Nadpoozhi is a program originated by Tharani Ketheeswaran (to read more about Tharani and the founding of Nadpoozhi, see below). My involvement with the project began simply, when I started attending the sessions Tharani would lead for the children. Eventually, one of the children asked me how I learned English. I had previously shared some of my story as an asylum seeker in the U.K., and the struggles I faced learning English and feeling out of place in a foreign land. As a child, I had very few resources at my disposal.

However, as I answered the little girl’s question, it struck me very forcefully that I still had access to many more resources than these children did. I left that session with a deep-seated desire to do something. I started thinking about my work with Storytellers. I realized that through my work at Storytellers, I had developed the skills to help children build communication skills and learn English. I came up with a very simple idea: to begin by studying poetry. I pitched the idea to the Nadpoozhi team (Tharani Ketheeswaran and Rajan Gesland). Since then. the program has grown very fast, as I adapted to meet the learning needs of the students I work with.

In my work with the students, I use poetry, extracts from novels and other texts, newspaper articles and theatrical texts. When selecting pieces, I focus on BIPOC writers, both those who write directly in English and those whose works are translated into English. I encourage the children I work with to develop self confidence by learning key skills including public speaking, performing poetry, critical thinking, writing.

I currently work with about 30 children from 3 different remote villages located in the North and East of Sri Lanka, meeting weekly for 90-minute lessons. For this program, I am developing the syllabus based on the children's educational needs. As I work with a wide range of ages and levels of English exposure, it is incredibly challenging to ensure I am meeting key learning goals for all the children. This is only possible thanks to my teammates. I am fortunate to be working with 3 professionally qualified teachers.

The communities in these villages, until very recently, lived independently, able to support themselves on their ancestral lands. They were displaced by the Indian army and essentially abandoned with no resources. In one of the villages, they don’t have easy access to clean drinking water. Many of these children struggle to attend school regularly, often missing school to work and support their families. However, the efforts by the Valluvam, Think Thamizh, and Storytellers teams have fostered a renewed sense of hope among the families. We all know the children are incredibly bright and capable. All they really needed was the support of the global Thamizh community. I am currently at capacity with my volunteer efforts with this project. I hope to seek funding to expand the program in the future.

The Inception of Nadpoozhi

Nadpoozhi was started by Tharani Ketheeswaran (founder of Think Thamizh) and Rajan Gesland. In Tharani’s words:

“Valluvam and Think Thamizh hosted an online event with them for International Women's Day in 2025, with the three remote villages in Batticaloa supported by Valluvam. A lot of the kids and mothers from the villages attended the online event and spoke. We realised by the end of it (the event) that beyond meeting their basic needs, there was a greater need for the human touch. That's why we decided to have a weekly call with Canadian Thamizh children, connecting with kids from these remote villages. To build bonds, bring them together, share skills and talents.”

If you are interested in learning more about Valluvam’s work, or supporting them, please visit their website: https://www.valluvam.ca.