Dragonflies EverywhereGlobal Network for Equality
A pan India book mobilization drive to help the Tirunelveli based Global Network for Equality
The ask was for about 50-75 books in English and Tamil. As word got around in our networks, books of different genres – comics, fiction, educational, classics, encyclopedias, dictionaries, text books, etc – in English and Tamil, started to find their way to GNE.
The highlight of this mobilization drive was the collection of educational material for grades I to XII by the teachers of a prominent school in Kerala.
We discovered the privilege of networks when we collaborated with the Global Network for Equality, a NGO based in Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, to support their initiative of setting up of reading rooms for the marginalised children of prisoners in Palayamkottai Central Prison. GNE’s effort was to minimize the children’s stress of visiting their incarcerated parent periodically, while augmenting the learning experience of these ostracized, vulnerable children who are often marginalized by state and society.
The ask was for about 50-75 books in English and Tamil. As word got around in our networks, books of different genres – comics, fiction, educational, classics, encyclopedias, dictionaries, text books, etc – in English and Tamil, started to find their way to GNE. In a matter of 8 weeks, over 500 books catering to various age groups reached the project from across India, allowing the project to set up libraries and reading rooms cum study centers for the marginalized children of the rural communities.
The highlight of this mobilization drive was the collection of educational material for grades I to XII by the teachers of a prominent school in Kerala. “Every year, schools are flooded with sample books from various publications.” said Sheeba Paul, who spearhead this particular collection “A shout out to my colleagues to give me books that would be beneficial for the little ones ended up in us being able to send over 100 kgs of educational material across to them. Later when I received a video of their happy voices, my joy was unlimited.”
The mobilization drive allowed GNE to open a children’s library in Tirunelveli, which also serves as a free evening study center. A mini library was set up at the project office near Palayamkottai Central prison exclusively for the children of prison inmates to borrow books during their visits to their incarcerated parents. The setting up of the libraries and study center has not only improved the English vocabulary and language proficiency of the rural children but has also resulted in the addition of a computer to the library to cater to the children’s desire for practical lessons.
