Was it Bre'r Rabbit?... "the faster I run, the behinder I get..." 
Volunteers and I continue to be kept hopping by all the SEED kids 
(and other students) - with daily tuition classes and quite a number 
of "special events."  After 7 hours in school, these students put in 
3 or more hours a day (6 days/week) on schoolwork at the SEED Study 
Centres.  With so much time devoted to studies, we try to make sure 
there are some fun breaks for them, too... hence the "special 
events," to give them a chance to be just plain kids.

The Karumbalai volunteers are incredible!  Every day 4 college 
students and one final-year highschooler give at least 2 hours of 
their time tutoring the kids - 1/2 hr tutoring sessions in each of 
their study subjects, grades 6-10, are scheduled after school 
(430-730PM) so all the students can get help.  I marvel at the 
volunteers' commitment to devote so much to helping these kids, do 
their own studies, and still find time to attend practically every 
non-academic SEED event, where their presence and support is also 
enormously helpful.

Recent SEED happenings:

- 8 Aug - "Parent-Teacher (volunteer)" meeting in Karumbalai, to 
answer parents' questions about what goes on in the Study Centre, to 
restate our educational purpose - and re-emphasize our exclusively 
education-oriented support - and to stress the importance of 
continued parental support for their children to be able to benefit 
as fully as possible from what SEED can offer.  Twenty mothers and 2 
fathers of the 26 students attended; it was a very positive 
experience.

- 13 Aug - "SEED Picnic" at a fairly isolated, beautiful, and 
peaceful (before we arrived!) spot about 20 miles from Madurai.  We 
hired a local college bus, loaded up 60+ kids in Karumbalai at 730AM, 
picked up 25 more in Sambakudi, and headed out for a day of exercise 
and fun.  The group also included the village girls' school teacher 
(Padmini Mon Singh) & daughter, the American College chaplin's wife 
(Kirubai Aruldoss), daughter & son, 2 visitors from the U.S. (Emily & 
Bharath), Dr. Venkatraman, and 6 college volunteers.  Students 
brought their own lunches, SEED provided fruits and biscuits, and the 
volunteers cooked up tea and some lentil snack food.

The day started with introductions - we were all paired off randomly, 
given a few minutes to meet each other, then asked to "introduce" our 
partner to the group.  (This was the first time the Sambakudi and 
Karumbalai students had met, so the intros were an initial step in 
their getting to know one another.)  Then we took a "nature walk" 
across the earth dam at the site, and returned for some pick-up 
volleyball, football (soccer), ring-toss games.  Some students found 
a shallow pool in a nearby streambed, where a bunch of us waded in 
and had a great time splashing around.  (Skirts were hiked, and pants 
rolled up... not a totally successful effort at keeping clothes dry!) 
Back together for lunch, then some group games, and finally a couple 
of dance performances and "thank you" speeches by the students.  Back 
into the bus, we dropped the Sambakudi girls off at the village - to 
a much warmer "farewell" than had been their rather shy reception, 
now that they had become newly-made friends! - and the rest of us 
returned to Karumbalai in late afternoon.

- 15 Aug - Independence Day began for quite a few students early in 
the day with  a visit to the Gandhi Museum (near Karumbalai); others 
attended "functions" at their schools.  Then the SEED Centre came to 
life, with specially prepared songs and dances, student speeches, and 
a guest's talk on the history of the freedom struggle - with special 
reference to various roles played by Dalit leaders.  (As soon as the 
presenters were thanked and the program wrapped up, the kids picked 
up their books and started preparing for the next day's school.)

- 18 Aug - "Mariyammal's Birthday" - she's the now 17 year old who's 
in charge of the Sambakudi Study Centre.  Having met her on the 
picnic, the Karumbalai kids all wanted to go visit Mariyammal on her 
birthday.  That was out of the question, but 8 girls piled into the 
back of a taxi, with Karthi & me in front holding a HUGE (11 lb) cake 
on our laps.  (An identical cake was prepared for the Karumbalai 
Centre, so those 50 or so students left behind could feel a part of 
the celebration, too.)  Dr.V preceded us to the village by a few 
minutes, to let them know of our imminent arrival; best we could do 
to keep it a "surprise" and still give them time to gather at the 
Study Centre.  On our arrival, the students quickly strung colorful 
streamers and balloons around the Centre, and wrote a big "Happy 
Birthday" message on the blackboard.

Mariyammal picked Sasikala (from Karumbalai) as her "special guest;" 
they were seated in front while Kalaiselvi (Sambakudi student) gave 
an impromptu welcome address.  The 17 candles were lit, and blown out 
to great applause; after a big chunk of the cake was set aside for 
Mariyammal's family, Dr.V took charge of cutting up the rest - more 
than 150 pieces, best I could count! - to distribute to all the folks 
gathered outside the Centre.  (We used squares of newsprint for 
plates, which are not common in village homes.)  A watch was given 
from SEED, and greeting cards signed by all the Karumbalai people 
were presented.  Then as it was getting late - and we'd promised to 
return by 7PM - Malarvizhi & Nirmala (of Karumbalai) put on an 
abbreviated performance of the dance they'd prepared,and Kalaiselvi 
wrapped it up with a quick word of thanks.  Though in a hurry to get 
back, we had quite a time rounding up the Karumbalai kids into the 
taxi... they kept dashing off with Sambakudi girls to visit their 
homes!  This won't be their last get-together, for sure!!

- 20 Aug - "Competition day" saw 50+ Karumbalai kids visit a nearby 
residential school for orphans (about 120 of them), to spend the day 
in friendly contests of rangoli (colored powder) and crayon drawings, 
rehearsed "speeches," singing and dance.  I made myself useful 
scooting off for several purchases of more powder - the drawings on 
the ground kept getting bigger and more colorful! - and to pick up 
Indian-style Koolaid makings and ice to quench some hefty thirsts. 
(It's the only time I've ever ridden on a scooter with a 40 lb. block 
of ice between my feet!)  Thankfully, my numerous absences didn't 
cause me to miss the performance of the day - a beautifully rehearsed 
folk dance by two tiny youngsters (she 3rd grade, he 4th) - that had 
the whole crowd cheering!  I never cease to be amazed at how easily 
these kids come together, and readily offer each other praise.

Words will never suffice, of course... wish you could see ALL the 
pix! (a few of which are coming in a following message, for 
convenience)... even better, if you ever get a chance to visit...!! - 
Ted

PS - Much of my "idle" time is taken up with sorting, editing, 
composing and printing photos of these events on "album" pages which 
are posted in the Study Centres, then stored in files there.  The 
marvels of a digital camera, computer and color printer... without 
them, you all couldn't enjoy some of these visual delights, either.