48 June 2013 www.bahrainthismonth.com Many would argue that at 16, Celine Vaandrager is too young to be a philanthropist. The Year 11 student at St Christopher’s School has been active in community service for some years, but recently she spent her Easter break touring schools in Mumbai and Pune slums to experience firsthand the lives of underprivileged children in urban India. Celine, however, is different from Westerners who habitually pack a few hours of poverty tourism into their Indian itinerary. She carried with her 65 kilos of schoolbooks, stuffed toys and BD1,300 cash which she raised in Bahrain to assist a primary school she had set her sights on in Pune. “A majority of the children at Mahadji Shinde School come from slums; 60 per cent are raised by a single parent and 10 per cent are orphans. Often, their only incentive is the midday meal provided at school. Unless these children get an education, their future is lost,” she says. Celine’s mission was to sponsor an English teacher, which the school couldn’t afford, and she was able to secure one, paying BD516 towards her annual salary. The teenager says she found inspiration from her grandfather who, at 76, is actively involved in his businesses as well as community welfare projects in India. Once she had identified the school she wanted to support, Celine started a Facebook page and invited 100 people to contribute money or books, declaring that she wanted nothing else for her 16th birthday. The response was overwhelming. “For us, BD516 was a small amount, but it will have an impact on the lives of these 44 children. Knowledge of English and computer skills is all they need to find employment in their country,” she says. This is only the beginning for Celine, as she has set herself a higher personal goal. She aims to build a school near Pune before she turns 18; her grandfather is already building a school of his own in India and the teenager hopes to have her project ready by then. Celine’s father, the Dutch Honorary Consul in Bahrain, Jaap Vaandrager, is supportive of her ideals but advises that she should prioritise her goals and manage her time well. The first step is to formally register her charity, No Nation Without Education, and open a bank account exclusively devoted to this charity. “We want to be very transparent in raising and spending the funds. We’ve heard too many stories of NGO money being diverted into other activities,” notes Jaap. Celine will have to race against time to realise her ambition, but people who’ve heard of her project are showing support. She’s already received a donation of €1,000 from a well-wisher in Holland. “My grandfather is old, but he’s never tired. At my age, I too hope I can inspire some people to make a contribution. Every little gesture will count,” she says. To make a contribution visit www.nonationwithouteducation.org. simi kamboj Confronted by the sight of grinding poverty, most of us tend to look away. This teenager, though, thought of empowerment and what she could do to help. spotlightthismonth Celine Vaandrager Transforming Lives
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