Thanks to all



Audience



Living books of India

Six years had oozed down to the endless ocean called `time`, since we first experimented Human Library, then known as Living Library.It was just an idea we got from a one paragraph news paper report in The Hindu..From the report we came to know about a festival in Buda-Pest where they use human beings as books for interaction and the aim was to remove prejudice.It was an exciting idea- `Human beings as books!`The very next day we applied the idea in our training centre.Little did we know that we have just started an exciting adventure in Indian education.

The basic concept of Human Library is quite simple.Everyone possess knowledge and if we are willing to `read` people we not only gather first hand knowledge from them , but in the process our prejudice against them too breaks away.Human Library owes its origine to Denmark, where mostly the organizers conduct Human Library festivals during which many `books` come forward to be `read`.The `books` are volunteers and they include various personalities from all walks of life.It was used as an effective tool to pluck out prejudices from the minds of people and spread peace and meaningful relationships.

Who is a `Living Book`?

"Most likely a majority of readers will find that Living Books are people just like you and me. But for different reasons they are subjected to stereotyping and prejudices. They are open about, who they are and prepared to share their experiences. That would be a short description of something that is exactly that and so much more. A Living Book is a person, that has chosen to be a public representative of a certain group. An example of how people can be, if only minds are open long enough to find out, who and what they really are. But before anything else, they are couragous people that stand by their convictions and are willing to discuss their values with others. As in books are most, they are wise" -from Humanlibrary Website.Human Library was founded by the organisation Stop Violance from Denmark.

LeadcapAnneFrank Leadership Village YLP

Anne Frank Centre has been seriously involved with the `Living Book` concept ever since its inception.Over the years many personalities across the world came forward and happily became part of this educational movement.Human Library has been introduced in three states of India by AFRC.A few serious papers too have been presented on Human Library and the education methods we developed here based on it.The joint leadership initiative `LeadCapAnneFrank Leadership Village` considers `Living Books` as a main instrument to develop leadership initiatives among the village children and youth. Many schools and colleges in the district of wayanad are now familiarised with the concept.The major attraction of Human Library is it is unconditional and is based on finer human values.

A report appeared on Human Library sessions organised by AFRC as part of Leadership Village training at Kaniyampatta Govt.High School.The report appeared on India`s national daily The Hindu.

Teacher from France

Hi friends,

This is Roshan YLP!
Let me break a good news.Our friend from France Marie, a teacher visits Anne Frank during the summer vacation with her daughter Elsa, an art student .we are planning manythings to do with them.

Happily AFRC welcome Marie and Elsa

Photo of the Week >> anil Emage

Letters from Connecticut > Paul Lalley

100 year old barn collapses

That's the original farm on which all the houses now sit. The farmhouse itself doesn't have indoor plumbing - an outhouse and a pump right outside the back door, but the pump don't work .
Mine was a guess based on the two elderly sisters who lived there up until a few years back. THEY were 100 years old.Mine was a guess based on the two elderly sisters who live there up until a few years back.THEY are 100 years old.

We`ve had three barns and one house collapse under the weight of snow we have seen.Other towns in Connecticut had it worse.I am just glad no one or no animals were in the barn when it collapsed.

Hi to all my friends in Wayanad!!

Choice of a life time > anil Emage

I consider my self a very fortunate individual.

I am blessed with many inspiring relationships, and I am always thankful to the timely adivices bestowed on me, whenever I was in doubt.Since I tend to follow my instinct in whatever I do, sometimes I do feel miserable when I am curtailed of actions I couldnt do, out of mere volentory restrictions.But always someone was there to show a ray of light.here let me introduce one such personality, Marie, a teacher from France.

I find `facebook` ideal for communicating and connecting with friends.I met such wonderful people like Paul Lalley, Jane Chin, Pooja Sheth, Jesal , isabel and dear friends who were seperated , though temporarily like Reshma Sha...it was great to connect with them all.

One morning I expressed my frustration in leaving my passion for photography and all the creative pursuits for teaching and training, though I am well aware that I following my `calling` very clearly.Then I got a mail from France. From a very dear friend, Marie, a teacher for 31 years.Here, with Marie`s happy onsent I reproduce it for our dear readers.

Salut Anil ! You wrote in Facebook that I am so silent and it's true ! But everyday I'm thinking of you and Laila and looking at your life on.. facebook (vive Facebook !!)

You seemed discouraged this morning. What happens ? I want that you become again the smiling and laughing Anil who I know, It's an order !

Where is the problem ? You have been a resource person even to Microsoft student Partners.OK, probably those students are rich, but there is something that you'll teach them, because it's deeply inside you: the human values. And they need it, they'll have power in society. A teacher shows who he is really, (even if sometimes he'd prefer not..). You have made your choice, so trust yourself !

