2009 JANUARY TO JUNE

JANUARY 2009

01 THU: I was with bro.Henny at midnight walking on the streets of Rijswijk with the public around the fire and watching the fireworks and ended with drinks. The next morning had with for one person. It was a peaceful day speaking over the phone to everyone at home.
The following days were quite studying for the exams on the 5th and 6th and writing essays for the study.
05 MON: Examination on Poverty and Children and Youth Studies.
06 TUE: Examination on Theories of Social Development
07 WED: Frs.Vasanth and Pappuraj visited DB for two days to meet the agencies.
09 FRE: Essay submitted on DO PEOPLE HAVE CHILDREN SO THAT THEIR CHILDREN CAN WORK? OR DO CHILDREN WORK BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE CHILDREN?
Vasanth and Pappu left for France. I put them in thalis train.
New Year party in the Don Bosco Centre with the people and parents.
10 SAT: Walking and cooking
11 SUN: Since I was the only priest for 20 days I celebrated mass in English.
12 MON: Mr.Xavier arrives for visiting the agencies and a stay for a week.
14 WED: Met Ms.Julie Love at CORDAID and she took us out for a lunch and had a good discussion on project and research.
15 THU: Travelled to Sittard and Met Mr.Paul the Treasurer of Schlooz Foundation. He had arranged for a talk with the members of the Lions Club and stayed in Sittard.
16 FRI: Travelled to Amsterdam and met Harrie. Then had a walk around the City and returned.
17 SAT: Marketting and purchasing gifts for Xavier. I bought an ipod for Elzakka as a gift for her Silver Jubilee gift. I copied songs and photos and sent her through mr.Xavier.
18 SUN: Bro.Henny took us both for sightseeing the sea. The movable dam and Rotterdam harbour museum. Later returned and cooked for the community.
19 MON: Had a good walk in the city and purchased gifts for Xavier.
20 TUE: Henny and myself gave a lift to Mr.Xavier to the Air port early morning at 4.30 am.
23 FRI: Petra Vranken came for a discussion on Alternative Care of Children, the research that she was going to make in Marialaya at Coimbatore. It was a good discussion.
25 – 30 I had flu for a week. Henny took me to the doctor.
31 SAT: Feast of Don Bosco. I celebrated the mass and had a walk and Table tennis tournament and a good dinner. It was a different kind of celebration.

FEBRUARY 2009

01 SUN: Don Bosco Feast was celebrated with the local neighbourhood. Fr.Harrie celebrated the Mass after which all had soup together. I did not join for the soup because it was being there without knowing the language.
14, 15 SAT,SUN : I went to Louven with Biju and stayed with Sahayadas for two day. Went around the city and the University. Prayed at the Cemetry of Bl.Damien of Molakkai the patron of lepers. The next week it was announced of his canonization soon. Had supper with Sugantha a tamil Botanical Scientist. The next day had a meeting with a few tamilians who were campaigning for peace in Sri lanka.
17 TUE: We had an interesting Class on Economic Approach to Social issues. All rational decisions of the human beings are based on Economic considerations of gain and loss. Eg: Marriage, having children and their education too.
20 FRI: Camilo, Tomy and myself had dinner in the Egyptian restaurant.
22 SUN: Heny and myself had dinner at an Indian restaurant named Hotel Maharani near ISS.
25 WED: CYS group decided to present a theme on ONE COMPUTER PER CHILD.
27 FRI: Discussion with Ben about getting ready the Research.
28 SAT: Birth Day of Elzaka. Biju, Tomy and myself visited Avin and had lunch with him. The car glass was broken.

