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Report from Our School in Ghana
From Kavicandra Swami

This is from Mother Ila.mvs, the founder and principle of the school, Lord Krsna's Academy.

School has just closed for the second term and will be re-opening on the 14th of May. The schoolchildren are very special. I have seen this on many occasions. I keep a few storybooks in my class so the children can read in any spare time, and the only book that all of them always wants to read is The Butter Thief. None of the karmi books interest them much, even though I did not say or do anything to influence them in their choice.

Just before school closed, I brought the tape player and about five different tapes. One tape was about the zoo and had animal songs, sounds, and stories, so I thought it would really interest them as we had recently been to the zoo. I started playing the tape and went out to the office when all were quietly listening. Upon my return I found the children had switched the tapes and were playing a Krishna-Conscious tape instead, happily singing "Jaya Sacinandana Gaura Hari!" along with the tape. I wasn't sure whether to chastise them for acting without authority, but of course I was very pleased actually.

And in my class all are village children except Mukunda so they really seem to be very special children somehow. They have a natural attraction for Krishna, though materially they are so far behind. After two terms I am exasperated as some of them still cannot add 5 + 1 (Some of the ones who are older and had never been to school).

So I am also praying for patience and enthusiasm to continue. I also wish we could have offered more Vedic things to the children. I see in Mayapur they teach Sanskrit, logic, Vedic Arts, Music etc. I wish someone would come here and teach such aspects.

We are looking for teachers. If anyone is a schoolteacher and would like to do some missionary work, a wonderful opportunity awaits you.

Hoping this meets you in the best of health,

Your servant,
Kavicandra Swami

© CHAKRA 26 April 2002