October Update

On October 6th, Opportunity Foundation India's founders, Jack and Sue Simpson arrived in Hyderabad with their friends Keith and Gayle Holmes from Australia. The Holmes are an incredible asset and blessing to the organization. As Gayle is an award winning Australian teacher and Keith an engineer, who literally is a modern day Renaissance man, can build anything from an airplane to bio-diesel engines. During their two weeks volunteering with OFI Gayle focused on curriculum development and teacher training while Keith explored the viability of expanding into adult education, specifically vocation training. The Holmes time in India was congruent with Sue Simpson's vision of increasing the quality of education at OFI, while expanding into providing adult education through vocational training.The heart behind vocational training is, to be a catalyst to build a better support system for our students at home. Cognizant of the fact that it is an arduous road for any student without a minimal support system this seeks to address that. In theory, vocational training is a step toward a more stable support system for our students and the communities they live in by equipping the men of our slums with skills to become employed and thus increasing the family's income.

While the Holmes were in Hyderabad, there was a week holiday so Gayle took advantage of the holidays and conducted a two day teacher training at the guest house. Gayle's modus operandi is teaching by doing and playing. Our teacher training consisted of interactive math games, story books, acoustic guitar songs for retention and memorization, arts and crafts.

After the holidays, Gayle spent the remainder of her time assisting teachers at Maggi school on how to implement the new teaching methods. There were several teachers that were early adopters and thrilled at the new curriculum ideas and eager to teach it to their children.

Keith chose to explore a "pilot program" for our adult vocational training while here with OFI. This materialized in rudimentary fashion as Keith trained/worked with Bramham our watchman and maintenance man. Keith trained Bramham on auto repairs using the trolley as a field study because it was in dire need of repairs, introduced him to some basic welding skills by repairing several things ( a swing, bench, light) and basic electrical work replacing the Maggi School bell.

It was a blessing to have the Holmes in Hyderabad for two weeks. Keith and Gayle provided several good insights and offered up advice about how to further develop OFI into better educating and serving the communities God has called us to. Thank you for you continued support, thoughts and prayers.