Riding Towards the Future
In the years 2014-15 Gram Vikas Trust (GVT) has selected 22 girls who are willing to study further, who are economically deprived, dropped out from schools for some social reasons. Interacted with all of them and supported them with educational kits (Books, educational materials, uniforms and so on), tuition fees and coaching classes for hard subjects like English, Mathematics. These girls were mainly in 9 to 11 standards, out of these 22 girls, 3 girls have been dropped out due to social reasons (Like Family migration, marriage) and 10 girls could not cleared their board examination (10th standard). Although, 9 girls have cleared their examination successfully and has been enrolled for higher studies.
This academic year 2015-16 also GVT has supported 22 girls, 13 new girls have been replaced from nearby villages as 13 girls could not able to study further as they have not cleared their examination in previous year and other 9 girls are the same who have completed their examination successfully in previous year. GVT also provide ongoing support to girls who failed in examination and re-exam again for further study.
Site Visit Report by GVT key person:
On a regular programme a random site visit has been done by GVT key person (Jignesh Christi and Jaypriya Thakor) on 22nd October, 2015. It is the period of school examination, the preliminary examination was going on. GVT staff have visited some of the girls on that day and they found the best of the visit.
Village: Padal (Block- Jhagadia, District- Bharuch)
Some of the girls were studying, and preparing for their examination.
1) Arpita Vasava: Arpita is studying in 11th standard, she is the only girl from her village who could have passed her 10th examination successfully. She is good in studies and work hard for her family. Her father works in a company as laborer, her mother is handicap. Her elder sister is doing BA, and younger sister is in 6th standard.Her mother wants all her three girls to get good education and get settle in their lives. She is very happy that her daughter has cleared her 10th examination. Arpita shared that her parents are the true inspiration for her hard work, they are working hard so that the children can get good lives and for their future she works hard, so that her parents can live happily in their old age.
2) Sushma Vasava: Sushma studying in 12th standard. Her economic condition too bad, her father works as agricultural laborer, her mother is a housewife. She has two sisters and a younger brother, all are studying in school.Her economic condition is not good, her mother does some embroidery work at home so that she can help financially. The daughters also help in this work, in their free time to earn much.While we visited her house, Sushma was studying, she sat near the kitchen it was a very dark room. We sat for while with her, did not disturb her for more time.She shared that she loves this place while studying, she always sit there. At night while my mother cooks she helps her mother in preparing food and also read or do some homework. She said that, “I don’t know, but simply I just love this place, it is very dark (in the day time also) though I love it”
These girls are studying in different schools, St. Xavier’s High school, Jhagadia, Diwan Dhanjisha High school, Jhagadia, and Talodara High school. GVT key person visits this schools and villages of these girls regularly also school teachers help us by informing us about the performance of these girls in class rooms. Randomly visit to their homes are also have been taken up in the action for good rapport and to know about their problems or difficulties faced by them. Mainly all the girls are good in studies and regular in school.
GVT is trying for the best to uplift these girls by helping them or educating them.
Following is the list of the girls who are supported this year: (2015-16)
No. / Name of the Girl / Standard / Name of the Village / Block1 / Vasava Arpita Champaklal / 11 / Padal / Jhagadia
2 / Vasava Nimishaben Naginbhai / 12 / Padal / Jhagadia
3 / Vasava Karunaben Kamleshbhai / 12 / Padal / Jhagadia
4 / Vasava Daxaben Dalpatbhai / 12 / Padal / Jhagadia
5 / Vasava Jagrutiben Babubhai / 12 / Navagam / Jhagadia
6 / Vasava Sushmaben Madhavbhai / 12 / Padal / Jhagadia
7 / Vasava Rajitaben Nareshbhai / 12 / Borjai / Jhagadia
8 / Bhagat Arpitaben Divyeshbhai / 12 / Vakhatpura / Jhagadia
9 / Vasava Sushmitaben Pahadsinh / 12 / Vakhatpura / Jhagadia
10 / Vasava Poojaben Madhavbhai / 9 / Mortalav / Jhagadia
11 / Vasava Chayaben Mukeshbhai / 9 / Mortalav / Jhagadia
12 / Vasava Rakshika Ramsingbhai / 10 / Mortalav / Jhagadia
13 / Vasava Artiben Bharatbhai / 10 / Mortalav / Jhagadia
14 / Vasava Jagruti Harising / 10 / Mortalav / Jhagadia
15 / Vasava Manishaben Jashwantbhai / 10 / Mortalav / Jhagadia
16 / Vasava Kajalben Govardhanbhai / 11 / Mortalav / Jhagadia
17 / Vasava Nilamben Abhesingbhai / 9 / Panvadi / Jhagadia
18 / Vasava Tejalben Justinbhai / 9 / Panvadi / Jhagadia
19 / Vasava Dimple Dilipbhai / 9 / Panvadi / Jhagadia
20 / Vasava Kashmiraben Maganbhai / 9 / Mortalav / Jhagadia
21 / Vasava Tejalben Mahendrabhai / 9 / Mortalav / Jhagadia
22 / Vasava Vaishaliben Arvindbhai / 9 / Mortalav / Jhagadia
Area of Concern:
Ø As it is mentioned earlier that these girls are from very interior part of the block, they have to walk minimum 5kms to reach at the bus stop or main road where they can get Government bus or some private vehicle. They find the buses are always packed with the crowd, sometimes they cannot catch the bus as the bus driver do not stop as the buses are fully packed and they may have to returned for home.
The journey is about 15kms but these 15kms takes almost 2 hours for one time journey and daily they have to waste their 4 hours. Earlier we have provided some bicycles to some of the girls to travel upto main road which is 5km and we have seen good result of it. These bicycles provide them overcome transport issue and also they go in group feel secure. We will also think to provide bicycles to remaining girls who have not covered earliear.
Ø Some of the subjects like English, Mathematics, and Science are very tough for them to learn. We have observed that there is a huge gap of teachers in government primary schools, also some of the teachers are not giving proper attention to the students, as they know that the parents will not complain about anything related to education. Many students find difficulty in reading and writing after completing 8th standard. And this affect the students in higher education, to catch up the things easily.
These students need some personal coaching classes of subject which are difficult for them, where they can be focused and taught personally.
Ø While interacting with these girls and other stakeholders we have find many other girls who also can be helped for educational support.