MARCH 2009

01 SUN: I went for Sunday mass to Amersfoort for the Tamilians organized by Francis.
02 MON: In the morning I called home and I was told that dad had a Stroke. It was diagnosed that he had high sugar and high pressure. I was disturbed.
05 THU: Few students presented their work of education with children in CYS class. The concluding session of ACTORS IN LOCAL DEVELOPMENT was held. It was interesting in choosing as who are the best actor among the three of LOCAL GOVERNMENT, PRIVATE SECTOR AND CIVIL SOCIETY. The debate helped to understand that each actor had to do their duty for the local development.
06 FRI: The session on writing essay was useful.
07 SAT: I went with Henny to IKEA to purchase some furniture for the house. I was amazed by the way it was organized.
08 SUN: It was women`s day. I sent messages to all women i knew.
09 TUE: We had the group presentation on the little study done on ONE LAPTOP PER CHILD. Myself and Asif spoke on India`s response to the programme.
12 THU: I organized a visit of the Don Bosco Amsterdam for our class on children and Youth. It was very good. And Harrie and his team received us and explained to us the programme with great interest. Students and Prof.Linda were impressed too.
13 FRI: The study recess began for the upcoming examinations in the following week. It was tough and hard being indoors and studying all the while. But i had walk everyday in to the near by park.
23 MON: We had the examination on the Local Actors in Development and I did it well.
26 THU: We had the examination on Children and Youth and it was a bit tough. But i managed to do well.
27 FRI: I worked on the Essay the whole day and night trying to finish it before the trip Study trip to Geneva in the following week.
30 MON: Our class left for Geneva for Study visit in the afternoon by flight from Amsterdam. Travelling together was a good experience. Myself and Asif shared the room together. He had come with Chappathi for the dinner. It was a good experience. We stayed in Star Hotel in Ferney Voltaire in France part but just near the Geneva Airport.
31 TUE: We made the first visit to ILO in the morning. It was very impressive to learn about the multinationals who were found there in the complex. We had a discussion about the Child Labour Alleviation Programme by IPEC (International Programme on the Elimination of Child labour). It was surprising to note that India had not ratified these resolutions. But i know that India is taking a lot of fund from IPEC.
In the afternoon we visited NGO Group for implementation of CRC. After which we were free to see the city. Myself and Asif went to the Lake and spent the evening.

APRIL 2009

01 WED: In the morning I had briefed the group about our visit to UNHCR (UN High Commissioner for Refugees). And I led the group and started the discussion after the presentation by the speaker. I bought a Rain and Wind proof jacket as a souvenir. It was a great piece.
Walking around the United Nations i met a group of Tamil Youth who were on a demonstration for the cause of the tamils in Srilanka. It was an impressive meeting them.
In the afternoon we visited ICRC (International Committee of the Red Cross). It was a good experience to learn their way of operation in emergency situation. Later that evening some went for a dinner and gathering. We had briani with simon from Uganda in a Pakistani restaurant. It was great.
02 THU: In the morning we went to UNICEF with great expectation. But we were not happy with the presentation and the discussion. After lunch in their cafeteria we went to the Old Town. We were Linda, Simon, Asif and myself. We visited the house of Rousseau and had an audio tour of his life. Later visited the Reformation wall and played and won Draught game with simon. Later after visiting the cathedral with sharmini returned tired for another briani dinner.
03 FRI: In the morning after breakfast Linda, Simon and myself left to see around the country side of Ferney Voltaire where Voltaire had lived and contributed a lot for the Town. We had a long and good walk looking towards the Alps.
By midday we left for the Air port to get back home. Reached home at 5.30pm very tired and slept the whole night. It was great experience travelling to Geneva.
05 SUN: Today I went to Heiloo to celebrate the Palm Sunday for the Tamil speaking people. There were about 175 people for whom i did the mass and the Way of the Cross after lunch. It was appreciated much.
06 MON: The third term began with many new classes. I have to do 5 classes this term including research. Looked too much compared to the last term. The research Proposal takes a lot of time and thinking and reading and reflecting.
09 THU: It was Maundy Thursday. After about 5 hours of class I returned just in time for the service which i had to conduct. I did the service but there was no washing of the feet.
10 FRI: Today I conducted the Good Friday service in Zeist. Mr.Francis had arranged the programme.
11 SAT: We had Easter Vigil Service with volunteers and young people at DB Rijswike.
12 SUN: Today I conducted Easter Celebration at Amerfoort for Tamil Christians.
13 MON: Today I celebrated a mass for the Tamils at Amsterdam RAI for Tamils.
26 SUN: I went for a week of prayer to Taize with a group of students stayed for a week. It was a good experience especially sharing spiritual experiences.
28 TUE: We went to visit CLUNY, the old largest cathedral and the monastery.

MAY 09

03 SUN: I returned from Taize. I had a lunch out with Tomy to send him off.
05 TUE: Liberation day.
07 THU: I watched a film with CYS Diploma students named ‘Rabbit Fence Proof’ about children of the aborigines who escaped from the captivity back home.
13 WED: A film named “Born into Brothels” about children of the sex workers in Calcutta. It was Very moving.
18 – 19 : A seminar on “ Right to Play” on the theme Sports for Development.