Laila trusts you, me too

You speak about choice between teaching and inner creativity (but perhaps I am wrong ?). As I was a teacher during 31 years, I think that on the contrary, teaching is a very good way, it needs a lot of creativity, and if you have enough time (aïe aïe aïe en français, that is the problem..),teaching, journalism, photography, writing, are mutually complementary. (I use the Larousse dictionary, sorry..)

You seem often in doubt, it's not comfortable, but it can be a strength.

Now I stop to make "psychologie de cuisine"  kitchen psychology! I give you some news.

Automn, cold and a great sun in the south.

I want to come next year, can we organize that ? I can teach for youngers, or just be here for holidays, or both..(both is better)

One year ago.., it seems to me so short, and in the same time so much.. I'd love to come back to you, but the life is complicated, I have to take care of my daughters, to stay here for the younger, and I miss you so much !

If you need something from France ask me !

Love,

Marie-Anne

....After Marie`s letter, I made a serious decision to use whatever me and Laila has within us and introduced the new educational tool in our centre Art 4 Education. Can you believe it, our life changed and now we are a happy lot here in Wayanad.

an ode to freedom

I wish to fly up....

I wish to fly up....

But who strapped my wings?

I wish to see my dear ones,

But who covered my eyes

With their hurting hands?

I wish to hear the tune of the stream,

I wish to hear the music of rain,

But who made me deaf......?

I wish to sing a song for freedom

But Oh...who made me dumb?

-Ramsheena YLP

Photo of the week > anil Emage







One of my Favs.

I would rather title it as

Hallucination

Is that a shadow,

A shadow of a beautiful girl?

Or is it an eclipse?

An eclipse, that

Doesn’t allow the sun to unfurl

A smile is that?

Or is it the sun chuckling

Behind the moon?

Or, yet is it the sun

Reveling in its holiday

In the name of art

Gone...

Sketched and Penned by

Pooja Sheth, Bangalore

Immersed in Shelley

Submerged in British romance

Me all alone in my cozy world

When the call proclaimed

“Thy best friend gone….”

The phone lay dead

Pages of Shelley remained still

My best friend was gone

And so was I....

Its Me Pooja!!

Hiiiiiii Guyzzzzzz

I am Pooja,

After a long time i am on the keys.......

I want to write many things but my heart just cry thinking of the past...........

I am confident that I am a leader..So by keeping that in my mind i am starting........

I had many experience full days .........many gains and a big loss..........

       I know that you guyz celebrated X-Mas and New year Grantley....But in my case I had a great loss in the X-Mas eve....

I lost my Grandma.

                My grandma "Karthiyayani amma" who inspired me a lot.........She is the real women.........A women who knows how  to leave.

she have 12 children,in that 11 th one is my mom.........When my mom completed her 7th std my grand father died. From there to here it was my grandma who made her all children in high positions...When she was left all alone by grandpa she was not having anything with her , From there she worked hard all alone by keeping 1 thing in her heart "to make her children in good positions" ...She kept her promise.Now every one is in good positions.......She is a woman who takes and gives respect to many people..........I studied what is real leadership from her life.....She is loving, caring, firm and most mainly a real leader.........

                   

                                    .................I LOVE YOU....AND MISS YOU A LOT AMMAMMA.............

   

                        THEN R U READY 4 THE NEXT............HERE IT COMES..............

I am studying in NSS HSS, A great and good school.Recently we had district Kaloltsava conducted from our school,in that I was assigned as leader of food committee volunteers.We had done our maximum ,and we got good result 4 it...Every one who came there appreciated our work and my leadership.....I am so happy to say that by seeing our work our principal Babu sir gave me and one of my friend Anju responsibility for a new project....I am so glad now that I am back into work.........  

Will catch you later until then its me POOJA signing off ..........

Let me speak

Laila Saein

MIDNIGHT CHILDREN OF WAYANAD

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………............

This morning a cheerful voice , filled with love and excitement called me. It was a telephone call, and one of a student from Koleri Govt.High School,where we all together created history by organizing one of the most memorable training camp ever conducted in Wayanad. She told me about the revolutionary change happened to the students and how they got a new vision to life. Let me go back to my diary notes which I penned immediately after the six day training session............
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………............

As the world switched gear to celebration mode on new year`s eve, as people were waiting to see the last breath of 2010, and anticipating the birth of a new born baby called 2011 or discussing about the new year, in which way to celebrate it, where to organise  a party, dinner in which hotel and while many slept peacefully….

But here when the last  seconds, minutes, hours of 2010 withered away ,two hundred plus children of Kolery higher Secondary school were learning a few  `better Life Lessons`. They were thinking about how to improvise a nation’s pool of young energy.

. They were listening to the lessons patiently at midnight. Throwing away the cozy comfort of a blanket called` sleep` they sang:

“Never say No

Never say No

Never say Nooooo to LIFE!!”

