Kelolo School

Ursula Graham Bowers was passionate about education in Nagaland and it is fitting that the actor playing her at the Edinburgh Fringe in "Ursula - Queen of the Jungle" is also a full-time primary school teacher. Joanna Purslow (actor) is hoping to use the unique opportunity provided by this play to give something back to the decendants of Ursula’s warriors. It was therefore wonderful to receive a letter from her daughter, Catriona asking us to support a school in Kelolo Village.:

Dear Joanna,

I have been asked to find support for a brave little school, Jaitinga Valley School, in Kelolo village which has a lot of social issues. 

Kelolo is inhabited by the same community (tribe) as Laisong (the Zeme tribe). The social fabric of the village is really weak due to encroachment of the lack of work and prospects. The demoralised Kelolo villagers have stopped cultivating their land - and cultivation is central to Zeme culture. Instead, they sell snacks at the local railway station, buy food for the evening and start the next day with empty pockets. Until a year ago there was no school. Children had to go to the nearby town, to which there was no bus.

A friend of mine, originally from Laisong, Hungkeukam, decided to address this situation and founded a little school, with full support from the village.

There is a passion for education now - it is seen by most families as the only way forward. I can tell you some heart-warming stories of really poor children from these communities who have struggled against incredible odds to get educated and get good jobs in universities, schools and the civil services.

In Kelolo it is very simple - it is secular, so all denominations and faiths are welcome, as are kids from other tribes.

All best

Trina

How you can help

If you would like to show your support for this project any donations would be gratefully received and used directly to support Jaitinga Valley School.

You can find out more about the play at

https://edinburghfestival.list.co.uk/event/778545-ursula-queen-of-the-jungle/

Thank You

Joanna & David Purslow