Editing Spark batch graduates: by Jayanth

==='''SPARK'S FIRST BATCH GRADUATED!'''===
With the end-sems coming to a close, and the hostel work to be completed by the time
the students return after their vacations, the activity on Spark has officially come
to a close. Courtesy the generous contributions by people from CMI, we were able to
buy quite a lot of stationery for the kids. We delivered it to them last Tuesday (I
think!) and Vipul, Nivedita and I went over there this Monday to see if they have put it
to good use. In fact, Satish was so excited he had stolen a few books from the other
two and had worked on it! He had also done some basic arithmetic questions, figuring
things out on his own. Trust me, minus english, doing that was no mean task. We spent
another hour there talking to them and so on and told them it would be our final
meeting with them. As good teachers, we advised them to be good and study hard.
Satish amused himself by calling me on my cell form Vipul's cell a few feet away. He
even noted down my number. It was quite touching. Though the other two kids were
perhaps too young to appreciate that this would perhaps be our final meet, Satish
seemed to get it and he was evidently pained at it.
Post this, one of the men working there came upto me and asked me if I can get him
similar books for his daughter. He knows to read Telugu and can read the English
alphabet. He wanted to pick up some more English himself and teach it to his daughter as well. So,
I am going to deliver it to him.
Finally, I think we need to give the whole team a pat on the back, for I think we have
accomplished quite a bit. My thanks to everyone involved and hope a new edition of
Spark starts next year.
Lastly, for the people who only know of our students as "the kids", I have uploaded a few photos!
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http://editthis.info/cmi_spark/Image:Spark00.jpg <br />
http://editthis.info/cmi_spark/Image:Spark01.jpg <br />
http://editthis.info/cmi_spark/Image:Spark08.jpg <br />
http://editthis.info/cmi_spark/Image:Spark03.jpg <br />
http://editthis.info/cmi_spark/Image:Spark04.jpg <br />
http://editthis.info/cmi_spark/Image:Spark05.jpg <br />
http://editthis.info/cmi_spark/Image:Spark06.jpg <br />

Read more about CMI Spark on the page [[Lend a helping hand]].