When you're ten years old. how do you make sense of a life of poverty, and yet be filled with optimism and confidence for the future. This is what hope looks like for Vishal. Not only is he believing in his personal success, but he is looking beyond to how he can make a difference to the lives of other children like him and to bring about long term change in his village. I'm so proud of him!

I am Vishal and I am 10 years old. I live in Parmawala Village in the Indian jungle. I’m in Grade 3 at school. My favourite thing is football but mostly we do not have a ball to play with because the big boys steal it. I go to the Project Help Education Centre where there are 48 kids of all ages in my class. Some of us go to the government school during the day but I don’t go all the time, especially during the monsoon rains and when it’s too hot. My feet get blisters which do not go away quickly, so I do not like walking. Sometimes after I walk the long distance even my teacher is mostly not there, so instead I would rather be playing with my friends all day long.

At first I didn’t want to go to Project Help but my mother made me go. I wanted to be with my friends instead, where we would hang and not do much and just make a football, or tease the cattle and get into trouble. But now I realise that when I study hard I can hope to see my dreams come true.

As I told you I am from Parmawala Village which is a very poor place in the jungles. Here most people do not know about us except for Project Help. I live in a very small hut with my mother, my father, my brother and sister. They all work hard to keep us surviving every day. My mother stays inside the house and she is ill most of the time. When she has energy she will cook and do hard work housekeeping too. My sister and brother are labourers in other people’s fields, maybe they will not even earn 100 rupees ($2AUS) a day. My father is also a labourer in the fields and he has short luck in his life. Now he mostly spends all the money by getting drunk and he quarrels at the end of the day. I stay away from him when he is like this but it is difficult when I am trying to get to sleep.

So my mother insisted I go to the Project Help Centre where my teacher is Rakhi. I think she is kind and beautiful and I love her. At first I was naughty and cheeky but Rakhi was patient and keeped on smiling. She did not hit me with the stick like the teacher at the government school. Instead Rakhi asked me to help her to clean and tidy the class before and after our lessons along with some of the other children. I feel very proud and important for Rakhi to give me this responsibility so I want to work hard for her in my studies too.  

Because of my hard work I am learning more things and achieving higher grades. My mother is very proud of me and she says I am changing to be a happy and more responsible boy. I want to achieve my dream for her which is to become a police officer. I want to help make our village known and not forgotten by the world. I will also keep cleaning my village to make all people proud of our location. If I concentrate in my studies I can be successful in the future too, and make the government help kids like me, so they can achieve their dreams too. I hope for this day to come with pride and confidence in myself. My mother and I thank Rakhi and Project Help for making this happen in my life.

The power and life long impact of a child's education

The mission of Project help India is to bring love, hope, dignity and purpose to the poor in India. In Vishal’s story see how his education, which comes packaged with love, care, nurture, a sense of belonging and being valued by his teacher and others, is changing his life.

Thank you to the many supporters of www.projecthelpindia.co for your significant part in making this possible for Vishal and the many other children who attend one of our thirteen Project Help India education centres. How your donation dollar is spent;

- $35 is the approximate cost of tuition and meals for a child per month
- $45 is the approximate cost of tuition and meals for a child at our Kotdwara Disability Centre per month
- $100 is the cost of a teacher's salary per month

I sincerely appreciate your interest, compassion, generosity and the encouragement that this brings.

As Desmond Tutu famously stated; 
"Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness."

On Mother's Day, I honour and celebrate the amazing mothers and women in our lives who love and sacrifice for us to flourish and live our best lives. Despite their differences, mothers around the world share a common hope for their children's future. 
 
This Mother’s Day I especially honour my mum. She fought for me and believed in my dream to be a teacher (and she still does!). From what I understand I was the first kid from both sides of my family to ever go to university. Mum, you were the one who helped me to do so much more than I ever thought I could. I love you mum!
 
I see this too in my wife – the fight, the passion, her relentless, never-ending love for our 3 kids. Thank you …Our kids are awesome individuals and I am certainly a better dad because of you.
 
As an educator of 36 years I’ve seen SO MANY changes, but if there is one thing that remains the same – the love and fierce determination of a mum as she cares for her kids, invested in their education, wanting only what is best for them. We wouldn’t want it any other way - even when sometimes you might cause this Principal some grief from time to time. I honour you all.