26 TUE: I was the first to present the Research Design. My discussant was Andrea.

JUNE 09

01 MON: White Monday and so it was a holiday.
05 FRI: We had a last day of class at ISS. It was a great relief.
The following days were very busy with many Essays and Exams.
A great time of hard work at the desk. I think I did well.
15 Mon: I got my residence permit renewed up to December.
17 Wed: Exam on NGO and Civil Society Building..
21 Sun: Mass at Schiedam
23 Thu: Last day for Essays submission.
24 Fri: Sessions on Internet resources, E journals and Bibliography Database.
28 Sun: Mass at Amersfoort.
29 Mon: Celebration of Anna Lena
30 Tue: A Good discussion with Arjan on Research.

In the city of Geneva

ESSAY ON POPULATION AND CHILD LABOUR

10. DO PEOPLE HAVE CHILDREN SO THAT THEIR CHILDREN CAN WORK? OR DO CHILDREN WORK BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE CHILDREN?
INTRODUCTION
The population explosion is a huge challenge for all the developing nations. With the phenomenon of population explosion there arise several other socio, political and economic problems such as shortage of resources to meet the needs of the people, the education, employment and the care for the young and older generations. The socio economic conditions of the people of the developing nations are such that the young and the old have early and extended life of work respectively. The search is why there are so many children in developing nations? Unlike in the developed nations the children have to work and join the adults in being a productive member of the family. In this essay we will look for the correlation between population and child labour.
Accepting the phenomenon of the high population growth in the developing countries and the prevalence of children at work in most of the developing countries, it would be argued that high fertility with low mortality rate is an unavoidable period in the demographic transition. And this period is marked with high population growth which introduces the discussion of development in the context of demographic transition. Later it would be argued that to meet the increased material needs of the household even those who are out of productive age are involved in production, which is also supported by the particular society.
POPULATION EXPLOSION
The United Nations population projection for 2050 (UN 2005) say that the population growth would be faster than expected a few years earlier. The world population for 2050 would be at 9.1 billion people. The annual additions to global population are 34 million persons from the current 76 million. The growth rate would have to 0.38 percent per annum. The IIASA (International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis) express that there is about 85 percent chance for the world`s population to stop growing before the end of the century. (Alexandratos, 2005:237).
Asia`s populations has grown from 1.7 to 3.9 billion people in the last 45 years. The projections for year 2050 are to an expected population of 5.2 billion people. The projected increase in Latin America and the Caribbean is to 0.78 billion. The end of the era of population growth is expected in Asia and Latin America. It is due the different family planning information and services which was provided to the people in a culturally acceptable and sensitive manner. The modern contraceptive methods were effectively used even by the poorest and least literate countries (Cleland and Sinding, 2005:1899). India and other South Asian countries are an example to this fact.
In Africa from 1960 the population has been growing in the sub-Saharan region from 225 million to 751 million people. It would reach 1.69 billion by 2050. There are still another group of countries with high fertility rates whose populations are expected to treble by 2050. The countries with high fertility rates are Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Somalia and they will grow up to 40 million each. Uganda which is also with high fertility rates will grow up to 127 million from just 29 million people. The population scientists express that sub-Saharan Africa would follow the other poor countries in the decline of birth rates. (Cleland and Sinding, 2005:1899) And with the African continent`s decline of birth rates the population growth would be stopped by the end of the century.
Each country was making an enormous effort to control the population growth with and aim of reaching growth and development. Every country set aside a huge size of funds for this purpose for the information and application of several available modern methods of family planning. In the process there was a shift from late marriage to the use of contraceptives.
Investment on family planning was with the hope that the social and economic progress would be fostered. Decline in birth rates would foster poverty alleviation efforts. It was in this sense that the rising prosperity in East Asia is attributed to the effects of falling birth rates. There was good funding aid for the family planning programmes of Asia and Latin America. The international funding and commitment has reduced which has not resulted reduced birth rates though the countries have policies and programmes for it (Cleland and Sinding, 2005:1900).


