Empowering the deprived through education

WOMAN ON A MISSION

Jeny Verma finds joy in educating children of quarry workers, an often neglected segment of society, finds Ashwini Singh

Dusty lanes amidst greenery lead us to an imposing and eco-friendly building at Angalpura, on the outskirts of Bangalore. Here, we see scores of cheerful children playing in the designated area during lunch time. Their enthusiasm, happiness and fearless attitude — all quite visible on their jovial faces. Welcome to the dream house or Banyan School of Jeny Verma, the founder of Lovedale Trust, that gives just the right atmosphere for an all-round development of under-privileged children.

A mother of two, Jeny looked up to her father as a role model. He was a doctor and she picked up her first lessons on humanity and compassion from him. She finds working with children interesting and believes imparting education is the only way to ensure a happy and meaningful life for them. With this mission in mind, she established the Banyan School.

Here, children of quarry workers are not only given primary education but there is also stress on imparting vocational training keeping their individual interests in mind. Her next priority is to expand the school till XIIth grade so as to complete the education cycle of these children. Their parents, on the other hand, would rather have them help out at the quarry. Jeny says, “After a day’s hard work of breaking stones in the sun, many times they don’t even get two square meals a day for themselves and their children.”

When asked about her focus on children at the quarry, she says, “This segment has been neglected for several years. Mine is an effort to bring them into the mainstream through education, while making them aware about the job opportunities available in today’s world.”

She adds, “There are NGOs doing good work for slum children and construction workers’ children but we were the first to target children at a quarry. We provide pick-and-drop facility for them. The school functions from 9 am to 3 pm. The children study, play, eat their food and even take rest here. In fact, for them it’s their second home.”

This house also shelters and educates children rescued by the Karnataka police and Jeny takes pride in showing off trophies won by some of these children who have been admitted to bigger schools. She is all praise for the field workers at the grassroots level. It is they who mobilise quarry workers to send their children to school.

Talking about the challenges she faces, Jeny, a graduate in Social Science, says, “It is difficult to get committed staff for 24 hours.” She calls upon good-hearted people from various fields like medicine, teaching, music, arts, dance and sports to volunteer their services even if it is on a weekly basis.

Recently, at the Banyan School, a computer lab was inaugurated by Barry O’ Farrell, Premier of New South Wales, Australia. Soon, a computer literacy programme will kick off here for village youth. The school has good infrastructure that includes creative and artistic classrooms, a library, music room, art and craft room, hygienic kitchen and dining room.

Overall, the school provides a stimulating atmosphere for the children’s physical and mental growth.

“Take up one idea. Make that one idea your life — think of it, dream of it, live on that idea. Let the brain, muscle, nerves, every part of your body, be full of that idea and just leave every other idea alone. This is the way to success, that is the way great spiritual giants are produced.” Jeny finds Swami Vivekananda’s mantra for success quite apt. She feels that her focus and dedicated effort towards children’s welfare will certainly reap rich results.

Lovedale was conceived by Jeny’s father, the late Dr Jayaraj Godfred, in order to help deprived senior citizens. Later, a determined and confident Jeny took forth her father’s social task by making the organisation instrumental in spreading education among children.