Today at the school gate, I asked a Year 3 student where his school hat was, his answer was “my mum forgot to give it to me”. I told him that he had to take responsibility for his actions and that it was not his mother’s fault …gee, some mums really cop it! Thank you to the mums at my school – you really are amazing and I am in awe of what you do.
 
I’m deeply moved by the stories of these four remarkable women. They are mums of some of the kids who attend some of our Project Help India Centres. Day in and day out each one of these women faces extreme hardship due to poverty and limited resources. They worry about their children's future and recognise that education is key to a better life, free from hunger and desperation. This Mother's Day, I extend my heartfelt appreciation to the mothers of over 670 children who attend our centres five days a week. We acknowledge the challenges that you face on a daily basis, and how you fight for the welfare and safety of your children. It is a privilege for us at Project Help India to care for, and educate your children, and we will continue to do so with dedication and passion. I think you are some of the most courageous women on this planet.

Anita's Story - she hopes that her daughters will become literate and lead a good life, not impacted by their father's addictions.
Pinki's Story - she hopes that her children will have a better quality life, free of poverty.
Poonam's Story - she hopes that her children will not have to endure the same hardships and struggles that she has had in life.
Urmila's Story - she hopes that her children will be safe and free from their father's addictions and violence.

We must care for our mums - empower them and give them every ounce of credit they deserve …each is an inspiration and an example of the power of sacrificial love, resilience, strength and incredible patience.

Thank you freestocks for your great image at the top!

I find it a sad and confronting irony that this week, that some of the most disadvantaged children on this planet were doing their bit on ‘Earth Day 23’ to make their world a better place. I actually think it’s quite scandalous (and inspiring) that these children who have inherited basically nothing in life, except for a dirty slum, are the ones who, with smiles on their faces, are enthusiastically cleaning their patch and making a difference.

Kids are kids no matter where in the world
I see exactly the same for the children who I work with and alongside at my school in Sydney. They are kind, compassionate, inclusive, creative and generous in their willingness to help and serve others and their community.

We would all agree that our planet needs hope. It makes me wonder what happens after childhood that hardens so many adults? I suggest that one way to make a significant difference is to give greater recognition to the precious stage of life called ‘childhood.’

Children provide us with both an opportunity and a solution
We must listen to children more - giving them a voice to bring their perspective, creativity and ideas for solving problems to shape and impact the world they are growing up in.

We must give children more opportunities to ‘be’ the solution - the smiles on their faces, energy and enthusiasm that I consistently see in all children, from the poorest of the poor to some of the most wealthy, is all the evidence I need to know that they can surely do a better job than most adults. Kids love to get their hands dirty but most of the time we don’t let them (oh dear, they might get germs!).

We must be committed to change and to be bringers of hope - why? because of our children need us to have hope. A vicious cycle is created when kids see adults as despondent, cynical and pessimistic about the future and life in general.

Education is key - to bring hope and to make change happen, priorities within the curriculum must be challenged. Let’s also consider how much time we are giving kids each day, whilst they are at school, to do the things that really matter, to have impact in their community and the lives of others, connecting with others - to be truly human.

Hope is a two way street
​I am personally committed to make a difference in my life and work to bring hope to children. But when I think deeply about this, it’s actually the kids who bring and give me so much hope and inspiration. I’m sure there are children in your life who do the same for you.

Let us be mindful of the children,
being born today,
in a world torn apart
by humans.
Let us show our children
a more excellent way
to walk on the earth and be human,
truly human.

Let us love this world
we’ve been breaking apart
and let our love bring wholeness.
And let us love one another
with a compassionate heart
for it is love that makes us human, human.
(Brian McLaren, ‘Weep for the World’ – (stanzas 2&3))

What the kids did on Earth Day 2023 inspired someone enough to tell the media about their initiative and efforts. Check out this news clip that featured on @Himilaya News. The item talks about Project Help India students who went into the slum river, jungles and fields to clean up garbage and plastics.

Today my school held our annual ‘Grandparents and Special Friends Day’. It was such a heart-warming occasion. The sun was shining, the rain held off and the children’s performances were magnificent. The classrooms looked brilliant showcasing the artistic endeavours and academic work of our students. I thank and honour the hard work of the teachers and many others who made the occassion possible.

