Dalit Freedom Network Canada

This month, in lieu of writing a Project update we are inviting you to share your thoughts, opinions, and stories. We are asking you to write a comment on this page telling us and other readers why you support this particular project. What is it about education that interests you? What made you decide to get involved?

The staff of DFN Canada truly believes that you are as much a part of what is happening in India as we are. We are very thankful to have you as part of the team.

Let us know why this cause caught your attention!

This is a video of a group of orphaned or abandoned girls living in a hostel in South India. They composed this song themselves.

It is currently summer break for students in India, but many schools’ teachers and managers are still hard at work. During the break staff members visit villages to inform parents about their schools and to invite Dalit children to enroll. These visits often involve going to remote villages where no children are yet being educated. In certain areas, the visits are very targeted; for instance, the community surrounding HRD school has so far sent very few girls to study, as they don’t see the importance of educating their daughters. HRD’s manager is therefore sharing explicitly about the importance of educating all children. Through these visits we hope to see many more Dalit children receiving education and working towards a brighter future. 

DFN’s ninety schools across India are committed to a high standard of English-medium education, education that would not be available or affordable for Dalit children. However, as important as the quality of the teaching are the life lessons that the students learn. Parents of Good Shepherd School students in many villages report that since enrolling, their children are now disciplined, respectful, and clean. What’s more, students are taught both explicitly and more subtly about their own value, as their teachers love them, spend time with them, touch them, and treat upper caste and Dalit students the same. The DFN schools are truly providing life education for their students, transforming their sense of self-worth as well as their knowledge and opportunities for the future.