key cords were very popular, the kids loved them and teachers immediately attached their mobile phones to it, and were walking around if they owned the world! After a DOEIDOEI screamed out by 60 happy kids, we went back on the bumpy road, heading back to Hyderabad. 
It was very special to visit the Logica Bridge Camps. Once you see it with your own eyes, the work of the MV Foundation really comes alive. It is great that Logica and Hivos are able to support the struggle of the MV Foundation against Child Labour in India, and try to give these wonderful kids a sustainable future!
2 opmerkingen:
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