This morning I encouraged our visitors to consider the following reflections.

Time with a grandparent or special friend is a precious gift for a child. Grandparents and special friends have a significant part to play in a child’s life irrespective of the quantity of time - so whether they are able to spend a lot of time together or just a day or two a year it can be impactful in that child’s development. From my perspective, it can be particularly valuable in three ways:

• Spending time with children means sharing moments of joy and wonder together. Find and create opportunities to discover and enjoy nature, walks along the beach and playing at the park or in the garden.
• Sharing stories about your life and past. It is through the telling of your family stories that children learn so much about who they are, their identity and understanding of the world.
• Offer your unconditional love. In this rapidly changing world, educators and parents so often find themselves in ‘unchartered territory’. Grandparents have an important role in showing love and instilling a sense of value and worth in the lives of children. As children grow up and make mistakes they need the consistent love and safety of someone who is there for them, who they can turn to - no matter what they do and regardless of who they grow up to become. 

I love our school community. Thank you everyone for all you bring and contribute to the sense of love, warmth and happiness that we experience here at school. We must never forget to pray for our school - for the children, staff and families, and may we never take for granted all that we have in our lives.

We’ve enjoyed another great week at school this week. A big ‘shout out’ to our Year 3 and 5 students who have approached the NAPLAN exams with maturity determination and a growth mindset. I have faith that each student has given their very best effort each day.

For me there is a ‘tension’ with my conflicting feelings about NAPLAN. I definitely believe that the tests do not provide the full picture of who children are - what makes an individual remarkable, exceptional and unique. Tests are also a snapshot in time. We celebrate a child’s achievements and contribution in all aspects of their schooling. 

Yet, the process of NAPLAN and exams can offer an opportunity for children.  We do children no favours if we diminish NAPLAN to such a point that we say the results and the exam process holds no merit. I think a MamaMia opinion piece this week (link here) summed it up well;

Life is full of tests and insisting that they are inconsequential isn’t doing students any favours. Sometimes, we need to work hard under pressure. Sometimes, we need to perform. Sometimes, we need to complete a task in a set amount of time and we will be evaluated on it. That’s life. Sometimes we feel stressed and worried, and have to sit with discomfort. By being prepared and doing our best, we learn that those feelings will pass, and life goes on.

I am sure that you would agree that this thought applies to us adults in our lives. One of the greatest character strengths that we can encourage in children is resilience. The concept of resilience requires us to fall down in order to be able to get back up.  The way we learn to approach exams, challenges and mistakes can promote resilience. In contrast, expectations of perfectionism can lead to negative mental health consequences for young people.  There is a shocking correlation between perfectionism and lack of resilience, and university students withdrawing or ‘dropping out’. 

Our kids need to learn that it’s okay to make a mistake and to learn from this. Similarly feedback for improvement should be viewed as a gift. There must be no shame in failing or making a mistake.

I encourage all parents to help your child/ren to know and embrace the thought that school is the ideal place to fail safely.

Let go of the thought that your child’s mistakes will have a negative impact on their future success, or, if I can say this without possibly offending some - that your child’s mistakes are a reflection of you as a parent… a ‘perfect’ A+ report does not reflect a perfect child. More than ever our children need to know that regardless of the problem, the mistake, or the perceived or actual ‘failure’ - we love, value and embrace them no matter what. If not, children quickly learn that they cannot turn to us (as teachers and parents) for help when they really need it. Hard lessons learned in the care and nurture of a primary school are much ‘safer’ than the same mistakes made as a teenager - especially if over 18 years of age. 

We must also be a strong, resilient school community that collectively works together for the wellbeing and flourishing of all children and families. I believe that this is a strength of our school, but we must never take it for granted, and continue to support, understand and have empathy for one another.

Student NAPLAN results provide us with important data that guides the school in identifying individual strengths and abilities, tracking growth and setting improvement goals. The data assists teachers in planning lessons and programs to target the point of needs of learners individually and as a cohort. NAPLAN data also informs the professional learning targets for teachers and for us as a school. For example, if we were to see perhaps weaker Mathematics results, the NAPLAN data helps us to determine areas for ongoing training and development in the teaching of Mathematics.
My own professional mentor challenges my thinking, especially in regard to the pressure of the perfectionistic expectations that I tend to place on myself. One important ‘mantra’ that I have taken on board thanks to my mentor is this:

“I have done my best, with God’s help, with the resources I have.” 

