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women! They follow a structured three-year course, either in English or Gujarati, after which they join a class.
The enthusiasm with which the students, children and adults come to these classes is a sight to behold. These classes have been instrumental in creating greater awareness of Jainism. Some children have converted to vegetarianism after learning about compassion. Parents, on seeing their children with such willpower, also became vegetarians. Most of the adults who attend the classes are very positive about them and have experienced a conscious change in their way of thinking, becoming more aware of their behaviour, business ethics and conduct. Some children do not buy firecrackers to celebrate Diwali, as they have learnt that noise and air pollution are health hazards to all life. Here are some comments from students on these courses:
"Jain classes have given me a new identity. I AM PROUD TO BE A JAIN. It gives me great pleasure that I am passing this knowledge onto the future generation."
"I have learnt to think before I speak to avoid hurting intentionally and unintentionally."
"I have learnt the importance of respecting people and not harming any living being." A demand to start children's classes also arose in other towns and YJN facilitated their opening in Thika, Eldoret and Kisumu. YJN has been fortunate to initiate and sustain such growth. This project could not have been as successful without the support of all the Jain communities.
In May 2000, YJN mounted an exhibition entitled "Glimpses of Jainism'. Various Jain themes were colourfully depicted and, gratifyingly, 5000 people visited it over a period of ten days. All were highly impressed by the calibre of the displays and the information contained therein. A similar exhibition was organised by the SCVP teachers at the opening of the Oshwal Religious and Cultural Centre
in April 2002.
Another event, which was a huge success, was the play Mayna Sundari in May 2002. The story was based on the Jain epic Shripal Raja. It was directed and performed solely by the 2nd year adult students. Auspicious days are celebrated in various ways by SCVP children. In August 2001, during Paryushan, a kids camp was organised whereby they learnt the Jain principles in a fun way, e.g giving a birthday party to Mahavir Bhagwan on the Mahavir Jayanti Day, the essence of Michchami Dukadam, performing skits on respect amongst other things. During Diwali, SCVP teachers help children make Diwali cards and sell them, with the proceeds going to charity. Last year, to celebrate spiritual wisdom (Gnana Pancham), the children of SCVP were taken to the Jain temple, where the rituals of Gnana Pancham and the importance of respecting knowledg was explained to them.
Other events like Jain quizzes, workshops, discourses by various personalities and pilgrimages (vatra) are regularly organised to bring variety into the learning process. All these events have brought together the young and old, helped instill much-needed Jain values and created a long-absent sense of Jain identity.
YJN also publishes a quarterly newsletter focusing on different aspects of Jainism. A book club has been set up by YJN, which allows people to purchase Jain literature, and the demand for Jain books has also gone up at the Oshwal library since the inception of Jain classes. The Jain Spirit magazine was also launched in Kenya and two complimentary copies were sent to all Jain families in East Africa.
YJN is helping to support the improvement of a rural school, the Gatunyu Primary School in Thika. They have provided them with basic amenities like desks, windows, blackboards, books and safe drinking water. This ensures that the students have a comfortable environment to
Enthusiastic members of YJN take to the streets of Nairobi to spread the word of
non-violence study in. A project, entitled Destination Gatunyu, was organised in May 2001 when both SCVP children and adults spent two fun days with the students of Gatunyu. They helped them to paint the walls and blackboards and also conducted a medical camp to improve the general well-being of the students. This forged a bond of unity between our children and those of Gatunyu, making an everlasting impact on all.
The continuity of any community is ensured by the youth of that community. The youth must be proud enough of their cultural and religious heritage to want to carry it forward into the future. In Kenya, YJN has taken a major step forward to ensure that this happens by involving youth in its projects and passing on our precious heritage, which has come to us from Mahavir Bhagwan. This happens in a fun and systematic manner answering all their 'whys' and 'buts'. With our encouragement and support, the Kenyan Jain youth are developing an intense desire to keep the torch of Jain values burning for cons to come. BINA SHAH, NAIROBI
A wire sculpture of Lord Mahavir, by Kenyan artist Edward Masakhalia,
at wire plant owned by Mr Khetshe Dharamshi and family
Mareh - May 2003. Jain Spirit
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