Visit to Metropolitan Expeditionary Learning School

Today (Wednesday, April 13th) I visited students at the Metropolitan Expeditionary Learning School in New York. The school is part of the Outward Bound network, and students and teachers embark on expeditions (similar to interdisciplinary units) as part of their curriculum.





Their current expeditions is called "Taking a Stand" and Ms. Shiney, a teacher at the school, invited me in to talk about fund-raising and advocating for Meher. The students had already learned a lot about India, Meher, and activism, and had great questions and ideas to share with me. After our discussion, the students made posters to show what they had learned and explain the issue and solution to the rest of the school.





It was a wonderful visit and I really enjoyed sharing Meher's story with the students.

Pizza!

Recently Meher's uncle and some Project Why visitors went to see everyone at the boarding school. They brought pizza which was very warmly received. The children are doing well and enjoying school as always.



Here they are with the principal

Meher at School

Last month, I went to visit Meher, Utpal, and the foster children from Project Why (Aditya, Babli, Vicky, Nikhil and now little Manisha) at their boarding school. The children were so happy to see us (my sister and cousins came as well) and very proud to show us around the school. Each child insisted we see his or her classroom, cupboard, and bed. They are all very happy to be there and told us how much they enjoy school. Meher in particular told me she enjoys schools, especially because "we eat lunch and play everyday."

Here is a video of Meher showing us her cupboard:

Getting Ready for School

My parents recently visited New Delhi and brought Meher some new clothes from her friends at Hough Street School in Barrington. She and everyone at Project Why were very excited to see them!


Here she is modeling a dress that students at Hough Street School sent to Delhi for her.











They also went to see Dr. Khazanchi to talk about the last operation on Meher's
hands.


Meher is studying hard as she recently passed her entrance exam to go to boarding school.

Visitors and New Friends

Maggie and Brian have returned to the US and are already being missed here at Project Why. I came to work alone this morning as my parents are elsewhere and everyone asked where all the visitors were. At the Women's Centre especially they will be remembered fondly by all the teachers and children. Meher especially misses the interaction, as she enjoyed meeting them and inviting all of us to her house where she proudly showed us her toys and invited us to drink tea with her. Her parents and neighbors were extremely welcoming and even went to the trouble of buying Coca-Cola for us (which is very expensive, but supposedly the right thing to serve to foreigners!)
My father and mother (who are doctors themselves) explained the different surgeries to Meher's family and to many of the Women's Centre staff as everyone will need to work together to support and look after her during the three month process.