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The School-on-Wheels project is the flagship of Doorstep's attempts to take education to Out-of-School children who dwell on the very fringes of society. This project was initiated with 2 major objectives in mind:
1. Provide a means to impart basic literacy skills to the less settled groups of children viz. those who live on pavements, station platforms or street corners and often seen begging. These groups are very mobile and usually there is no facility to run classes in the areas where they dwell. A bus provides the most suitable alternative for such a classroom.
2. Provide a School Bus Service for primary school children from slums. Some parents are motivated enough to enroll their children in school but are unable to drop the young ones to school regularly resulting in high school drop-off rates.
Facilities
The School-on-Wheels classes are being run since 1998 in places such as the World Trade Center and Fashion Street in Mumbai and Spicer College Road, University Road and Someshwar Wadi in Pune. A bus arrives each day in these locations staffed by one teacher and equipped with learning aids like a writing board, books, slates and pencils.
Activities
1. Basic literacy classes
About 65 children attended these classes in Mumbai and between 50-70 students at any one time in Pune.
These classes attempt to impart the 3 Rs (reading, writing and arithmetic
skills) in a non-formal setting.
2. School drop off service
This service is provided to communities within a few kms of the Colaba Municipal School and runs twice a day (morning and afternoon sessions).
3. Children's book and toy library
A children's book and toy library was started on the bus in 2001. Children can sit in the bus and play, read or listen to stories played on an audio cassette player.
4. Educational sessions on social skills
Sessions are held on the bus to instill social skills like basic hygiene, health and safety. Such meetings often turn into problem solving sessions that address some of the unique problems faced by the kids.
5. Recreational and educational field visits
The bus is also utilized to take the kids on field visits to museums, the zoo, a bank, hospital and even a police station. (The last in an attempt to dispel fears children have about policemen and for them to learn their rights and duties).
The Future
We would like to expand our activities to
Conduct classes for more groups of street children
Start a reference libraries for students of secondary schools
Expand our toy library
We are always open to new ideas that will diversify education and help reach out to more children.
Support
The Japanese Consulate of India has donated the bus at Mumbai. Asha for Education, New York/New Jersey chapter funds its running expenses.
Cummins Diesel Foundation, India supports the Pune School-on-Wheels project.
The annual budget of each School-on-Wheels project is about Rs. 5 lakh/year (approx. $ 11,000). We hope to keep this unique project running with the continued support of our donor-investors as well as further expanding the donor base.
How you can help.
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To learn more about this program view/download this pdf document.
Also available in pdf format the budget proposal for the School on Wheels program (Mumbai)
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