Asha meeting 07/31/11
Attending: Sapan, Vijay, Dev, Shaon, Surbhi, Abhinaya, Devang, Sunita, Neha
MERA SAHARA
Children’s Education and Empowerment Program
Nithari, Noida, Uttar Pradesh
§ Project Description
§ Location: Nithari, Sector 31, Noida, U.P, India
§ Area (urban/rural): Urban
§ Primary Focus: - Poor children of Nithari Village
§ Project Type: Primary School
§ Amount Requested (US$): $30000 per annum
§ Purpose of Funding Request: Expanding capacity of existing facility
§ # of Beneficiaries: About 100 children
§ Project Goals
§ Expand current facility to accommodate more children
§ Enable regular and easier transition to regular schools
§ Provide a safe place for children while parents are away at work
§ Community involvement
- Most teachers and caretakers are from the community
- Many adults attend evening adult education classes in the same premises
§ Current status
§ Six month report receive Feb 2011; Expense report received Apr 2011 (Sep – Mar)
§ New center started August-September
§ Originally in a smaller facility (two rooms)
§ In a larger facility since June:
- 4 rooms, 2 semi-closed verandas
- Courtyard
- Toilet
§ Current status
§ Class strength approximately 15
§ 6 six sections total:
§ Pre-primary – 2 sections
§ Class I - 2 sections
§ Class II – 1 section
§ Class III – 1 section
§ Tailoring class: 20 girls
§ Computer class: 12 children
§ Skill training and adult education: 15 women (making mats and quilts).
§ Impact
§ Center expanded allowing more children to attend school
§ Children participation and eagerness to attend school has increased dramatically
§ Community involvement is strong and growing
§ Asha contribution seems to have played an important role
§ Expense Summary (per month)
§ Rent : Rs. 6,000
§ Regular Teachers (5 @ Rs. 4000) Rs. 20,000
§ Computer/ Craft Teacher (2 @ Rs. 3000) Rs. 6000
§ Support staff (cleaner and ayah @ Rs.2000) Rs. 4000
§ Coordinator Rs. 5000
§ Director travel Rs. 2000
§ Food/ Water/ Stationary Rs. 8000
§ Total Rs. 51, 000
Funds provided ($1250 per month; @Rs 44 per USD) ~ Rs 55,000
§ Spending more on teacher salary (more teachers) than planned
§ Spending less on Coordinator / Travel / Food
§ Rent+Electricity expenses now up by Rs. 9000 per month.
Questions from last meeting
-We are aware of the Right to Education Act (RTE). However, so far all schools in slums and rural areas have not been covered.
-We do have plans to expand the school beyond grade 3 subject to space and funds
-The Premises is a rented place and therefore there is no certainty. Every year the rent goes up. The only way to ensure a permanent place is to purchase a building for which we have no funds.
-There is no way to hold on to this Premises if the Landlord requires it and gives us Notice to quit.
-The teachers are recruited from the community itself. I have been very particular about it as I wanted the community to feel that the schools is theirs. Except for the Ayah and the Cleaner all other staff are Graduates. Special training for computers, tailoring and craft teacher.
- Since the children belong to the community where the school is situated, the teachers as well as the women's committee keep track of the children and their parents.
-List of our children admitted toTagorePublic Schooland other private and Govt. schools, in the neighbourhood.
1.Sharmishtha (in class IV), 2.Pritam(in class IV), 3. Vishal (in class IV)
4. Saurav (in class IV), 5. Nitin (in class IV), 6. Gautam (in class IV)
7. Renu ( in class IV), 8. Arun (in class IV), 9. Ganesh, (in class III)
10. Sagar (in class III), 11. Deepak(in class III).
Site Visit
• Conducted by Rohini Muthuswami on July 28, 2011
- Associated with Asha since 2001
- Started with Asha Colorado, then Bangalore and now Delhi
- Doing site visits for the past several years and toured the Varanasi area extensively
- Key points from site visit:
• New center:
- Huge place with six rooms and courtyard; very clean
- Away from main road, can be locked and hence very safe
- Rs. 13,000 per month rent is a reasonable price
- Children:
- Very happy and eager to attend school
- The confidence of children has grown tremendously
- Very expressive and many are very talented
- Disciplined, neat and clean
• Teachers:
- Dedicated and motivated
- Recruited from nearby areas
- All are graduates; not necessarily of the highest quality but are serving the purpose of the center
- Organization:
- Dr. Jyotsna/Padmini Kumar have a very clear vision
- Well organized and meticulous
- All paper work in order:
- Misc
- Women’s empowerment program is very successful.
- Dari’s (mats) are of very good quality.
FINAL WORD
The center is performing very well and is making a difference in the lives of the children by providing a safe haven, helping them develop confidence, and empowering them to stand up and fight for their rights.
§ Steward has warned them of our inability to fund at this level starting next year.
§ They request continued support at reduced level.
§ Having any support from Asha helps them approach other sources for funding
§ Steward recommendation:
Rent + Electricity : Rs. 1, 80, 000
Teachers(5 regular,1skill,craft & tailoring ) Rs. 3,96, 000
Counselor Rs. 66,000
§ Total : Rs 6, 42, 000 ~ $14,590 (@ Rs 44 per USD)
§ FUND at same level : $15,000
Funding was approved at $15K