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What started among rumours that
children sent here would be sold overseas has now become a
bustling successful school enjoyed by the children, cherished by
local parents and recognized by the Indian government.
From 70 children in 1994, the first
Sarnath Alice Project school now educates 450 students and has
to turn more away for lack of space and limited funds. They
range in age from 5 to 16 in classes 1 to 10. The children come
from the area around the school just outside Sarnath, mostly
from economically poor families - many of whom would otherwise
have hardly any chance to attend a school. The school is free
except for the few better off who are asked to pay a nominal
monthly fee. All children have a uniform. Sky blue.
A second Alice Project school in
Sarnath was built in 2001 specifically for the education of 24
street children and various after school activities have been
incorporated into the day at both schools including education
for working women (see Alice Schools
for more information).
An Alice Project school in Bodhgaya was
built and opened in 2001 for around 120 Bodhgaya children, some
of whom are residential.. The school building is still being
built and more land will hopefully be acquired for agriculture
projects.
Representatives of all religions came
and blessed the Sarnath and Bodhgaya land before the building
started: a Christian Father, a Jain Priest, a Muslim Mullah, a
Hindu Brahmin and a Buddhist Lama. At each stage of building,
the beginning and the completion, the representatives returned
and gave a blessing for the progress and its future fruit. In
1999 we completed the building of the stupa in the central
courtyard of the first Sarnath school, and His Holiness The Dalai
Lama came to bless it. He described it as 'a symbol of
compassion and wisdom'.
After seven years our school attracts
many visitors and volunteers;
those that come and teach, those that come to research and those
that come just to see to understand. Most return, retaining
links with us, giving us ideas, time, or money for specific
projects. If you want to participate with us in our little
revolution, you are welcome. Details are in the Participation
section.
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