SEATTLE — As in every country, academic education in Latin America and India is extremely important. However, education in non-traditional subjects, or access to extracurricular activities are often overlooked.
An 18-year-old Vassar student, Saisha Srivastava, noticed on this phenomena after teaching a dance workshop at the Calcutta Blind School. In her Ted Talk, she said, “My students fit into a category: underprivileged. And when we categorize someone as underprivileged we decide that we can only engage with them in certain ways, either by donating money or by teaching English, because we never consider these people as individuals with likes, dislikes, hopes or dreams.”
While she framed these statements within Indian society, her perceptions do reflect many attitudes towards charity. Necessities need to be met but individuality and quality of life need to be taken into account especially when educating children, participating in extracurricular has many benefits for children. They teach time management, commitment, fostering interests, forming friendships and raising self-esteem.
Additionally, extracurricular activities give kids an opportunity to play and have fun, which is invaluable for children in all countries and from all socioeconomic levels. Therefore, it’s is no question that these activities complement and enhance education in Latin America and India. Unfortunately, costs often make activities out of reach for underprivileged children. The following three organizations are working to change this.
20 days of Rain
When founder Saisha Srivastava volunteered at the Calcutta Blind School, she saw her work as important but felt it lacked a personal touch. Srivastava used her years of dance experience to set up a workshop for the children. One of her motivations for this workshop was to break down traditional barriers. People expressed doubt that dance could be taught to the visually impaired. She explained her methods including providing specific directions, start and end points for motion, keeping a steady rhythm and incorporating noises like clapping or clicking. The kids had fun and were able to experience music in a new way. The workshop was incredibly successful and her passion has inspired others to start similar programs.
Sports for Sharing
This organization was founded in Mexico and models values that are hard to teach in a traditional classroom, for example, setting by engaging children in sports. Anyone who has seen the Blindside knows that participating in sports can have many positives for underprivileged kids.
While the perks might not always be as dramatic as Michael Ore’s life-changing high school football career, Sports for Sharing’s website states that they promote fair play, gender equality, teamwork, empathy, responsibility, respect, tolerance and awareness of global issues. The organization is increasing education at a low average annual cost of $15 per child.
Sonidos de la Tierra
Beautifully named, Sounds of the Earth teaches music in Paraguay. A famous composer, Luis Szarán, started the program 14 years ago because “the kid who plays Mozart by day doesn’t smash shop windows at night.” Fourteen-thousand kids in 205 communities have participated in the organization’s music programs and workshops. It has a variety of programs tailored to each community, including a Conservatory on Wheels to reach rural communities. The organization makes music available because they view artistic expression as invaluable to development.
Traditional academic education in Latin America and India are incredibly important, and children can also experience valuable lessons from activities like music, dance, sports, and art. These three programs are great examples of people creating well-rounded learning opportunities for children in developing countries. In addition to the educational benefits, providing an opportunity for play and self-expression caters to children’s individuality.
– Jeanette I. Burke
Photo: Flickr