Funday to the HAL air museum

My name is Hugh Jackson and I'm an international volunteer from England; I've been working with Dream a Dream for the last 3 weeks (I fly back on the 30th May) to help improve their data management processes.

Among other things during my time here, I've had the opportunity to go on one of the 'Fundays' that the team runs most weekends. A funday involves a trip out with a group of kids from a centre that DAD are about to start working with.
DAD use these fundays as a way of getting a feel for what the kids are like and to help build trust between them in a very relaxed environment; on this occasion we arranged to take them to the HAL air museum.

The bus trip was long but entertaining (starting at the DAD office to pick up staff and volunteers, then going in the diametrically opposite direction to pick up the kids from their centre on Mysore Road, before heading across town to Airport Road, all the time trying to plough our way through traffic jams that make quick drying cement look free-flowing).

Being from England, I'm used to signing such classics as 'The wheels on the bus go round and round...' on coach trips. However, the kids were in full voice signing verse upon verse of catchy tunes that I had never heard, but I'm guessing some of them were from Bollywood films or similar. Unfortunately nobody was able to fully translate the words for me, maybe because a number of the songs were in Kanada.

We had great fun going around the museum. There were lots of questions about what they were seeing (thankfully not too many to me because a) my Hindi/Kanada isn't especially strong and b) my knowledge of planes is about as good as my Hindi/Kanada), and marvelling at stuff that they had only ever seen high in the sky or on a television.

The museum is also right next door to the airport and provides a pretty good view of the planes taking off and landing, giving rise to lots of 'oohhs' and 'aahhs'.

Feedback from the kids was that it had been an excellent day out, but next time could they go in a real plane? Tricky one to do given a budget of Rs. 7,000 per funday (which for 40 kids/volunteers is Rs. 175 a head), but apparently DAD have some contacts at Kingfisher and there may be a chance to get them on a real plane while its on the ground.

I was inspired by the experience (and many others while I've been here!), seeing eyes light up in amazement and wonder, seeing the dream develop for these kids about what it would be like to fly in a plane and when can they do it. I strongly encourage anyone reading this to come and help inspire similar dreams!

You can see some more pictures by going here and here.

Hugh Jackson (hugh@hughjackson.net)

Sports for Development - The story of Sukanya

It's my pleasure to share an amazing story of Sukanya from Ananya has been attending Dream TT program for the last 5 years. She participated in the recently concluded state level Tournament held in Bangalore. When compared to other senior children in the batch she has not been picking up the technical skills so fast. However, her interest in attending TT sessions regularly and especially during the summer vacations has prompted me to share this story with you.


I am proud to explain the real impact of our sports program up on Sukanya and how she built life skills over the years. The story goes like this, I got a phone call from Sukanya asking whether she could come and attend TT sessions during summer vacation that is in April and May. I replied, yes of course you could come but should be regular and have to track on your traveling expenses and give it to me every week. My thinking was that she might not be regular but I made sure that coach would be coming for the sessions.

A week later, I was surprised to see her bring me the track record of her and other 2 members (Durga and Sharad, they were also coming with her to attend the sessions) traveling expenses. It was in such a way that she wrote the names of each child with date behind the bus tickets which attached on a paper that gave details of each days traveling expenses. I realised that Sukanya has developed a discipline in doing things and taking responsibility whenever it needed.

But the most wonderful thing was her confidence and responsibility she showed in the junior level state level TT tournament. This was the first time we took girls for a tournament and I selected Sukanya and Durga along with other 4 Boys. On the second day of the tournament since I was not able to go to the tournament, I called Sukanya and asked her to come office in order to collect the money for arranging food for everybody on the day. But she told that she would not come to office since it would take atleast one hour instead she would collect some money from her father and manage the day. She not only managed the day and arranged the food, but also she dropped the Vishwas children at Jayanagar 4th block after the matches. The next day after the tournament she submitted all expense details with bills and settled the account with me.

As a program coordinator working with Sukanya, I am sure that the leadership quality, those she posses, is really the impact of our program. The story of Sukanya does not end here. I want to see her as the role model for the entire batch and maybe working at Dream A Dream someday.

Sukanya inspired me to take more actions for making a visible difference in many more children and I am sure everyone reading this will get inspired by Sukanya determination and commitment.

Bobbymon George, Program Coordinator, Dream A Dream
May 17, 2008