Monday, November 17, 2014

Case Study No. 1680: Staff of Chagaletti Makkala Granthalaya

chagaletti library subtitle
10:18
Imagine a bunch of curious young children setting foot into one such library, and what if they find librarian being of their own age? This is the hallmark feature of Chagaletti Makkala Granthalaya (Chagaletti Children's Library), situated along the borders of Bangalore and run by the Child Rights Trust. This library, worth all its efforts, was awarded "the best library in a community centre" by Hippocampus Reading Foundation (HRF)
Tags: chagaletti library subtitle
Added: 3 years ago
From: childrightstrust
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[scene opens with a group of children sitting in a circle]
ALL: [translated] Hey, come and we'll tell you a story!
[the oldest child (a teenage girl acting as the librarian) starts talking to the other children]
GIRL 1: [translated] Once there was a small village ... Nod and say "Yes!"
[the other children all say "Yes", then cut to one of the boys talking to the group]
BOY 1: [translated] There was an old woman in the village ...
ALL: Mmm!
[another girl continues the story]
GIRL 2: [translated] She had only one sari ...
ALL: Mmm!
[another boy continues the story]
BOY 2: [translated] There was a big hole in the sari ...
ALL: Mmm!
[another girl continues the story]
GIRL 3: [translated] She asked her son to bring a needle to darn the sari ...
ALL: Mmm!
[the librarian continues the story]
GIRL 1: [translated] After he got the needle, he went to another city to work ...
ALL: Mmm!
[another girl continues the story]
GIRL 4: [translated] The old woman sat on the wall, to darn the only hole with the only needle ...
ALL: Wow!
[another girl continues the story]
GIRL 5: [translated] Suddenly, the needle fell into the well ...
ALL: Mmm!
[the librarian continues the story]
GIRL 1: [translated] Will the needle come back if you say ... "Mmm?"
ALL: [translated] What can we do?
GIRL 1: [translated] Will the needle come up if you say "What can we do?"
ALL: [translated] So, neither the story will end nor the needle will be found!
["Children recite stories with ease" appears on screen, then cut to several shots of the children]
["This has become possible because of the library in Bengaluru Chagaletti, created by children" appears on screen, then cut to several stacks of books in the library]
["Now see Library story ... " appears on screen, then cut to a young woman speaking directly to the camera]
NAGAMANI: [translated] There are many problems in rural areas concerning the libraries, so CRT has been trying to set up libraries in rural India with the help of other NGOs.
[cut to another shot of the woman speaking directly to the camera]
NAGAMANI: [translated] Books, the exchange of knowledge enables them to practice their right to participate.
[cut to a young man speaking directly to the camera]
NAGASIMHA: [translated] There were around six children, they were all excited about social work.
[cut to another young girl speaking directly to the camera]
MEGHANA: [translated] We began our collective in 2006. We were very casual about work before ...
[cut back to the man speaking directly to the camera]
NAGASIMHA: [translated] This made me keen to give them books and information material. I wanted to encourage a culture of dialogue and discussion.
[cut back to the girl speaking directly to the camera]
MEGHANA: [translated] The villagers did not believe in us, and made fun of our collective. They said we just play and don't do anything productive. This teasing made us determined to learn and prove something.
[cut to another shot of the girl speaking directly to the camera]
MEGHANA: [translated] We started reading the textbooks, soon we felt like going to the library, which is a kilometer away. We started borrowing books and reading. We felt it would be great to have our own library in our own village. CRT kindly helped us with the process.
[cut back to the man speaking directly to the camera]
NAGASIMHA: [translated] An organization called Hippocampus Reading Foundation came forward to help us. They introduced the scientific model of the library ... What kinds of books should we be giving to our children? We learned how to divide the books according to different age groups, and how to suggest books to children depending on their age and abilities.
[cut to a shot of the bookshelves in the library]
NAGASIMHA: [translated] Now we have a collection of two thousand books in our library. We wanted the children themselves to take charge of the library, because it is their library and their right. This makes them responsible and independent beings. Children also learn to share their knowledge and resources with others.
[cut to another man speaking directly to the camera]
NARASIMHA PRASAD: [translated] I lent one of the rooms in my house for the library.
[cut to some shots of the library inside the man's home]
NARASIMHA PRASAD: [translated] I hope every house becomes a library, and I wanted this process to begin in my house.
[cut back to the girl speaking directly to the camera]
MEGHANA: [translated] The six of us in the group took charge of maintenance.
[cut to another young girl speaking directly to the camera]
SHALINI: [translated] We follow the levelling module designed by the Reading Foundation ... This concept is also called "Grow by Reading."
[cut to a still image of a drawing of a hippo next to a pile of books, with "Grow by Reading" written in English (each letter drawn in a different color)]
SHALINI: [in voice over] "G" is the green, "R" is the red, "O" is the orange, "W" on the white, "B" is the blue, "Y" is yellow.
[cut back to the girl speaking directly to the camera]
SHALINI: [translated] The Hippocampus Reading Foundation provides levelling check cards which determine the reading level of children. We test the reading and understanding abilities of children using these cards. They can move to the next level depending on their performance. We ensure that children read books that they can understand.
[cut to another young girl speaking directly to the camera]
MANASA: [translated] We conduct many activities in our library to attract children. These include story telling, craft work, painting, writing essays, and games.
[cut to several shots of the children drawing and playing, then to another young girl speaking directly to the camera]
VEDASHRI: [translated] We persuade dropouts to rejoin schools. We also talk to the parents into sending them back to school. We spread awareness about the importance of vaccinations like polio.
[cut back to one of the girls speaking directly to the camera]
MANASA: [translated] We are starting a mobile library soon. Many children find it hard to travel so far, so we want to take the books to them.
[cut to an older woman speaking directly to the camera]
SUKANYA: [translated] Our children have become so much more active now. They are not afraid of talking in public. Children go to the library instead of watching television. We are very happy about this change. Children used to be dependent on us, but the library has made them independent. They are now able to research, write, prepare for presentations on their own.
[cut to another young girl speaking directly to the camera]
VANISHRI: [translated] The library has made us confident about talking in public and taking leadership. We now take part in competitions without fear, and we have also won several times.
[cut to another woman speaking directly to the camera]
PADMALATHA: [translated] We thought the children would be just wasting time, even in the library ... but they are very active, they talk to people, and request them to donate books. My daughter takes part in all the school activities now.
[cut back to the original girl, speaking directly to the camera]
GIRL 1: [translated] We have had visitors from Sweden, Italy, Norway and Egypt. They all say that they want to start something similar in their country. We feel very happy and enthusiastic when we hear this.
[cut back to one of the girls speaking directly to the camera]
SHALINI: [translated] We have also organized educational trips and visited many places. We attended a program organized by Hippocampus Reading Foundation, and received the best community library award. We also got the first place out of 125 libraries. We are very pleased with this.
[cut to another woman speaking directly to the camera]
PADMA: [translated] I'm very pleased with our children, because they have made us all proud. Chagaletti has really improved today. Our children spend time in the library instead of watching television.
[cut back to one of the girls speaking directly to the camera]
MANASA: [translated] Our knowledge has increased ...
[cut back to another one of the girls speaking directly to the camera]
SHALINI: [translated] I was shy to mingle and be around people ... I'm neither shy now nor afraid of talking in public.
[cut to one of the girls speaking directly to the camera]
VEDASHRI: [translated] We read when we have time and simply enjoy it.
[cut back to the "librarian" with a group of young children]
GIRL 1: [translated] Everybody should love books, that is our dream.