DEMOGRAPHIC TRANSITION
Human populations do not tend to grow naturally. Population growth is characteristics of certain types of society at certain periods of their developments. The reproductive behaviour is generally regulated by all known societies by marriage patterns, and conscious and deliberate practices of child birth even within marriages arising from customs and religious beliefs. For example in Tamil societies in India there are period when the married couples are not permitted to have sexual union. The female infanticide is a cruel practice of reducing children who seem ‘burden’ to the parents in raising them and getting them married. And therefore it is not the question of whether there is fertility control but a question of how much or how effective. (White, 1982:591) So there were supposed to be fluctuations in it which populations grow high at a particular point of time.
The demographic transition takes places with the decline of death rates first and decline of birth rates next. And there will be the population growth in between. This is always the rule. And all the countries have to go through these stages. Europe had this experience in the last two centuries. The crude death rate began to decline even before the birth rate. And so there was a high population growth during the nineteenth century. The decline of mortality coincided with the industrialization which fostered the decline of birth rates too. Chile and India are going through these stages now as did Europe (Dyson, 2001:70-71). And therefore we can assume that the history repeats itself now in the case of the developing nations.
We could apply this principle to the developing nations with high population growth. They are still in the first stage of the demographic transition. And it is not surprising that the developing nations in Asia, Africa and Latin America the death rates declined later than in the case of Europe. It may be attributed to the availability and the applications of health initiatives and technological practices. It has been also recognised that the mortality and fertility decline in the developing countries would happen in progressively poorer settings. The demographic transition is a long period of remarkable disequilibrium of population growth during which the birth rate adjusts to the death rates because of the new mortality regime (Dyson, 2001:71). This explains the growth of Population in the developing world. During this period it becomes the challenge of the nation to balance growth and development with the population explosion.
POPULATION AND DEVELOPMENT
The contended theory of Malthusian view on “checks’ that the population cannot outgrow beyond food supply and that there must be always some checks against human reproduction are resolvable into moral restraint, vice and misery. He observed that the preventive checks of human efforts in reducing population would never be sufficient and there would be natural checks such as famine, epidemics and extreme poverty would occur to stop the population growth. And he concluded poverty and misery would be outcome of population growth. But his theory was criticized by many in as the productive force that increases as part of the growth populations will take care of the subsistence issue. Engels said that there was confusion with means of subsistence with means of employment. And Marx that there is no universal law of population for human being but only for animals and plants. He explained it as labour which is source of all value and the process of capitalism and the continued generation of labourers. So it could be concluded that population growth is not the cause of poverty but poverty and the production conditions are the cause of population growth. This argument was affirmed in the Population conference of 1974. Later the Neo-Malthusian Critiques have argued that Population growth, and population pressures are the main causes of technological, economic, social and political progress in the human history. (Lecture of Ben White).
Demographic changes have high impact on the socio-economic development of a nation. The attainment of low death rates, improved health and the achievement of low fertility are all important dimensions of development. Health and hygiene, the access and use of affordable contraceptive methods involve a greater attention in the process. And it is a challenging task in the poor countries. Moreover the achievement of below replacement fertility does not imply that the population stops growing suddenly. But on the other hand it means that the young population age structure has a considerable population momentum. And that is the reason of China`s fertility though well below the replacement, yet has an increase in the size of population. It is projected to increase from 1.31 billion to 1.45 billion over 2005-2030. Likewise the population of sub-Saharan, the Middle East and South Central Asia will also increase substantially. (Lecture of Andrew Fischer)
Urbanization is an important part of the Demographic transition. The whole world is urbanizing. The developing nations are in the process of urbanization. The reason behind this process is mortality decline. The history of Europe was in the same way in their process of development. The industrialization and the urbanization occurs all part of the world. The rural life will gradually fade. (Lecture of Andrew Fischer). The urban life has its own specific needs and requirements to be fulfilled. The families move to the urban areas for search of livelihood. The material needs of the family are far greater than that was in the rural area.
CHILDREN IN LABOUR REGIME
During the period of high population growth there is a growing need of high material needs. The consumption is increased as there are more consumers in the household. And everyone in the household is expected to give ones share. And so the question of involving others who are out of productive age are included which consists of young and older generations. That leads us to the next argument of children as workers.
Children`s contribution to the family was an argument for children to work. In many of the agricultural families and in other works where the whole household is involved the children join the elders in work. This is very much in the poverty stricken families. This is a common sight in all the third world countries such as African countries, South American and in Asian Countries. Countries like Bolivia, Nigeria, Tanzania, India, and Pakistan and in other countries children join the families in earning income. The girl children are engaged in household chores and act as baby sitters or taking care of the siblings (Ansell, 2006:70). The children become producers in bringing income to the family`s economy.
The instant need for material needs for existence makes production an inevitable activity. The children and women are means of production. The control over them is ensured through norms and structures that are legitimated by ideology, rituals, etc. That control is exercised by the elders as they possess the means of existence on which younger generations are dependent until they can produce their own. This rule by the elderly is called gerontocracy which is observed in most societies. Therefore it is a productive condition (Kamuzora, 1984:106) to which the whole community is forced to adhere to including the young and the old. The younger generation begin their productive period ‘early’ and the older generation are forced to ‘extend’ their productive period. When they do not turn as producers they are ‘burden’ to the society (Lecture of Ben White).
There is also an argument from the balancing of ‘cost - benefit’ analysis with several material and non-material considerations on each side. The material values of children are their labour for the household chores and their economic contribution to the family and more especially their support and security when their parents are old. The material costs are child bearing and rearing and the direct cost of investment on child`s health, education, and other allied expenses. The non-material values include psychological, spiritual and emotional aspects. The non-material costs may be the worry about children and pains involved in the process. The non-material benefits are the personal or generational lineage continuity, the feeling of security in time of need and the emotional happiness of one`s offspring (Kamuzora, 1984:106-7). The values in bearing children differ accordingly.
