Despite being a government school, all the initiative to build it came from a Google housewife living in India.
This is the neighborhood where the school is located. Apparently there was vicious opposition from the local slumloards, who wanted the land used for themselves.
Class at Rainbow school takes place right on the floor. A few desks were donated, but without benches.
The wall behind them is used as a blackboard.
A student gets a moment of individualized instruction, which the school is trying to do more of.
All the kids were very friendly and happy to see me, except for this little one who seemed a bit skeptical.
Some kids have uniforms, others don't. They cost 250 rupees ( approx. $6.25)
Most of the students are the children of bricklayers, autorickshaw drivers and rock splitters, among the lowliest of jobs in Hyderabad.
All the children stood and saluted when I entered their class: “Good afternoon Madam!”
Every space in the school is used for learning. Here a class of five-year olds study in the stairwell.
A Googler donated these learning toys. I emptied the pegs and made the boys show me how they played.
Girl students outnumbered boys by a wide margin at this free government school: if a family can afford it, they'll send their son to “convent school,” but won't waste the money on a girl's education.
Diligently studying numbers and colors
Lots of little girls have shorn hair. They get it shaved at the temple and only grow braids once they're around 6 or older
A good student
These preschoolers just got windows to keep drunks and snakes out of their classroom at night, but they still lack electricity.
