Pre-tsunami, educational provision in the area was marginal but Up to Nov 2007 the school was being operated in rented accommodation but in November the new building was inaugurated, thanks to the hard work. This comprises an office, 6 classrooms (one not currently used for classes) which are all now furnished, assembly hall, open area for lunches (the children bring their baskets with water bottle and tiffin tin), separate toilet block. The building is cool, light and airy and there is space for further development if required. The school has a large, sandy open space around it in need of some landscaping but which can be used for outdoor activities.

Currently there are 5 classes taking children from age 3 to 7; pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, classes one and two. From class 3 onwards, children must currently attend the government school close by. The Hope school hopes to be able to take children up to class 5 which is the standard primary education but this is dependent on resources to be able to provide facilities and teachers to that stage so can be considered the long term plan.

The school day starts with assembly at 0845 followed by prayers and then classes until midday for the younger children and into the afternoon again for the older children. Each class has a daily timetable posted and class sizes are 30 to 35 students per class. Absenteeism figures are also posted and these are low. As the children are young the curriculum has a lot of play related classes but a large educational element. The school is using English widely in classes and computer skills thanks to 10 computers that were donated. Children in classes 1 and 2 demonstrated considerable ability in reading and writing English. Tamil is also taught as this is the mother tongue.

The school serves two villages; Pudupattinam and neighbouring Uyyalikuppam, Raja Nagar and Periyar Nagar which have a total population of about 4900. Most children in the area attend. Despite or perhaps because of the area being a poor one and parents being uneducated, the children are very keen to attend school and they seem to love it. Initial simple difficulties were identified, such as getting the children to wash before coming to school, wear their uniforms, turn up (and do so on time!) and go to the toilet at allotted times. Parents could also sometimes want their children to help out at home but gradually a kind of discipline has been instilled and the children clearly seem to love school and be getting a lot out of it. Hope actively work with the villagers, firmly but gently, to ensure children do attend school. Activities where the children can bring their parents are also encouraged to involve the parents more in school life.

What for the future of the children? Pretty much all the parents are fishermen and alcohol is a problem for many. In time parents may pull their children out of education before it finishes, wishing their sons to follow them in the fishing trade or their daughters to be married early (the legal minimum age for marriage for girls is 18 and boys 21 but this is widely ignored with girls marrying from age 15). However there are local opportunities in tourism and the nuclear reactor plant that is under construction. Chennai is not far away either. We can't expect them all to become engineers or doctors but the confidence and social skills these children are learning, on top of the education, are valuable life skills that will stand them in good stead for the future - whatever it my bring.

For more on Explore's support of Hope click here