As these pictures reveal, Michele Streeter's second graders at Island Pond Elementary School are dear hearts. Following my program on India, with a special focus on the recent devestating floods in the Bihar state, the kids started talking about how they could help the poor.
Cooper donated all the money he had in his pocket (see him here [above photo], handing over one of his dollars!) Ryan promised he would do "all my chores" and pledged his full allowance and piggy bank. Other students were equally committed to supporting orphans and displaced families in India.
We created a few craft projects the class will make this month, which the class will sell to raise more Bihar Relief Funds. Through Sujata and Nitya (Jain)Naidu in Bangalore, we will make sure the monies get to those most in need, around Calcutta and other distressed communities. Incredibly, more than three million people lost their homes when rivers overflowed.
Besides talking about what India needs from us, we had fun learning some of the ancient nation's beautiful customs. We greeted each other with "Namaste", dressed Mrs. Streeter in a gorgeous sari and wore a bindi on our foreheads. Here I am putting a bindi on Danielle (below).
How heartening it was to tell the story of India to a group of 7 year olds, and have them respond with such great compassion and generosity. May we all follow their example, may the children lead the way.
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