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Joseph Mathew and Aneena |
At a time when education is becoming increasingly expensive the world over, visiting Indian couple Joseph Mathew and Aneena have set an example by establishing a school where no fees or donation is charged.
“Even affluent people want to enroll their children in our school, attracted by the holistic approach to education and the emphasis on values and discipline,” Mathew told Gulf Times yesterday.
Aswas Vidyasthan Public School at Pampady in Kottayam district, Kerala state, which was launched in June 2011, presently has 156 students from pre-Kindergarten to Class Four.
Proposed to be affiliated to the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations in future, the school is functioning under Corrections India, a non-profit organisation for the welfare of prisoners and their families.
Founded in the 1980s by Mathew and recently awarded special consultative status by the United Nations, Corrections India runs Aswasa Bhavan (House of Solace) at Pampady and Aruthal Illam (House of Solace) in Aundipatty, Theny, Tamil Nadu for rehabilitation of prisoners’ children.
A chartered accountant by profession, Mathew dedicated his life for the wounded and rejected after a near-death experience caused by alcohol and substance abuse in the early 80s.
His marriage in 1986 to Aneena, a post-graduate in social work, marked a turning point and three years later the couple established Aswasa Bhavan.
There are presently 45 children at Aswasa Bhavan and 20 at Aruthal Illam. “By God’s Grace, we have married off 10 children and seen as many grandchildren,” said Aneena while adding that the wedding of the 11th inmate is expected this year.
The spark for starting the school came from the couple’s experience that regular schools were discriminating against the children of Aswasa Bhavan because of their inability to pay fees regularly.
“The number of students in each division will not exceed 25 and the 12 teachers appointed so far are Bachelor of Education graduates with Teacher Training Certification,” Mathew said.
Apart from the formal curriculum, lessons are also imparted in activities including dance, music and swimming. After learning about Aswas Vidyasthan Public School from the website (www.aswasabhavan.org), three volunteers had come from the US to teach.
“The first to come were two girls, from Philadelphia and Texas, who taught our children English, Spanish and ballet for six months, followed by a lady from New York who taught English,” Mathew recalled.
All the funds required to run the institutions under Corrections India are provided by philanthropists from across the world.
Mathew and Aneena and their own children, Moses and Miriam, live with the children of Aswasa Bhavan, where an atmosphere of a large ‘joint family’ prevails.
Aneena, who won the Rajiv Gandhi Manava Sewa Award in 2005 for the best social worker, is presently a member of the Kerala Government’s Orphanage Control Board, which functions under the Directorate of Social Welfare.
“We consider the UN recognition as a big honour and encouragement and will do everything in our capacity to uphold the faith the public and our supporters have entrusted in us,” Mathew said.
Corrections India, is incidentally the only organisation from Kerala to get the consultative status with the UN, other than the Mata Amritanandamayi Math, he added.
Mathew and Aneena are in Doha until January 25. They may be reached on 70238044.
