SSRBM Kids Meet New Friends at DSS Bavdhan Center

पुण्यातल्या बावधन भागामधे बांधकाम मजुरांच्या मुलांसाठी ‘डोअर स्टेप स्कूल’तर्फे वर्ग चालवला जातो. साधारण तीन वर्षांपासून ते चौदा वर्षांपर्यंतची मुले दररोज या वर्गाला येतात. ‘डोअर स्टेप स्कूल’च्या शिक्षिका या मुलांना मराठी अक्षर ओळख, अंक ओळख, वाचन, लेखन, तसेच विविध खेळ व प्रकल्प शिकवतात. बावधन भागातच ‘श्री श्री रविशंकर बालमंदीर’ ही लहान मुलांची शाळा आहे. या शाळेतील मुलांनी व शिक्षिकांनी नुकतीच ‘डोअर स्टेप स्कूल’च्या बांधकाम साईटवरील वर्गाला भेट दिली. बालमंदीराच्या मुलांनी पपेटच्या माध्यमातून एक गोष्ट सादर केली. त्यांच्यासोबत आलेल्या शिक्षिका ज्योत्स्नाताई यांनी दोन्ही गटातल्या मुलांचे एकत्रित खेळ घेतले. मुलांनी एकत्र गाणी म्हटली आणि डान्सही केला. दोन्हीकडील मुलांच्या चेहर्‍यांवर नवीन मित्र मिळाल्याचा आनंद स्पष्ट दिसत होता.

श्री श्री रविशंकर बालमंदीरच्या संचालिका सायली कुलकर्णी यांनी या भेटीबाबतचा अनुभव छान शब्दांत लिहून पाठवला आहे.

“आज ‘डोअर स्टेप स्कूल’च्या बावधन प्रकल्पाला भेट देण्याचा योग आला. आणि त्या योगाने एका मस्त अश्या छोट्या दोस्ताची ओळख झाली. 'हरी' - हरिहर यादव, वय वर्ष अवघे १० ते १२ असावे. बांधकाम करणाऱ्या कामगारांचा मुलगा. 'हरी' - पहात क्षणी नजर खिळवून ठेवणारे चुणचुणीत व्यक्तिमत्त्व. खरेतर या वयाची बरीचशी मुले अशीच असतात. पण हा हरी मनाच्या कोपऱ्यात घर करून गेला ते वेगळ्याच कारणाने. ते म्हणजे - हरीची सगळ्या ऍक्टिव्हिटीज मध्ये असणारी इनव्हॉलमेंट. आसपासच्या मुलांची चुळबुळ, आजूबाजूने येणारे मोठे आवाज, काढले जात असणारे फोटोज, या आणि यांसारख्या कोणत्याही व्यत्ययांचा त्याच्या एकाग्रतेवर काडीचाही फरक पडत नव्हता. गाणे म्हणणे, नाच करणे यांसारख्या कृती तो अगदी १००% करत होता. भूत-भविष्याचा कसलाही परिणाम न जुमानणारा, साधनामग्न योगीच जणू हरीच्या रूपात माझ्यासमोर होता. मनात विचार आला की, परमेश्वराचे कार्यमग्न हरिरूप असेच असेल का? आणि मग दिवसभर मनात या हरी नामाचा गजर रंगला. आपण स्वतः खरंच प्रत्येक गोष्ट एवढी मनापासून, १००% करतो का? भूतकाळातील अनावश्यक ओझी नि भविष्याची अकारण चिंता यामध्ये वर्तमानात जगणे विसरूनच जातो. कोण आपल्याबद्दल काय विचार करेल नि काय म्हणेल, यात नैसर्गिक हालचालींवर बंधने आणतो. आजूबाजूच्या छोट्या छोट्या अडचणी घेऊन स्वतःच स्वतःपुढे व्यत्ययांचे मोठे डोंगर उभे करतो. आज या हरीच्या रूपाने पुन्हा एकवार स्वतःला ओळखण्याची, स्वतःच्या जवळ जाण्याची संधी मिळाली. आणि या मुलांना काहीतरी द्यायला गेलेल्या मलाच खूप काही असे मिळून गेले. आज मला या 'हरी'च्या रूपाने जणू माझ्यातील 'हरी' भेटला.”