     When we met the children on the first day, we felt like change was the last thing they could embrace.

Some of them didn’t even know the basics of the language and communication was pretty difficult for them, some of them have serious personal problems. The entire village belongs to a backward area of Wayanad, which itself is an underdeveloped district of Kerala State . Almost all the people are farmers and among them many had family problems too.

We had a discussion with the head mistress Ms.Thereseetta, a strong lady who was Kerala State football team captain when she was a student. We gained valuable details from her and Mr. Murali, a teacher at the school, who played an instrumental role in organizing the camp regarding the students .Many of them have personal problems at home, many had single parents, inferiority complexed, they didn’t like to talk to strangers, let alone facing a crowd.

Koleri belongs to a remote area of Wayanad. Like all the villages of Wayanad Koleri offers excellent entertaining sights: if you are a tourist. To spot Koleri from Wayanad map might be a bit difficult. So for the first day of the six day Leadership and Communication camp organized by LeadCapAnneFrank Leadership VillageYLP and Koleri Govt.High School, for us to reach there was a bit difficult.

Most of the Koleri children belong to poor families and many are glad to come for a mite of food. (Govt. schools provide lunch and some times break fast too)

Most families’ children have financial problems, parents divorce, or fathers` addiction to alcohol, suicidesetc.

The children think they are nothing, they can’t change their lifestyle, and they do not possess imagination, ambitions, wishes…….

We thought about the fortunate children belonging to cities, English medium schools, affluent families……

      The first Leadership Lesson of life was to impart self esteem and self respect to the children, make them believe that they are human beings with high voltage potential.

Others need them, people care them, they also deserve something, This is their world too, they have to do a lot of things for others, they have certain duties and they have certain rights, BEYOND THAT THEY SHOULD FEEL THEY BELONG TO THIS   WORLD. This is the only way we can change them, we felt. After all more than 10 years` ground work in Wayanad taught us this lesson. People here need more self esteem, self respect and above all a new path should be opened.

When we joined the children we told them we were not going to teach anything.

“We know something, you also know something. Let’s share all the stuff. Once we unburden our wisdom, then we`ll be free. We will have a whale of a time”

 They got surprised,

 “We know something?!!!”

 We replied

 “Yes, definitely because you are village children, you are really good” .

It was the starting.  The change was amazing.  Even the parents recognized the potential of their kids. They came and opened their mind, their problems. They made food for us and for the children; they stayed with their children at night, always they came and enquired whether the facilities are good enough, what we want. When we were taking the lessons at midnight 12.00 or 1.0’clock they were patiently waiting and they accompanied their children in their classrooms and even keep them company in the class.

It was quiet unexpected! Each and everyone performed on the stage, they were not afraid of the global language, then. Our YLP trainers Roshan (15), and Ramsheena (14) were motivating them. They didn’t think about their exhaustion. After 12’o clock, when darkness enveloped us and it was too cold for the young brave hearts,  we asked them:

“Shall we finish today’s training.”

 “No we want more”

Slowly we gave them basics of a language to help them reach out to the entire world, communication skills, leadership and we showed them motivational movies, we showed English songs, they learned many things about international music and now names like Lionel Richie, John Lennon and Beatles are quite familiar to them, we shared with them stories from the greatest literature of the world….,We didn’t sleep much and definitely when the world was dozing , two hundred plus village children and four village trainers and a bunch of parents and school teachers were rewriting the destiny of an entire village.

    During the body language training we told the boys to keep their shirts tucked and I called a boy, named Jinu Chandran

(one of the teachers told us it was the first time in his life time this boy wished them Good Morning after our class)

 “Come here Jinu, come and sit on the chair at the stage”

Within one second he jumped out of the class room and peeped under one table. We were shocked.

“What happened”.

We called another boy .He came and sat on the chair. I made his crumpled shirt OK.I noticed his trousers  has no button and with a safety pin he pinned it. I patted his hair.

 “Its ok”

During the lunch break Jinu came and told Anil

“ My pant has no zip-fastne, that is why I couldn’t come”

Now we can proclaim very proudly

 “ We, Anil Emage, me Laila Saein, Ylps Roshan, YLP Ramsheena ….  together along with a group of

dedicated parents , PTA members and school teachers  changed two hundred plus lives. We painted the children’s dreams with bright colors for a better tomorrow. We showed them another world of better life lessons, we created among them a craving for  the integration of India, a great nation, and we gave a new meaning to the life of their parents.

At last we showed them they ARE human beings with potential and they too have a voice, which will be respected and a day will come when the entire world will quit sleeping and listen to the midnight children of Leadership Village YLP- Wayanad.

