Anshu Academies in Tripura, Part 4

Some recent photos of the completed site leveling for School and hostel construction at Ganganagar.

Lemila Vashi

Anshu Academies in Tripura, Part 3

This section deals with the current praise reports as well as prayer requests and needs in Tripura [Ed.].

The school shed is newly constructed at Jariksom through a generous contribution.

Praise Items:

Many donations, large and small, have been received which have helped us in many ways:
(Let us praise God together for the following Praise Items)
construction, furniture, bamboo walling at old bazaar shed, Ganganagar, contributions of pillars/post, khanji and other locally available materials, for a piece of land sold to us in 2010 but which the owner has graciously allowed us to pay for in January 2012.

Teachers-Parents meeting is held every month where interactions are taken up. It is a scene of parents at Ganganagar.

The Particulars of Tripura:

Total area: 10,491,69 Sq. km.

Population: 31,99,206 (2001 census)

By Religion: (2001 census)

Hindu : 27,39,310

Muslim : 2,54,442

Budhists : 98,922

Christians : 1,02,489

Sikhs : 1,182

Jains : 477

Other religions: 1,277

Prayer Requests:

Land: Please pray for Rs. 50,000/- (Rupees Fifty Thousand) only, to be paid for the cost of school land at Jariksom in next January 2012.

Furniture: Benches, desks, tables, chairs and Black Board etc. etc.

Hostels: Hostel constructions is a high demand and a pressing need. Many students cannot come due to lack of hostel accommodation . Neighboring villagers are waiting for new hostel constructions. Ganganagar is a small district town of the area. There is a bright future to get good number of students, if enough hostels are available.

2 Ring wells: Wells are badly needed for children hostel and teachers quarters. Iron content is very high in Tripura. A deep ring well is necessary to get a good quality of water.

Sanitation: Proper sanitation for children (temporary latrines/urinal & bath rooms etc.

Cemented floor.: Tripura is a sandy place. Class rooms are dusty and not hygienic. There is no means to subdue/control the dust except cementing the floor.

Poor Parents: Parents are daily wages earners, however, they have a thirst for their children education. Please pray for them to be able to support their children.

Jariksom Anshu Academy Managing Board Members with LTC/BBCC staff

Lemila Vashi & Mayonsing Vashi

Anshu Academies in Tripura, Part 2

This section deals with the current situation in Tripura [Ed.].

ANSHU is a Sanskrit word, meaning “Ray of Light”.

1. Anshu Academy Ganganagar:

It was started at an old market shed with bamboo walling. A well-wisher from the locality contributed Rs. 7,000/- for bamboo walling. Now there is an order from the government to dismantle the said old market shed. We are compelled to shift the place and construct a new one. The classes are from beginner to Class II with a strength of 105 students and 4 teachers. As the numbers of students are big, they cannot be accommodated. Some students are sitting on the mat in such a congested shed. Rev. Peter Kashung has contributed Rs. 30,000/- for combined benches and desks which is not enough for students.. They are in pitiful condition. By faith, the local Managing Board has taken a bold step to construct a new school shed. Site leveling has been started, but due to limitation of JCP, it is left unfinished which is expected to complete it very soon. The charges of site leveling pillars/posts and other locally available materials are borne by the local people as their local contributions whereas we staff are looking for CGI sheet 8 bundles for roofing. The cost of site leveling is borne partly by the local and partly by the office.

2. Anshu Academy Jariksom:

It was started last year 2010. A thatch roofing shed was constructed by its local people. From office we provided Rs. 1500/- to buy necessary stationary items to start the work. Later, an old house was purchased by Rs. 10,000/- to be used as teacher quarter. One class is upgraded every year. At present, there are 60 students (Beginner to Class I) with 3 teachers. Another old house has been purchased by Rs.15,000/- for teacher quarter. There is no benches nor desks. Children are sitting on planks. There is no water supply. Water sources are very poor. Stream water is not safe for drinking purpose. Last year two students passed away due to malaria attack. People are suffering from various Diseases like, dysentery, diarrhea, malaria, tuberculoses, gastric and other diseases which are counted to be developing countries’ diseases and are related to unsafe water. Moreover, parents from neighboring villages are urging for hostel. The school site measuring to 4 acres was purchased on a cheap price Rs. 50,000/- from a generous villager. With a great concern, he permits us to pay it in full in 2012. Now, we are looking for sources to pay back the money next year.

Mr. & Mrs. Pabanjoy, who sold a school land on reasonable price at Jariksom

We have an interaction with the parents, teachers and School Managing Board at the close of the year. It has been a valuable evaluation and feed back. Their comments and findings are shown below for your kind attention and prayer.

Comments from the Parents:

Our children have been shaped and molded like normal human beings through the help of the school. If not, they would have been like an untamed animal having no discipline and manner.

They have learnt so many new things within one year. While they were in Bangla medium schools, they couldn’t learn even Bangla alphabets. Now, they have learnt both English and Bangla alphabets properly.

Now children are more obedient, clean & tidy and well disciplined. Their minds are broaden and brightened. Great changes have been taken place within a year. We have a brighter hope in future.

A Riang mother who sells vegetables for children support.

Comments from School Board and Teachers:

Children are more regular in Sunday School attendance.

Even non-christian children also came to Sunday school from far and near.

