FRIENDS OF SANGAM FOUNDATION

The year 2006, the third full year of Friends of Sangam Foundation (FOSF), was overshadowed by the death in December 2005 of Kamla Sawhney, Founder Principal of Sangam School. Eleanor Nesbitt’s obituary of Kamla appeared in the Guardian’s ‘Other Lives (5 June 2006, page 37) and a longer version was added to the website (www.sangamschool.org.uk).

Shortly after the 2006 AGM Eleanor Nesbitt and her husband, Ram Krishan, visited New Delhi where they had discussions with members of Kamla’s family and of Sangam Foundation (SF). Their visit to Sangam School was hosted by Mr Gauri Nandan Singhal, General Secretary of SF, and by Mr Deepak Jindal, Head Teacher. The visit to the school included a meeting, organised by Mr Singhal and presided over by Deepak Jindal. Eleanor Nesbitt circulated a report ‘Progress at Sangam School’. Key observations were (1) the commitment of all concerned to maintain the original vision for the school while embarking on a sustained period of change. (2) Foundations had been laid for stronger communication than previously between SF and FOSF, and between SF, the teachers at Sangam School and the village people – both the parents and the elected village council. (3) The school’s financial affairs were under review. (4) Recruitment of pupils was underway and (5) Improvements to the water supply and the building and the erection of gates and perimeter fencing were being planned.

It has been an active year for SF which has been strengthened by the addition of new members. Despite this, teachers’ pay remains very low, making the recruitment of suitable teaching staff difficult and there has not been as much expansion as hoped.

For FOSF the year has been quiet. This is mainly because we were holding back from appealing for more funds until receiving evidence from SF that the funds sent for specific purposes (i.e. for improving the water supply) had been used as anticipated.

SF were using the donations for the benefit of the school, but FOSF was concerned that urgent need (paying teachers) might have had to take priority even for an otherwise earmarked donation.

The year 2006 saw continuing monthly financial support from FOSF for Sangam School. We remain grateful to all donors whose standing orders are keeping the school going, and especially to the donor who pays the costs of running the school bus and to the anonymous donor who has again given £1000. Our thanks to David Fish for serving as Treasurer and to Stephen Petter’s services as Administrator throughout the year.

We realise more than ever how farsighted Kamla was in selecting an educationally deprived village in the vicinity of India’s expanding capital, New Delhi. What she could not have foretold 20 years ago was that the nearby town of Gurgaon would develop exponentially in a way that is bound to impact on the village. Education has become even more vital for these village children and the responsibility rests with us!

Eleanor Nesbitt

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