 |
|
|
|
Overview
Children that are not enrolled in school require us to come up with the most flexible and innovative programs.
Here is where our years of experience in the field comes to the fore. We identify communities, like migrant
workers' children, street children, fishermens' children etc, and try to establish classes as quickly for them.
The aim is to get them to the level where they can enroll in regular school. For certain groups such as adolescent
girls we try and impart basic literacy and learning.
For children left to fend for themselves on the streets and denied opportunities by their parents, these classes
help to raise their self-esteem and demonstrate the practical difference that literacy can make on their lives.
Facilities
The majority of classes for out-of-school children are held in temporary spaces, close to the group's location. Classes
for adolescent girls, whose parents are reluctant to send them out, are conducted in the immediate neighborhood, in the
house of a teacher, a local woman or even one of the girl's house.
In the interest of time we will sometimes employ the use of the School-on-Wheels bus as a temporary solution before a
better location is found.
Activities
We cater the activities based on the group
Use the school curriculum as a guideline, focussing on language, math and general science to get children upto
school level
We conduct various formal and informal testing to gauge the progress of each child often done in a fun environment
Show how children can use counting/literacy skills to help in their daily activities (the children often work to
supplement their families incomes)
Organize educational trips (for instance to the zoo, local hospital or police station) and community events
Interact with parents and help raise awareness about the importance of their chidren's education.
Collaboration with the Government
The government has introduced schemes like the Mahatma Phule Shikshan Hami Yojana which provides aid to NGOs like
DSS to expand primary education to out of school children. We have been working with government officials to identify
and plan classes and receive funding for such activities.
Support
With over 50 classes running at any given time with over 1200 children, we are looking for ways to better the existing
classes and expanding into new areas. Financial support as well as volunteers to help with finding appropriate facilities
will help us achieve these goals.
|
|
|
|