By seeing children activities and performances, parents are more impressed and enthusiastic to construct for school extension.

Parents insisted teachers to commence a new academic session as early as possible in January next. However, since there is no readymade fund for school extension, the School Managing Board has extended till January 24, 2011.

Many parents are demanding for a hostel. At moment, there is no hostel facilities. Therefore, some parents from far villages are going to construct a small thatch roofing house for their children to stay for studies. Some villagers are willing to open children hostel by charging at the lowest rate ranging from Rs. 500 to Rs. 600/- per month for mess fee. But due to scarcity of water, they are not so courageous.

Many more non-believers are eager to attend on Advent Christmas next year.

Sad News:

One boy and one girl passed away due to lack of medical facilities in the area who were suffering from malaria. Both of them are lovely and good in studies. We miss them very much. The staff consoled the parents with prayer.

LTC/BBCC staff taking School text books/uniforms to the schools.

Lemila Vashi & Mayonsing Vashi

Anshu Academies in Tripura, Part 1

Human skulls are displayed at the residence of MR. RAIHAO, Chief of Hunphun/Ukhrul. Some 150 years ago, Tangkhul Nagas were head hunters. Through the coming of William Pettigrew, the first foreign Missionary to Manipur, evil practices in general and the practice of head hunting were given up and embraced the gospel. Those human skulls are still preserved for souvenir.

School a common Platform:

Majority of the inhabitants are unreached people. Christians/believers are very less in percentage. However, school becomes a common platform irrespective of creed and cast or political parties. In fact, it is a kind of binding force for all groups. Parents want to send their children at English medium schools for quality education. In the past, children were bound to study only in Bengali medium schools. The reason behind is that, majority of the people are Bengalis, and they want to impose Bengali culture and literature to the minority groups/tribals. Meanwhile, political leaders took another advantage that, the government job facilities would not be given to the candidates who come from non-Bengali medium schools. In fact, it has been another threat to the ignorant/illiterate parents. In such a way, minority poor tribals were suppressed and denied their freedom in general and in the field of education in particular. As a result, they have not been able to face in public competitive exams. Till date, English speaking people are very rare in the state. Some years back, English medium schools were introduced by Christian Missionaries in some pockets of Tripura. The products of these schools have been found very successful that, they could get white color jobs in central services. Besides, Bru Holy Bible and Bru Hymns Books are written in Roman scripts (English). With this realization, parents feel the need of sending their children in English medium schools.

A scene of Anshu Academy Ganganagar at a Market shed.

Foreign Missionaries, the eye openers in the North East India:

In the context of North East India, when the foreign missionaries came, they brought gospel with civilization and education and through which, the head hunters of north east India such as, Nagas, Mizos and Kukis could give up their social evil practices and were impressed to accept gospel, civilization and education. Wherever, the foreign missionaries landed earlier, the people could open their eyes earlier. These facts cannot be denied at all, rather it is a living testimony of the region. Now Bru/Riangs are placed under the category of Primitive Group of People (PGP) by the Indian government. Politically suppressed/oppressed and economically downtrodden They are still primitive in all areas who need to speed up to meet the standards and challenges of 21st century through getting quality education. Since last year 2010, we have started two English Medium schools with a humble beginning in remote areas. Upon the request of the parents, it has been started without a budget but just by simple faith.

Lemila Vashi & Mayonsing Vashi

Update from Anshu Academy Tripura

Good News from LTC Tripura,

Construction work of new buildings is complete thanks to some kind donations.Some photographs are attached for your kind notice and prayer. We want to give all credit to God for this great event. You will find sweet village children with teachers and self.

Particulars of photographs:

1.Anshu academy Jariksom’s children with teachers and self in front of the newly constructed School shed.

2. Some children coming out from the old School shed after the class.

3.Teachers are engaged in distributing Uniforms and Books.

4.Rev. Mayonsing giving instructions to Teachers for Anshu Academy Ganganagar School shed construction.

5. A Reang mother selling vegetables for children’s support.

With regards,

Lemila Vashi

Tripura Anshu Academy Teacher Orientation

Below are some pictures of Anshu Academy Tripura Teachers Orientation Day 17th & 18th of January 2011.We are singing action songs with the staff.

The tittle of the songs are:

1. Hello hello friend, do you love Jesus?

2. Making melody in my heart.

3. O, be carefull little heart what you think.

4. Group photo (2 teachers were absent).

Lemila & Mayonsing.

Anshu Academy in Tripura

Greetings from Tripura.

I just want to thank God and all of you for turning my dream of 2008 to reality in 2010. God has answered our prayers for English Medium School in Tripura .Now we have two Mission Schools in different locations in the most backward District of Tripura State.

1.ANSHU ACADEMY JARIKSOM- KG with 55 student in 2010.Expecting more in 2011 as we upgrade to Cl- 1 (one)

2. ANSHU ACADEMY GANGANAGAR KG- Cl- 1 with 86 students in 2010. which will be upgraded to Cl- 2 (two).in 2011.

School is a great means for spreading Gospel to all (Hindu, Muslim, Animist and Christians).Please pray for the School Ministry in Tripura.

I am attaching some photographs of Schoos.Pics 1,2 &3-Jariksom, 4,5 &6-Ganganagar.

Wish you a Merry Christmas and a very blessed New Year 2011.

With Regards,

Lemila Vashi
& Mayonsing Vashi