På svenska
Contact:
JVV
Ola Friholt
Torget 1, Stocken
SE-474 92 Ellös
Sweden
tel.: +46 304 512 15
e-mail:
erniola@tele2.se
Webmaster:
Anders Dejke
A small historical account
The association SFIB* started in Sweden in 1972 to make it possible for the teacher Jaya S Upadhyay to found a school, inspired by Nordic folkhighschool and Mahatma Gandhi´s philosophy, together with the people in some poor villages in the then federal part of Bihar. The schoolwork started in 1974 on a small scale among people from the neighborhood. The pedagogy of the school united theory and practice and stood up for the local culture. The development has been slow, but all the time in a positive direction and adjusted to demands and resources. SFIB has given support to the running and extension of Jagriti Vihara. All decisions about changes have been taken locally.
People's equal value
The teachers have been working with children, women and men from different ethnic groups and religions. They have always emphasized all people´s equal value, something that is controversial in an unequal society. Actually it deals with restoring the poor and oppressed and making them aware of their rights. It applies not least to the social position of girls and women.
Problems
There have been many problems to deal with over the years, from drought and starvation to devastating monsoon rains. Jagriti Vihara has been visited by wild elephants from the jungle, when the coal mines have destroyed their usual walking paths. Corruption, violence and antagonism between poor and rich are very common problems. In the neighborhood there is an active maoist guerilla.
*) Since 2003 SFIB is Jagriti Viharas Vänner (JVV) – Friends of Jagriti Vihara.