Lessons at the Coke Factory

“It was really like being in Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory ,” laughs Shruti Tulpule. The fourth-year student at ILS is describing a trip to the Coca Cola factory in Pirangut,with a bunch of kids from Ekalavya. Tulpule is a teacher trainer with Make A Difference,an NGO that has spread its wings in 13 cities and is looking to explore more. It all started when a group of six friends in Kochi,Kerala,decided to stop their talk of good intent and roll up their sleeves for some real work. “There was no defining moment as such,” recalls 24-year-old Jithin C Nedumala,from Kerala. He is one the people who gave shape to MAD and is now acknowledged as the CEO on the website. “On a visit to an orphanage,we expect to see needy,vulnerable kids who are happy with whatever they get. But the truth is,the kids we met,some off the streets,were all extremely happy people with a positive outlook towards life. We had initially met a group of kids who were,luckily for us,below the age of 10,thinking we could make their day. But we came out with our days brightened instead.”

The Pune branch of MAD began in 2007 when some from the original group moved to the city to study. The movement began slowly,but over the years has developed a tight structure,with quasi-franchise chapters starting in other cities. The broad objective of this youth-centric outfit is to empower kids from disadvantaged backgrounds with a practical understanding of the English language. “The average age of volunteers in this organisation is 20. This makes the whole effort effective,” says Tulpule. Close to 112 volunteers power MAD Pune by taking out two hours every week to spend time with a total of 300 children from St. Crispin’s Home at Nal Stop,the remand home for boys at Shivajinagar and Stree Shikshan Sanstha on Karve road. The year begins with a Baseline Assessment Test,which helps determine the level of competency among the children,so they can be divided into groups of nine or ten. Each such group is coached by two teacher volunteers. “Some of these children reach the IV or the V standard without even being able to spell ABC. The test helps us align them together,” says Tulpule.

One of the strongest facets of MAD is its syllabus and the beautiful books that communicate the matter to the kids. When the NGO decided that ad hoc photocopies of the text wasn’t enough to get the ball rolling in classes,a deal was struck with Cambridge University Press. From 2010,crisp,colourful paperbacks authored by Andrew Littlejohn and at a subsidised rate of Rs 99 per book,entered the scene. Littlejohn,a well-known professor of English and author of numerous books and journals,has also created the material for the teacher training programme and is now in the process of writing a book keeping in mind Indian sensibilities. “Every teacher volunteer who wishes to enter MAD must undertake eight hours each of teacher training and curriculum training,” informs Tulpule. Curriculum training involves tips on class control,games to teach English basics to the kids,et al.

MAD runs on a three-wheeler project scheme – English teaching,Project Library (currently comprising 500 donated books like Tinkle,Chacha Chaudhary and more) and the Placement Project. The Coke factory visit came about as a part of the last project. “We have also been to the National Defence Academy,and have organised dance,craft and theater workshops. Next up is a magic show,” laughs Tulpule.