The Exciting Adventure of an English Education: Dalit Education Centres in India

Head lowered and eyes fixed steady on the road in front of her, Priyanka found a medium-sized stone on the gravel path and gave it a firm, swift kick.  Running ahead to find the stone, a smile broke across her young face.  She had been to school!  At first she had been nervous about what the day would hold.  But when she arrived at the new “Good Shepherd Primary School” recently created in her community, her fears were relieved and she felt truly happy for the first time in her young life.

The first day in the new school had been such an exciting adventure.  The teacher wore a beautiful blue-flowered sari and when she looked at her students, her eyes danced with joy.  All the young children sat hip-to-hip in the small school room.  Every eye stared ahead at their teacher as she explained what would happen during the course of their day.  Priyanka and her fellow pupils received clean, brown and white gingham cloth to use as school uniforms.  Later in the day each child also received new, crisp notebooks in which they would copy their lessons.  What an electrifying experience!

Now, as Priyanka hurried home, she could hardly wait to tell her parents about her first day at school.  Equally as excited, her parents longed to hear their daughter’s tale – a dream come true for them as well.  Finally their lives would begin to change and they knew their entire community would soon be transformed.  Their daughter was getting an education.

The story of Priyanka is a representative account of what happened recently in several villages around India this year.  On various days in the month of June, thousands of children like Priyanka went to school for the very first time.  Children like Priyanka come from the Dalit community of India.  Children like Priyanka and their parents have been denied basic human rights for as long as they can remember.  They have been mocked, shunned and forced to be servants of the upper caste.  Now, however, things are beginning to change – and OM India’s sister organization and development stream, OMIF, is pleased to play a part in this process of reformation.

The Dalit community, generally known as India’s “untouchables”, has suffered from oppression and dehumanization as a result of the Hindu caste system for more than three centuries.  In November 2001, Dalits nationwide broke free from the caste system’s all-consuming grasp and began their search for transformation in their lives – physically, intellectually and spiritually.  OMIF helps the Dalits realise their goals through Dalit Education Centres.  By June 2010, there will be 100 schools serving nearly 24,000 Dalit and marginalized children.

In every place a DEC has been established, OMIF’s teams have received a warm welcome from the local community.  Students in the Dalit Education Centres are taught in both English and their mother tongue.  Once the groundwork has been firmly put in place for the Dalit Education Centres, each one will have a permanent building used not only for education, but also for economic development and healthcare activities. 

For more information on how you can be involved in praying for or sponsoring the work of OM India’s Dalit Education Centres, please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

OM’s role in the Church is to mobilise people to share the knowledge of Jesus and His love with every generation in every nation. OM pioneers and leads initiatives to redeem lives, rebuild communities and restore hope in over 110 countries.