Our day began with a tour of Chennai (visiting a Hindu temple, the enormous beach area, history St. Mary's church, the original site if the East Indies Company, St Thomas Basilica, and constant traffic jams). After a coffee break we went to Park Town Mission School, one of the schools that is supported by directly by LPGM and local partners. This is a visit that leaves the mind racing with questions, hopes, fear for children who cannot access a system of support, respect for those serving these children, and profound understanding that more is needed.

Park Town contains a hostel/home for street children (currently 65) as well as a school. The school takes local children along with the children of the hostel. It is a school for preschool through high school aged students. We were able to quickly visit the classrooms, the library (that contains a leveled reading program), the science lab, the kitchen, and dormitory. It was a strange combination of heartwarming energy and heartbreak all wrapped together. This school now has among the highest test scores and has local children coming along with the hostel children. That is such an incredible achievement. The teachers clearly care about their students, and are proud of what has been accomplished. We were able to witness a cluster of boys deeply involved in using LEGO Robotics, students sharing science projects on energy, ask questions, and so many other incredible things in our short visit.

Yet, it was hard to not see things through a lens of what could still be. The dormitory has beds that need to be shared by children. The science lab that the teachers are VERY proud of and utilize well would create a press firestorm at home due to the outdated equipment. The upper grade students do not have desks and use their benches when doing work. There are many more boys than girls in the rooms. The list could literally go on and on.

Still there is hope, progress, and education. There is laughter, love, and warmth. There is visible change happening in the lives of these kids. It is amazing how much the staff and teachers have achieved with what we would consider incredibly limited resources. I find it hard to not imagine what they could do with more resources. As a teacher myself I cannot begin to explain my admiration for their accomplishments. My mind is racing with questions and excitement for the rest of our trip.

Ty Thayer