A minimum increase of material goods and services necessary for survival is the assumption. The quantity of these depends on the household production and the market exchange of household labour or production. This process poses a continual high demand for labour by the household. This leads to a demand for children in the family or high fertility whose labour can be used for the purpose (Kamuzora, 1984:108). This is an experience in all the developing countries.
Land, labour and capital are the three factors of production in a rural economics. The survival of rural family depends on these resources. The imbalance of population over the resources leads to tension. There arises a higher demand for labour. The social institutions find way of resolving it to gain the lost income. The only way is to extend the duration of the existing labour force. When this is not met the children are given early work or the old are given an extended productivity period. children attending school of from poor families is a loss of labour leads to a state that children`s material returns to their family are lower than their cost (Kamuzora, 1984:118). This explains the reason for children out of school to fill the labour requirements. And it is a common sight in the developing countries to see children work as full timers and part timers contributing to the income of the family.
WORKING CHILDREN
Working children develop self confidence and earn respect because they are self reliant and productive already when they are young whereas the other children are still dependant on the elders and exhibit dilemma in their choices. Working children develop skills not only in the area of work but also in the social life. It is also belief that hard work forms children as good and responsible adults. Ansell. 174. Children paying school fees by the income that they earn.
If we say that children in household work are child labours then child labour would be omnipresent. But when we permit children in household activities in farming or petty businesses and home industries then children in such activities would again be questionable because it is a full time activity which brings added income to the family. And again work for the family is more demanding in terms of responsibility and time. Ansell.163. The children in farming cattle have a work schedule which last the whole day and even to late at night.
ARGUMENTS IN FAVOUR
It is rejected as Euro centric idea that work is not good for the child. But argue that work is an integral part of child`s formation. It is argued that they have a right to work. When enquired children most children expressed that they wanted to work added with better conditions and better payment. If their right to express opinion is respected then their right to work should be respected. Many children in Bangladesh are proud that they are able to support their family, that their income is helping the family`s rent, food or even the education of their siblings. (Ansell. 172, 3) Children in South India where I worked expressed that they cannot continue the education when the family is struggling to survive and that their family conditions compel to join the parents in bringing income to the family. The parents argue that the education which is given in the school is useless and does not prepare children for life to take up employment. The educated unemployment is a big argument for the children to work. The feeling that the long education does not reward with job and the income to the family and the parents feel that it is good that the child learns a trade while earning an income already now.
Apprenticeships and trainings are acceptable to acquire skills but however it may lead to cheap labour. It is good also because they provide chances for socialization and training
Child labour is engaging children in work. Children are supposed to enjoy their childhood. Child labour is an unaccepted practice as seen by the west in the third world countries. Children across the world are engaged in different sorts of work. Each country has its own Acts and regulations in reduction, control and abolition of Child labour. There are regulations with regard to the age and the type of work the children can do. Generally it is up to the age of fourteen. There are also limitation as to avoid hazardous work in mining or construction or using heavy machinery, or exposed to hazardous health conditions including trafficking and prostitutions and pornography. The International Labour Organization (ILO) has given certain policies and guidelines for the international community to implement it. It defines Child labour as, “children undertaking productive work in the formal or informal sector, including unpaid, casual and illegal work, but not domestic chores within children`s own households”. (Ansell, 2006:160)
It is generally argued that children work due to poverty. This may be true in most of the poverty stricken families of the third world countries. The children work to add to the income of the family to meet the immediate economical needs of the family. But there are also other reasons such as education do not prepare the young people for employment. This is true of Indian society where the children in are made to work to learn a trade or a skill. (Ansell, 2006:169) There are also other reasons of culture in which the society believes that children should work and become responsible member of the family.
The Child Rights Convention (CRC) Article 32 says, “The right of the child to be protected from economic exploitation and from performing any work that is likely to be hazardous or to interfere with the child`s education, or to be harmful to the child`s health or physical, mental, spiritual, moral or social development”. (UN 1989).
CONCLUSION
In the above pages we have acknowledged fact of growing population especially in Asian, Sub-Saharan and Latin American countries. It would still grow up to the end of the century. It is because these countries are in the process of demographic transition. In the period between mortality decline and fertility decline there would be a high population growth as a rule as noticed in the history. We have also argued from the cost benefit point of view for bearing children.
We have also acknowledged the fact of child workers in the developing countries. We have argued that the population is not the cause of poverty, but poverty and the labour conditions. We have argued that the increase of household needs and the in the process of urbanization the needs involves the non-productive age group such as the young and older generations become part of the productive age group. For the children it would be an early productive period and for the older generation it would be an extended productive age. If they do not contribute their share then they become a burden to the household.
REFERENCES
Alexandratos, N. (2005) ‘Countries with Rapid Population Growth and Resource Constraints: Issues of Food, Agriculture and Development’, Population and Development Review 31(2): 237-258.
Andrew Fischer Class Lectures.
Ansell, Nicola. (2006) Children, Youth and Development Routledge perspectives on Development, New York: Routledge.
Ben White Class Lectures.
Cleland, J., and S. Sinding (2005), ‘What would Malthus say about AIDS in Africa?’ The Lancet, November 26, 2005. 1899 -1901.
Dyson, Tim (2001) A Partial Theory of World Development: The Neglected Role of the Demographic Transition in the Shaping of Modern Society. International Journal of Population Geography, Volume 7, Issue 2, Date: May 2001, Pages: 67-90.
Kamuzora, C. Lwechungura (1984) High Fertility and the Demand for Labour in Peasant Economies: The Case of Bukoba District, Tanzania. Development and Change Volume 15, Issue 1, Date: January 1984, Pages: 105-124.
White, Benjamin (1982) Child Labour and Population Growth in Rural Asia. Development and Change, Volume 13, Issue 4, Date: October 1982, Pages: 587-610.

