The Village Primary School and Balwadi (Day Care Center)

The village Balwadi and Primary School (Class 1 through 5) is situated just outside my house.

The Balwadi is to the left and the Primary School is to the right - You can click on the picture to see a larger image

At the very end are the toilets, in a separate structure for the school.

The main room of the Balwadi in which the children sit is just a room with a desk. The children sit on the floor. In summer it gets hot and they spend time outdoors.

The primary school consists of two rooms and a verandah. Five classes share these spaces each of which has a desk for the two teachers and the head master. The children sit on the floor.

Primary School Children

The children are celebrating Swami Vivekananda's Birthday. Two boys are dressed up as the Swami and the other children are holding up placards in Kannada.

Pre-school Children flanked by Teacher on the right and helper on the left

The primary school kitchen

All the children are served mid-day meals. The Balwadi has a separate kitchen situate in their building.

This year the number of children in the primary school was fewer than the last, and one of the kitchen helpers was let go. Figure this is in a nation of 1.2 Billion. But she is doing OK, working at a Cashew Nut Splitting center.

The structural work is complete

The roofs were poured in May 2012. I have been delinquent in taking pictures and posting. So here goes. You can click on a picture to view a bigger size.

This is the view from one of the balconies

The Solar Hot Water Heater and Water Tank

Looking West towards the Arabian Sea

As you enter

Each room is made to look like a cottage and clustered like a village with an open space in between.

Each Bathroom has an opening to the sky where the shower will be located.

I do have pictures of the reinforcements before the concrete was poured. Will post in a few weeks.

Click on the following links for previous posts:

The previous post has pictures before the top was poured.

This post has the beginnings of the upper floor.

Link to pictures of the outside of the house.

Pictures of the inside of the house.