Japanese singer opens school in Bihar

Japanese singer Minehaha with students from the schoolu00a0

It was on the same premises that a group of children sang the Indian national anthem to Minehaha under a clear blue sky on a winter day in 2007. The Indian anthem was a gift by these students to her at the opening ceremony of Minehaha Free Education Centre, which opened the doors to education for the first time in their lives. In return, Minehaha sang the national anthem of Japan. A bridge between the two cultures was so seamlessly laid.

The journey for Minehaha began in February 2006, when she was invited to sing at a Buddhist event in Bodhgaya. Among the people were two locals, Dipu and Dhar, who were moved by her singing. Inspired by Minehaha's music, Dipu and Dhar found the courage to pursue the dream of running a school for underprivileged children. Having struggled hard to educate themselves as kids, they understood the problems that children in Bihar faced. Determined to do something in Bodhgaya, they studied Japanese and found jobs to survive.

When they were ready to open the school, they asked Minehaha if the school could be named after her.

Touched by their enthusiasm, Minehaha decided to join the dream.

In the autumn of 2006, the trio returned to India and rented a closed school building as premises. The project began with seven youngsters of the village of Katorwa, Bodhgaya. The first batch comprised 84 students, and teachers taught the students reading, writing, English, maths, music and more in a classroom without desks or chairs.

Minehaha, for her part, supplied the school uniforms for the kids. She also set up an NGO, Minehaha Helping. At every concert, fans and listeners were urged to donate money or clothes or give their time to the cause. Minehaha's work also found voice on NHK, the Japanese National TV Channel.

India has many schools set up by foreigners, but the involvement in most cases ends with the school building. When quizzed about the situation, Minehaha replied, "Please keep observing us and never ask me that kind of a question again!"

Built by Indians with the support of a foreigner, one hopes the Minehaha Helping Free Education Centre can bring about a change in the lives of children in Bodhgaya.

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