PROGRAMME FOR DECEMBER

DECEMBER 2008

01 Mon: Application submitted to Irish Embassy for visa
02 Tue: Attended the talk of Omar Bhagoutri from Palestine on Boycott Opportunities. It was very inspiring on one who was engaged in Advocacy and Lobbying for the cause of Palestinians.
03 Wed: Tutorial on Agencies in Development and power point classes.
04 Thu: Attended a Inaugural addresses on REFLECTION ON RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES: Exploring Synergies, Eradicating Poverty and OF BUTTERFLY WINGS AND RAISED FISTS: Connecting complexity, aided development and civic Agency.
05 Fri: Mind mapping class. I got my visa to Ireland.
06 Sat: Sintaklas Day of Gifts. Game of Gifts was conducted.
07 Sun: My Day of Cooking.
13 Sat: Silver Jubilee of Elzaka at Katpadi. Amos, Stephen anna and Mercy husband attended it. I called and wished her. She was happy. I missed it and she too.
14 Sun: I went to Amersfort to the family of Mr.Francis, a srilankan tamil Christian.
16 Tue: There was a grand farewell for Bro.Leo aged 76 who was leaving for the Home. There were his family for the function. It was an unacceptable incident for me. But I realize that this is the way it is here.
18 Mon: Class on End notes class at ISS.
20 Sat: Left for Ireland. It was not a happy experience. Reached in the evening had a good time in the family of Florence akka and in the company of Casimir, who had arranged the programme in detail.
21 Sun: Mass in st.Catherine and lunch at fr.Alex (st.paul`s) community.
22 Mon: Trip to vicklo and visited the oldest of Ashram and the cemetery. Fr.Alex drove to the spot.
23 Tue: Visited Dublin City during evening in the city. A beautiful walk in the city with the family of Florence.
24 Wed: Attended the Christmas vigil mass in the parish in Ireland near St.Catherine.
25 Thu: We had mass with the tamil families in the house of kamal and Agastha.
26 Fri: We visited the shrine of Our Lady of Knock with fr.Alex and the Florence and Halin.
27 Sat: We visited the Port and the fish market in the evening. I saw seal in the sea. It was very cold.
28 Sun: I returned back to Holland. My 12 th Ordination Aniversary. I had private mass at 9.pm in the evening. Everybody called from home and they offered mass at Child Jesus church in the village. Elzaka too offered mass at Chennai in her parish.
29 Mon: Rested at home and prepared for Examinations.
30 Tue: Biju leaves for holidays to India.
31 Wed: The last day of the year. At midnight went out to witness fire and fireworks celebrating the New Year. The lakes were frozen and went walking on it.