Wo

Let go > anilEmage

With love from Austria

Photographed by Uschi

Let me rewind. Two years ago Laila met with an accident. She fell off her bike, a slightly fractured hand, badly bruised knee and a shaken experience to overcome. Our summer camp just started, Anne Frank was teeming with children and parents waiting to take admission for kids. Without Laila it was impossible to manage the centre. More than hundred children, age level ranging from nine to eighteen. Different batches, two centres and definitely I would have been in the soup…if not for Uschi. That eventful night, with a troubled mind, I entered a café. There I saw Uschi for the first time in my life. She smiled and I sat next to her.

“I am a teacher. “I told her.

“I am also a teacher. “She smiled.

“I am from Anne Frank Centre”

“I am from the land of Anne Frank” we laughed, sealing a lifelong relationship.

For those difficult days without Laila at the centre, Uschi came and helped me out. She sang for the children, taught them songs, managed the kids when I was conferring with the parents and above all she reiterated our belief in humanity. For me Uschi is nothing short of a miracle, an angel who happened, when we needed the most.
Uschi possessed a great mind filled with love, joy and a passion for music.She taught children songs of tracy Chapman and told them stories of Austria and Anne Frank.In the mornings I used to go for walks with Uschi in the woods, bordering our town.We wandered through tea estates and evenings visited Laila. There too uschi sang for Laila.

 Last week we got a letter from Uschi, with a couple of photographs.Here it goes:

Photographed by Uschi

My dear friends!

What a sweet surprise to get these nice greetings from you.

Some days before I was thinking of you, asking myself if you were still at the same place and still working in your school.

Every time when coughing I take some of the spices you gave me, you come in my mind.

I am still teaching and I am very busy working. Now it is winter and it is very cold, freezing and much snow.(look at the photos)

I hope that I will travel to India again, but now there is too much work at home.But when I come to India, I sure will visit you and I look forward to meet you again.I hope to receive some mails from you soon. Dear Laila and Anil, I wish you all the best.

With loving greeting, Uschi

A note

It was very sad for the children and all of us to say goodbye to Uschi. So as to keep thinking of her every day , we created a space for her at the centre. It is called Uschi`s Schtillestall (Uschi`s silent valley) At the corner we kept a bamboo bench, story books and magazines for children too are there. Any child, if she or he doesn’t feel good, needs to be away from everything and enjoy peaceful moments ,she/he has the freedom to leave the class room and can spend as much time needed there.With Uschi`s peace corner , silently we proclaim to the entire world that we need to treat children as individuals, and not as mechanical beings who should be fed forcibly. Learning after all is an enjoyable experience. It should be imparted with love and compassion. Thank you Uschi for the wonderful time we shared together.

Laila, Anil and the Children of Anne Frank Centre

Diary of a school teacher

                                                          My inner space .......Jillu AFRC


Creative writing forms an integral part of our training at Anne Frank. Our students are requested to write diary notes, sometimes even imaginary diaries and share it among friends and trainers during the communication hour.Here we introduce a new student Jillu. She is an English teacher by profession. Lets see how the  one day of a life of an Indian teacher is all about.

Wednesday
if everything goes smooth, what is the role of God! Life itself is the mixture of sorrows and pleasures.
There were no works for me in the kitchen in the morning.My friend has taken today`s charge in kitchen.being already late to get up, I was in a hurry to go to college.

There was another dragon waiting for us: the inspection team!Principal already informed us to reach before 9.30 am.Took a sudden bath and got ready within a few minutes and without spending time for breakfast, went to college.Unexpectedly I got an autorickshaw and I reached early in the bus.There were my colleagues and I became happy with them.After signing and spending a little time with them we together went to community hall, from there we conducted our Art Fest.

The programme strted with the inaugural function. Pavithran Theekkuni, famous poet and Nisar Wayanad,singer were the chief guests.We enjoyed the sweet voice of Nisar.The song "ye ajanbi..." had taken us to another world.Some of us together went to collect our salary and after we went to Hotel Paris.We had biriyani from there.The day went like this with some fun and entertainments.

At the evenning time , a little early we. Leena, Sunil and me went to Anne Frank.It was tea break time there, but we were told to write our diary notes.We had done that and then we shared it among ourselves, with the trainers` company.

Then we learned tenses, especially simple present, simple past and simple future.By taking a lot, Leena was selected to teach the tenses and that was followed by self introduction in front of everyone.Our trainers have pointed out our positives and negatives.

"Why dont you use your body language with your voice?"
I asked myself.
"You could do it better next time"
I consoled myself.
""Why are you not aware of gestures.Keep in mind if you are asked to do it next time"
"Yes i will do it next time"
After the class I had a quarrel with my friend but I made it up so I got a sound sleep without any guilty feelings.

Friends , hope you like my diary . Please do post your comments :) It will be much appreciated :)
Jillu