This mantra sits perfectly with how I think our kids need to view NAPLAN …treat the opportunity with respect, be thankful for the challenge, and be confident in the knowledge that you gave it your best shot with the resources that at the time. Your NAPLAN results can help you to learn and grow but do not reflect who you truly are, nor will they determine your ultimate success or future. Most importantly, know that with all trials and challenges that will surely come your way, know that God is with you and He loves you unconditionally - no matter what.

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us—they help us learn to be patient. And patience develops strength of character in us and helps us trust God more each time we use it until finally our hope and faith are strong and steady. Romans 5:3-4

At a parent function last week I shared some recollections from childhood.

For me, when I was a child, one of the greatest joys was the opportunity to experience nature. Firstly, may I preface that back in the seventies when I was growing up, I was essentially allowed to ‘roam the street’. As a child I would ride my bike anywhere in my home town of Ingleburn. 

Here I am on the morning of my 9th birthday in my Cubs uniform and favourite 'gym boots' (I got the bike for my birthday), so pleased and proud. 


My family’s rule was that wherever I was, I had to be back home 5 minutes after the street lights went on in the evening. Otherwise I was in big trouble! On weekends I was given greater latitude and allowed to ride my bike a few miles to the Georges River. Here, my friends and I would swim unattended and unsupervised at the local swimming hole. I have many wonderful memories of catching butterflies, guppies, yabbies and the occasional wild budgerigar. I have no doubt that these experiences shaped my resilience, risk taking, sense of adventure and love of nature.

Jump forward 30 years to the time my three kids were all primary aged, some of our family’s most precious memories include long days and late evenings spent playing and swimming together at Coogee Beach, and a holiday shack in the ‘middle of nowhere’ north of Tamworth that we would visit for holidays twice a year. It was in this rural location that we soaked up the walks in the bush, seeing the kangaroos, sitting around campfires and looking up at the stars at night. We all still miss that place so much - it was a haven for a decade’s worth of family holidays.

Reflecting on these memories, I recognise that  it is now a challenging time to be a parent, as we battle the ever increasing pull of screen time and indoor co-curricular activities. There is a growing body of literature and research that shows positive correlations between experiences of nature, unstructured exercise and playing (this does not include a soccer or netball coaching camp as an example) and time spent outdoors with positive mental health outcomes for children, adolescents and further into the later years of life. I highly recommend this book by Pasi Sahlberg (2019) ‘Let the Children Play: How More Play Will Save Our Schools and Help Children Thrive’. The Amazon synopsis for this book says the following;

‘Play is how children explore, discover, fail, succeed, socialise, and flourish. It is a fundamental element of the human condition. It's the key to giving school children skills they need to succeed - skills like creativity, innovation, teamwork, focus, resilience, expressiveness, empathy, concentration, and executive function. Expert organisations such as the American Academy of Pediatrics, the National Academy of Sciences, and the Centers for Disease Control agree that play and physical activity are critical foundations of childhood, academics, and future skills’
​
So, what can we do with our awareness of this knowledge? My encouragement, which draws on my experiences as both Principal and a father of three, is to create opportunities for time together - exploring rockpools, playing games at the park, hiking, swimming at the beach, a farm-stay holiday (with no kids club), and so much more. There are so many fabulous places to explore in our local area, across Sydney and its surrounds. Enjoy your children for ‘who they are now’, not who they are going to be, or who you hope them to be one day. Really see them for who they are and celebrate their talents, interests, personality and character. Laugh together. Tell your kids that you believe in them, share stories from your own childhood, have fun playing together and in doing so, you will create formative experiences and precious memories. As you do this, you are sowing into what I believe is ‘the’ most important of all life stages - childhood. 
​
Remember that spending time with family was one of the things we valued about the COVID lockdowns? How quickly we can move on from that awareness and be pressured back into the frantic pace of our lives.

This week I received a letter which moved me to tears. The letter from Esra V (Year 4 student) seeking my support and suggesting ideas for a fundraising initiative to support the humanitarian crisis in Turkey and Syria. With Esra’s permission I have included her letter for you to read here.