FIRST SNOW FALL

NOVEMBER 2008

NOVEMBER 2008
2nd: All souls day. I celebrated the Mass. Never saw a cemetery in Holland. Not even today.
3rd: Global Politics of Development, Democracy, conflict and Rights Exam
4th: Regular classes begin.
5th: Begin classes by Sara to learn Dutch at the Residence.
07th: Deepavali Celebration at the ISS. Tom sdb came too. Avin the chaplin was there too.
08th: First visit to Amsterdam. We had a boat Ride. We had a good meal in an Indian Restaraunt. We had walk in the Red light area of the country which commercialised sex industry.
09th: My day of cooking. I made Dosai, Tapiocca and chicken. Good for Indians.
12th: I was the chair for the Discussion on Human Insecurity, conflict and Development. It was a good experience.
13th: I did the mass.
14th: Birth day of Eglantine. Sent Message to all in India. It was a free day. I did some purchasing.
15th: Went to the Beach with Tomy to see the Santaclaus. Missed him at the beach. Had a long walk. Had good fish and returned. On the way back saw the procession of several cars and cabins, knights and servants celebrating the event. It was purely a secular festival. All the people waiting with children to meet the Santa clause. They distribute gifts to all children on the road. It is a good celebration.
15,16, 17: Provincial Visitation. Jos Clas from Belgium is the Provincial also for this Delegation of Netherlands. Herman Spronck is the Delegate here. He does not visit often. They have already decided to sell this property and move to another place by the end of December. The confreres here are all disturbed deeply at this decision of the Delegation. It seems that the provincial is helpless at this decision. I too think it is unfortunate to sell this beautiful location and move to a new hired place. But no buyer has come so far to buy this property. I met the provincial too. I did not take side as I had just arrived and felt too early to talk of the issue. Helena cooked for the dinner for the guests at Visitation.
16th: The Birth Day of Biju was celebrated. Camillo cooked for the occasion.
17th: I received the Residence permit card today from the Immigration office. The Provincial concluded his visitation and left for Belgium.
18th: I attended a Research Seminar on Child Labour in Nike food ball production in Pakistan and the consequences.
19th: Had Ben White Group work. There was a film on Population Control Measures in the 70s and Group discussion. Three people ( Melony, Andrea and Eyob) presented their family generation analysis in the class.
SEMINAR ON PROPER BEHAVIOUR IN THE ISS. It was organized by Martin Boc. It was to clarify certain issues on Sexual Harassment and Moaning in the ISS. It was funny and at the same time the message was very clear.
20 & 21: Attended the following CONFERENCE.
Young People in Africa: From Marginalisation to Citizenship
ISS, The Hague, 20-21 November 2008
Programme
DAY ONE - 20 November 2008
10:00am – 10:30am - Opening Session: PRINCES MAXIMA WAS THERE FOR INAUGURATION
ISS Rector
OU Representative
10.30 – 11.00 - Keynote Address
Prof. Alcinda Honwana – Prince Claus Chair 2007/08, IDC-The Open University
African Youth: Addressing the Challenges of Citizenship
11.00 – 11.30 – Coffee/Tea Beak
11.30 – 13:00: Panel 1: Being Young: Conceptualizations and Experiences of Youth
Prof. Nana Poku – Department of Peace Studies – University of Bradford
Youth and HIV/AIDS
Dr. Auma Okwany – Children and Youth Studies, Institute of Social Studies
Negotiating Tensions in Girlhood: Constrained and Situated Agency for girls in urban poor locales in Kenya
Dr. Ibrahim Abdullah – Department of History, University of Sierra Leone
Social Citizenship or Generational Struggle?: Marginal Youth in Post War Sierra Leone
13.00 -14.00 – Lunch
14.00 – 15.30: Panel 2: Youth Agency in Conflict and Post-Conflict Settings
Prof. Thierry Nlandu Mayamba – Faculte’ des Lettres, University of Kinshasa
Youth in Politics: Breaking the Barrier between Actors and Spectators in Post Conflict DRC
Prof. Marc Sommers – The Fletcher School, Tufts University, Boston
Youth, Conflict and Urbanization in Rwanda
Dr. Karin Willemse – Faculty of History & Arts – Erasmus University Rotterdam
The Darfur crisis, masculinity, and the contingency of Sudanese citizenship
15.30 – 16.00 – Tea/Coffee Break
16:00 – 17.30 – Panel 3: Youth Movements and Social Empowerment
Dr. Rijk van Dijk –African Studies Centre, Leiden University
Self-framing and Self-mobilisation: Pentecostal Faith, Agency and Youth Ideology in Africa
Dr. Takyiwaa Manuh – African Studies Institute, University of Ghana
Gender, Ethnicity and Exclusion among Migrant Female Youth in Accra
Prof. Ronald Kassimir – Department of Political Science, The New School University
Youth Social Movements in Africa