Film by Mohan Sheni
Thanks to CRT Bengaluru and all children
Production by Breakthrough

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From dnaindia.com:

Usually, children who want to read books either buy it from a book store or rent it from a library. But here's a strange but inspiring case of a group of children running a library on their own. In fact, this act of theirs won them an award.

A group of 10 children from Chagaletti, a small hamlet about 28km from Bangalore, has set up a library on their own.

In fact, the Chagaletti Makkala Granthalaya (Chagaletti Children's Library) has done wonders by changing the reading habits of children in the village.

The Chagaletti library was chosen for the best library award from among 125 libraries across India. The award, instituted by the Hippocampus Reading Foundation (HRF), was given to the library recently in Bangalore.

A charitable trust set up in 2004 by the Hippocampus Children's Experience Centre (www.hippocampus.in), HRF, mainly works towards inspiring children from backward communities to read more by setting up 'active libraries' in government schools and community centres in partnership with other NGOs.

The Chagaletti library was chosen for the honour as it is one of very few well-maintained libraries in the country. Besides being run by children, it also boasts of a reasonably good collection of books.

Inaugurated on August 14, 2010, the library has managed to enrol about 90 children of the village as its members.

The library is an initiative of the Child Rights Trust (CRT), Bangalore, to encourage children to develop reading habits.

Expressing her happiness on receiving the award, Meghana, the 17-year-old librarian of Chagaletti Makkala Granthalaya, said the honour would motivate them to improve the library further.

"It's a big honour for us. Since the inception of the library, we have been trying our best to develop it into a full-fledged library. We have graded our books in various sections and our collection too has improved a lot," said a visibly excited Meghana.

Sharing his joy on the success, Karthik, another founding-member who looks after the library, said that children who visited the library regularly had improved their reading and writing skills.

"The library is a perfect place for children to learn and have fun. Besides reading, we also engage ourselves in activities like solving puzzles, quizzes, and sports and games," said Karthik.

The children's parents in the village are also elated over their kids' 'constructive' activities. "Before the library was set up, our children loitered about or watched television. Now, most of them head towards the library," said Pushpa, a mother.

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