- सायली कुलकर्णी

Taking Education to Every Child’s Doorstep…

Thousands of people migrate every day from villages to cities in search of employment. The industrial and infrastructural developments in a city like Pune attract people from various states in the country. Majority of the migrants are unskilled and semi-skilled labourers, who often get employed on construction sites coming up everywhere in and around the city. Usually, the labourer families are provided hutments in the construction premises. The families include children from various age groups, who keep moving from one place to another along with their parents. Most of them do not speak the local language and prefer to avoid unnecessary local interaction. Due to lack of awareness or special attention, the children remain deprived of education during the parents’ struggle for survival. Around 15 years ago, Door Step School identified the need and decided to provide learning opportunities for these children at their own doorstep. The concept of Educational Activity Centers was thus developed and implemented at various construction sites in Pune.

Over the years, there have been lots of experiments and changes in the original model of a construction site class. However, the objective with which it was started and the passion with which it was being run have remained unchanged. The Project Foundation team of Door Step School recently decided to exhibit the journey and methodology of these centers, for the knowledge of various stakeholders involved in the cause. An open-to-all exhibition was organized at the labour camp on Clover Forest County construction site in Kharadi, Pune on 17th and 18th of March 2017.

Colourful charts were put up displaying information about the organization and various steps and procedures to start and run an Educational Activity Center on a construction site. Books and teaching aids specially designed by Door Step School for these children were made available for the visitors to view. The exhibition counters were manned by DSS teachers and the children actually benefitted by the EACs being run at nearby construction sites. Layout of a typical EAC and its functioning were explained through 3D models prepared by the teachers. Visitors were also taken on a tour to the actual EAC on this construction site – which consists of a Balwadi, a Study Class, and a Literacy Class, in a semi-constructed facility provided by the builder.

The teachers and children explained to the visitors, how events are celebrated and science activities are conducted at the centers. Evaluation methods and registers maintained for tracking children’s progress were put on display, along with drawings and craft items prepared by the children. At one stall, children narrated their own journey from dirty and careless appearance to proper health and hygiene habits, while at another stall, children performed science experiments like eruption of a volcano and functioning of a handpump.

The exhibition was visited by teachers and children from other centers and projects of Door Step School, along with volunteers and representatives of funding partners. It was an opportunity for individuals and organizations interested in starting such educational activities for children from similar background in the city or outside. The Door Step School team behind organizing this exhibition was led by Nagesh Alkunte, Dipika  Pawar, Tehasin Shaikh, and Meghna Vittubone. The teachers Kalpana Talekar, Neeta Bhalerao, Sajna Tikhole, and Namrta shinde took efforts in preparation, display, and overall management of the event, with enthusiastic and tireless participation from the children.

Connecting Schools and Parents through Meetings

Involving parents in their child's education is a challenging task. The Every Child Counts (ECC) team organizes frequent meetings and programmes for parents, at communities and in schools. The objective is creating awareness among parents about education, explaining school admission process to them, and answering their queries and doubts about children and schools.

Initially, ECC team conducted these meetings only on community level. However, with increasing participation and support from school authorities, these meetings are now being conducted inside the schools. This helps parents in knowing the school environment where their children will be going every day and it also helps them interact with teachers directly.

In the Haveli Block of Pune District, ECC team is conducting meetings for parents at Zilla Parishad schools. The Block Education Officer Ms. Jyoti Parihar Madam is personally attending these meetings to interact with parents. She is trying to understand their challenges, whether they are getting proper support from school or not, and also if there are any other requirements. Recently these meetings were conducted at Bakori ZP school and Kesnand ZP School. The meeting at Kesnand school was also attended by Hon. Sarpanch of the village and members of school management committee.

This serves as a platform for the parents to express their experiences and challenges. After talking with the teachers and authorities like BEO, they seem to start feeling positive about school and the entire system. While sharing improvements observed in their children, they felt very excited. Some of them also felt guilty that they are not able to think for their children beyond basic needs due to their struggle for survival. They got very emotional while talking about their children and the help offered by ECC team and school teachers. This has also helped in sensitizing the school teachers about ground level situation and practical challenges before the parents.

The government officer and school teachers appreciated ECC team for their persistent efforts and systematic work. The parents are also thankful to the team for helping their children learn. This kind of experience is a moral booster for the entire team.

Few more meetings will be arranged in this month, to ensure positive turnout from parents and schools in the next academic year.

(Reported by Dattatray Vetal and team, Door Step School, Pune)