19:00 – 21:00 - Conference Dinner
DAY TWO – 21 November 2008
9:30 – 11:00pm – Panel 4 – Comparative Reflections on Youth Experiences
Prof. Peter Geschiere and Dr. Francio Guadeloupe – Amsterdam School for Social Science Research, University of Amsterdam
The Religion of the urban cool: youth icons in the Netherlands and Africa
Francisco Gutierrez – IEPRI, Universidad Nacional de Colombia
Recruitment revisited
Yoke van der Meulen – Institute of Community and Public Health, Birzeit University
Palestinian Youth and Agency: Growing Up with Hopeless Hope
11:00-11:30 – Tea/Coffee Break
11:30 – 13:00 – Panel 5: The Lights of the City: Urbanization and the Informal Economy
Dr. Paul Jenkins – School of the Built Environment – Heriot-Watt University
The Challenges of Urbanization for Youth in Sub-Saharan Africa
Dr. Basile Ndjio – University of Douala (Cameroon)
Cameroonian feymen and Nigerian ‘419’ scammers: two examples of Africa’s ‘reinvention’ of the global capitalism
Dr. Aboubacar Momoh – Department of Political Science, University of Lagos
Citizenship as Social Construction: Making meaning of Area Boys and the Public Space in Lagos
13:00 – 14:00 – Lunch
14:00 – 15:30 – Discussion Groups
Group 1 – Definitions and Conceptualizations of Youth
Group 2 – Agency, Marginalization and Social Location
Group 3 - Integration, Participation and Active Citizenship
15:130 – 16:00 – Tea/coffee break
16:00 – 17:00 – Closing Session
Discussion Groups Reports
Sum Up of conference discussions
Prof. Alcinda Honwana
Closing remarks:
Youth Culture is beyond national borders and is transcended. They have cultural citizenship beyond countries and states. We need to build our networks like obama who built his network of youth to win the election. The Continuity and the commitment makes the difference.
I was touched by the plights of the child soldiers in several African countries, who are kidnapped from their families to be trained and used for fighting the Government especially in Rwanda.
I was impressed by the custom of youth in a country where they have to build their own house to get married. So the youth work hard to earn money to build house. Only then they can get married. This was a good custom as against all other Tamilian youth who get married without work, job and house. The parents get them married and look after them even after marriage. Some of them depend on the dowry the girl brings.
22nd Sat: I watched for the first time snow fall. I was in the room and saw through the long big glass window. It was very great sight. Later in the evening i went out for a walk and picked it up. It was great feeling.
23rd Sun: Christ the King Solomnity. I woke up from the phone call from Vinith. Mercy said that there was very heavy rain in Tamil Nadu for a week and still pouring down.
24th Mon: Visited the Ireland Embassy to apply for Visa to go for holidays to Florence akka and meet Casi in Ireland.
26th Wed: I was the secretary for Tutorial on Environment and Sustainable Development
27th Thu: I attended the IT skills Development class.
28th Fri: I presented the 3 Generation in the Children and Youth Studies(CYS)
29th Sat: National Inter religious Conference on Religion and Human Rights. The Workshop on Medical Ethical Dilemmas was very interesting.
In the evening we had International Day. Exhibitions of each country, Food Fair and Cultural Programme were very interesting. First time I remained so long in the ISS late in the evening.
International Day 2008
This year's International Day held on Saturday 29 November from 16.00 hrs onwards !The International Day is a yearly event, with a food fair, an exhibition of artifacts followed by a Performance Night with poetry, music, dance and more from all over the world. You have never seen anything like it...!
At 16.00 hrs we will have a exhibition of artifacts in the corridors on the first floor, so we need you to bring traditional clothes, posters, artifacts, anything that you would like to put on display.At 18.00 hrs: Food Fair ! The idea is, that people can sample food from various regions and countries. This will be held in the atrium. There will be stalls from which we can serve the food .Then at 20.00 hrs, after we have cleared the tables and moved them out of the way:Performance Night !Imagine traditional dances and songs by performers, some more confident than others, from over 30 different countries, some with audience participation, making it hard to see where the stage begins and ends…A heart warming celebration of our kaleidoscope of cultures
30th Sun: I went with Ramkrishnan IAS to Delft to meet tamil students in UNESCO IHE and we met Ramesh and Mohan. It was an interesting meeting. After 3 months first time had sambar and rasam.

KNIGHTS OF SANTACLAS