A Far-Off Dream Becomes Reality
MANIPUR SCHOOL STUDENTS SHARE THOUGHTS ON THEIR NEW CLASSROOMS
Builders have now finished six of the new classrooms for the Manipur School, located in Manipur, India!
What do the students at the Manipur School think about their new classroom building so far?
The tenth-grade boys have been learning construction while helping build the new classrooms as part of their work-study program. Some even stayed at the school during their winter break to help earn money to pay their tuition fees.
We requested Pasang Tamang, the Manipur School director, to ask these students how they feel about the new classrooms and their part in building them.
We were touched by their responses and wanted to share them with you.
Unloading bags of sand to make concrete
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE NEW CLASSROOMS?
Moving bags of sand is a bit of a dirty job.
Students: When you (Pasang) came to help our school for the first time, we were only in seventh grade. We were excited and happy because our parents and grandparents always shared the school’s history with us.
We never thought we would have a new classroom in tenth grade and be sitting and studying in such a good classroom. God has answered our prayers and the prayers of our parents and grandparents for this school.
Until ninth grade, we studied in a room where rain used to drip in during the rainy season, and our classroom floors were so muddy. Our school uniforms always used to get wet and dirty. During summer, it was very hot, and it was too uncomfortable to sit inside the classrooms.
Now, studying in these new classrooms is an entirely different experience. They’re very comfortable places to learn. If it rains, no water drips inside. The floors are tile, and they’re beautiful. Before, we only saw dirt, dust, and mud on our classroom floor; now, we can see our reflection in the tiles. We have fans to keep us cool during the summer and lights so we can also study after dark. Our minds feel so clear when we study inside the new classrooms. Having a new classroom building was only ever a dream for us. We never thought we would get to sit in a new classroom and complete our schooling from here.
WHAT WAS THE MOST CHALLENGING PART ABOUT THE CLASSROOM SITUATION?
Sifting the sand
Students: As we shared, rain dripped into the old classroom during the rainy season. It was always dusty and dirty. We couldn’t hear the teacher’s lecture because of the rain hitting the metal roof. When we had heavy winds and storms, our school used to close because of the fear that the classrooms might fall. Whenever heavy wind or storms came, some part of the school roof or wall broke almost every rainy season, and we had to take many days off from school. We didn’t have any windows or fans in the old classrooms. In the summer, when it was too hot, we used to have class outside under the jackfruit tree.
HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT HELPING WITH THE SCHOOL PROJECT?
Students: We think it’s very important to help with the new school building. We are happy to help the school in any way we are able so that we can finish many more rooms and our younger brothers and sisters can also have new classrooms. As you (Pasang) said, you have given us the opportunity to study in the new classrooms since we are in 10th grade and leaving soon. Though we cannot study in the new classrooms for many years, the few months we are spending in the new classrooms are giving us so much joy. So we are very interested in helping with the school.
Some of the other students joined in one day to help move bricks.
We also want our younger brothers and sisters to have such beautiful and comfortable classrooms. So we are happy to help build them. If the school building is finished early, all our younger brothers and sisters will also be able to sit in the new classroom and experience what we have. They will be able to use the new classrooms for many years.
Exhausted and dirty, but happy after a long day's work
Our favorite part is seeing how our school is developing before we leave this school for our higher studies. In the future, we can proudly say that during our time at this school, we got new classrooms, and we were able to help build them. It will always be a sweet memory for us.
PASANG ALSO SHARED HIS RESPONSE TO HEARING THE STUDENTS’ THOUGHTS:
“When I heard such beautiful words, I felt so emotional and blessed that God sent me here for a purpose. Many times I have wondered why I’m not in my country helping my people. It was such a blessing to hear these beautiful words from the children; they were so encouraging to me.”
Exhausted and dirty, but happy after a long day's work.
We praise God that He is using the Manipur School as a blessing to the students, even through the process of building their new classroom building. We pray the school will bless many more students for years to come.
Please join us in praying for the Manipur School construction project and the students, staff, and teachers.
If God is leading you to support this project and help build more classrooms, please click the button below!