Navis
“I want MEC to be a place that changes people for the better!”
Navis, Vice Principle for the MEC
Q: Navis, can you explain your work at the MEC?
I work in the MEC as Vice Principle of the school. My role is to recruit the teachers, ensure their induction to the school, train them in primary education and assess them. I ensure that the teachers are preparing their lessons accurately following our models, that they create the best learning environment for our students, that they demonstrate knowledge of content and methods of teaching, that they know their pupils and that they role model respect and a strive for excellence. The education model we have at the MEC is child-centered and process oriented. We start with knowledge transfer (Understanding) then the children learn by doing (Application) and they understand how to transfer into real life (Generalization). I am the link person, and I link the school and the TdH-NL target community
I am also one of the trainers in outreach, I concentrate on education sector and I train the primary, secondary school teachers, special educators and house parents
Q: With your work, you help the poorest people among the poor, why did you take this decision?
I am from a rehabilitation and child development background. From the start I wanted to work with children having special needs. When I see children entering the school with not even knowing their alphabet and leaving the school and being picked up immediately on the market, I get a tremendous satisfaction. Here you can immediately see the impact you have, not only on the children, but as well on their families and communities. Because of their kids, parents are cleaning their homes or stop drinking.
Q: Are there some difficult moments, moments where you doubt?
I do not doubt, but sometimes I feel discouraged, for example if parents show absolutely no interest in the education of their children. But then I see the impact on others, and it goes away!
Q: Which changes would you like to see?
MEC should be seen by the outside world as a professional resource place. When people come here, to work or study or visit, they should leave with the will and skills to change things and transfer their learning. I want MEC to be a place that changes people for the better.
Q: Tell us a bit more about yourself
I studied in the Holly Cross College of Trichy in Tamil Nadu. It is a 5 year school with a one year internship and I specialized on the visually and hearing impaired children as well as intellectually challenged. I am proud I took this course, it changed my entire life perception. I also did a master in psychology and now am doing my doctorate. My mother was a working woman; if I would have come from a traditional family I guess it would have been much more difficult. But I got the support, as well from my husband who understands my work. What I want now it to make sure I keep spending quality time with my 10 month old girl.
I see myself in this organization that “I grow up with this organization” and the organization given me ample opportunity to develop my career. Otherwise, I would have been an ordinary staff in an organization.