Manantheri Lp School

Our school is tucked away in Manantheri, Kannur. It’s a lower primary school, so we only have the younger children here from the local area. The building is quite old but we make sure to keep it whitewashed every year. It’s surrounded by a lot of greenery and trees, which is very typical for this part of Kerala. The kids spend a lot of time playing outside in the fresh air. We have a few swings and a slide that has definitely seen better days. The classrooms are simple with wooden benches and desks that have been here for years. We use a lot of hand-made charts for teaching since the kids are still very small. It helps them remember their letters and numbers better. The teachers are mostly women from the local village who know all the families very well. We serve a mid-day meal, usually rice and some simple curry for the students. The kitchen is at the back and smells like woodsmoke in the early mornings. It’s a very quiet and peaceful place overall. We don’t have any fancy technology or smart boards in the rooms. We just use the basics like chalk and blackboards. The rain in Kannur can be very heavy, so we have to check the tiled roof for leaks sometimes. The children come in their uniforms and carry their colorful umbrellas. It’s a simple life for us here in the village. We focus on reading and writing before they move on.