‘To Mr Thomas

I hope my letter finds you well. I am sure you have seen on the news that Southern Turkey and Northern Syria has had a 7.8 magnitude earthquake. Many people have died and many people are still under broken buildings. It is very cold in this part of Turkey at the moment. It is snowing and so many people have lost their homes and their belongings.

It makes me feel very sad and I also feel lucky and grateful to live in Australia. I am a third generation Australian with Turkish heritage and because of this I would like to raise awareness to my school. With your permission and advice I would like to raise money to help the people who are suffering.

I was thinking of having a stall and selling Turkish things such as Turkish delight, jams and honey, and evil eye bracelets or keyrings. Another idea I had was to have a Doner Kebab Day at school for lunch. My grandfather has a doner machine and knows people who have all of the ingredients for a day like this.

I am hoping you could maybe let me know what you think and maybe we could have a discussion when you have time.

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Kind regards
Esra V’

Esra’s words reminded me of the Claremont College Vision Statement, ‘Impact that Matters’, which in essence is what a Claremont College Christian Education is all about - equipping children with the knowledge, skills and attributes for a life of success, service and contribution that makes a difference in the world, and in the lives of others. 

Our current ‘Strategic Intent’ (published late 2022) outlines 5 Graduate Attributes. These statements capture our commitment to shaping our students to become remarkable individuals who, by the time they leave Year 6, will do so with specific qualities, skills and understandings that each student will gain as a result of their learning experiences throughout their time at Claremont College. We aim for our students to become young citizens who leave our school to become successful in life and in their careers, and in their contribution to society, and we hope and pray that they continue to grow and mature to continue to be:
​

• Curious and resilient learners;
• Critical and creative thinkers;
• Confident and respectful communicators;
• Courageous and humble citizens and leaders; and
• Committed and empathetic problem solvers.

Thank you Esra for being a courageous, compassionate and humble citizen. You have certainly demonstrated the leadership that I referenced at this morning’s Chapel and School Leadership Induction Service. Following your lead, we will plan ways over the coming weeks for the Claremont students and community to raise money for the victims of the earthquake. I encourage our whole school community to get behind this important cause. 

I'm doubly blessed
I am thankful for my school. I am especially grateful for my leadership Team who inspire me and for the students, staff and parents - who bring joy, purpose and encouragement. I take none of this for granted. 

It is also such a privilege for me to co-lead and be part of a team that brings education to some of the most vulnerable and marginalised kids on the plant. With this, I am mindful that if it wasn't for the skills and many things that I learn in my daily work as Principal that I would not be able to do what I do in India and to bring education to kids like Madhu...

Madhu's Story
Madhu is a daughter of a poor Hindu family. She is 7 years old and studies in class 3. Her father's name is Dhyan Singh and her mother's name is Jayavanti Devi. Madhu has two younger sisters and a younger brother.

Both of Madhu's parents work as labours. They both leave for work in the morning, after that Madhu takes care of her sisters and brother, as well as getting herself to and from school each day. Madhu is a very playful girl.

Madhu's living condition is not very good as her father drinks alcohol every day and is addicted to gambling. Madhu's father sometimes fights with her mother in his drunken state. Her mother is also addicted to gambling. When her parents fight with each other, Madhu and her siblings have to starve that night. Her father wastes his earnings in either alcohol or in gambling. He does not seem to care for his children.

Madhu has been attending one of the Project Help Jungle Village centres for the last 3 to 4 years. In the beginning she used to fight with the other students, use bad words and rarely attend. She would mostly be very rude and ignore her teacher. But now she has changed. She attends the centre regularly and whenever she is ill she informs the teacher about it. She don't use bad words anymore and now doesn't fight with anyone. She is doing well in her studies and tries her hard to learn new things. She takes part in the extra curricular programs held in the centre specially dancing. She is now friends with everyone.

Madhu's mother is very thankful to Project Help and says that the whole village community is changing because all of the children can now access a good education in their locality.

This education is changing the future of the children from one where there is no hope, to one filled with possibility and promise. Many kids like Madhu and working hard because they want a better life, than what they now have. While it’s slow and gradual, this is evidence of a community transformed by education and a sense of purpose.

Happy New Year to the Claremont College school community. Enjoy your break and I cant wait to see you soon!