On 12th December, at the temporary and permanent settlements at the construction site of Moshi, 14 parents were trained on how to teach the alphabet to children. 12 parents and 2 children were present for this training. This activity was organized under the Parents' Participation in Children's Education (PPCE) program of DSS. The purpose of the training was to empower parents to teach children in an effective way. Parents liked this training program and took part in this with great enthusiasm and sincerity. They said that the training would help them teach their children in a better way. The training was conducted by Ms. Jyoti Kahar and Ms. Ranjita Padalkar of the Door Step School's Parivartan Training Centre. After this training, in the evening, Santosh Ade, a parent, experimented with teaching some kids in the neighborhood. We as a team are really happy that we are being able to promote education to not just children of the marginalized groups, but also their parents.
Mr. Sagar Shende and his friends have provided books for the library for children who have learned to read. We have received 60 books which include famous storybooks like Hitopadesha, Panchatantra, among other moral storybooks as also some puzzle books and science experiment books. Children at Matrucchaya have completed their reading lessons and are able to read with fluency. These children are being trained under the Networking and Nurturing Program.
PROJECT PHOENIX LAUNCHED
Come what may, education should not stop. This is the philosophy by which The Society for Door Step Schools (Door Step School/DSS), Pune has been planning all its projects and programs over the last 30+ years. The Covid-19 pandemic hit us and nothing remained the way it was. Each of us was directly affected by this. The most adverse impact was on young school-going children; the closure of schools led to complete loss of learning, especially for the underprivileged first generation learners who are our focus group.
To address
the problem of learning loss on a war footing, Door Step School, Pune launched
Project Phoenix on 25th October 2021. The idea is to work in communities,
in small groups -- following all Covid protocols -- to equip young children
with basic reading, writing and numeracy skills before schools reopen in June
2022.
As a buildup
to Project Phoenix, one team surveyed 6863 houses from 223 communities
and identified 1934 children in the age group of 6 years to 12 years who
were unable to read age appropriate text fluently. The children identified were
administered the Reading Ability Test to gauge their learning levels. The other
teams are in the process of surveying other communities across PMC, PCMC and
Pune Rural.
On 25th
October 2021, 45 classes were launched impacting 615 children
directly. All the identified children and more will be covered to achieve
foundational literacy and numeracy skills by April 2022. This will be achieved
by imparting the 120 hours engagement in online as well as offline modes.
HELP US REACH
AS MANY CHILDREN AS POSSIBLE IN MAHARASHTRA
Project PHOENIX:
GOAL:
Lifelong Literacy And Numeracy for Every Child
TOTAL
HOURS OF ENGAGEMENT: 120 hours PER CHILD
LANGUAGE:
Marathi or Hindi
SCRIPT:
Devanagri
SPONSORSHIP PER CHILD: INR 1500/- ($20)
IMPACT
REPORT: Will be provided with learning outcomes per child at the end of 120
hours intervention
CONTACT DETAILS
Call: +91 7028014202 Write to: pune@doorstepschool.org
On 9th October 2021, a loud reading activity was taken for children of sugarcane field workers from Nandur, Dound. The children gave their best according to their reading ability and were appreciated with claps as well as sweets given by Rohini Tai. For this program, DSS team first went to Nandur school. The school team felicitated DSS team members and requested them to start online classes for students lagging behind. The program went very well.
Prashik Sudhakar Sarkate our student from the Parents' Participation in Children's Education (PPCE) Project, won a bronze medal in the state-level Karate competition organized by the Baramati Karate Association. Prashik's father works in the Khadi Machine Vasti in Charoli. Congratulations to Prashik and best wishes for his future.
The Society for Door Step Schools Pune, under their Nurturing and Networking program, has started online classes for students lagging behind in academics, from Adivasi Pada, Padalda Khurd, Taluka Shahada, district Nandurbar. This initiative has been taken up in collaboration with Vichardhara Foundation, Nandurbar. A youngster named Dinesh, staying in the same village has come forward to take the classes. He is 12th pass and works as a laborer. During his lunch break from 12 noon to 2 pm, he quickly has lunch and helps take classes between 12.30 and 1.30. Vichardhara Foundation has been provided with two computers out of which one is given for the classes in this village. For running these classes, Dinesh is taking great efforts. The chief of Vichardhara Foundation, Mr. Tatyaji Pawar is working for informing parents about the importance of these classes and urging them to send their children there. We appreciate Dinesh's dedication in conducting the classes and are very thankful to Mr. Pawar for his help.
Under the Grow With Books initiative by The Society for Door Step School, during the classes and in the home lending program, a drawing-coloring activity was conducted for children. Students from 5th to 8th grade drew and colored their pictures. Some of them drew pictures of corona. Kids from 1st to 4th grade were given printed pictures of corn, a flower vase, grapes, and Shri Krishna, for coloring. All the students participated with enthusiasm and their drawing and coloring were really good.
Our student Vaishnavi Bansode took part in a digital speech competition organized on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti. For this competition, participants had to send their speech videos to Seema News. From the several videos by different participants, Vaishnavi's speech video was selected as one of the best ones and Seena News has posted it on Youtube. Vaishnavi is from Hadapsar CLC. She is studying in grade 7 in Mahadji Shinde Primary School (Marathi medium). We are proud of her achievement. For her speech, visit: https://youtu.be/sSuPAZis-kM
On September 23, 2021, our students' parents staying in the Spine Road, Chakrapaani, Shastri Chawk, Fuge Vasti, and BG Shirke Vasti in PCMC, received the covid-19 vaccination. This vaccination drive was organized by Tata Motors, in which 107 parents were vaccinated. Tata Motors provided 4 buses to help the parents reach the vaccination venue, got their names registered, and arranged for the vaccines. The parents were happy to receive the vaccination as they were earlier facing difficulties getting with registrations. Plus they had a fear about taking the vaccine. DSS team members helped reduce this fear among parents, after which they got ready for the vaccination. Thus, due to the initiative and support of Tata Motors and the encouragement from the DSS team, 107 parents got vaccinated against Covid-19.
With the joint efforts of Seva Arogya Foundation, Sanjeevan Hospital, Serum Institute, PPCR, and Balasaheb Devras Polyclinic, Vajranirdhar 2021 Vaccination Drive was organized.
Under this program, with the help of the DSS team, 182 parents from Vakad, Punavale Charoli, and Moshi areas were vaccinated for Covid-19, on September 12 (Sunday) from 10am to 5pm.
Mr. Sachin Balvade (Head of Seva Shikshan, PCMC Mahanagar) helped with arrangements for the venue for this vaccination drive.
This initiative was taken under the Parents' Participation in Children's Education (PPCE) program.
We received an appreciation letter from Shubham Builders for the way we conduct our classes on their site. The letter has served as a great motivator for our team. On their National Institute of Naturopathy site, we conduct classes under Project Foundation. Once, the officials on the site and from the builder's office visited our class. They liked the way we follow all covid rules while teaching. They liked our Balwadi project, the activities we take, the tools we use for teaching, and our way of record-keeping. Impressed by our organization and management of classes, they gave us an appreciation letter. We are very thankful to the Shubham Builders team for visiting our class and encouraging us with the letter.
Importance of Education
Education is a basic necessity to survive in this world. Education is a powerful and significant tool. “50% of Indian children aged 6-18 do not go to school.” A good education can pave the way out of poverty for families from low-income groups. Education enables underprivileged students to gain employment and job opportunities by providing basic skills and literacy. This can help underprivileged children bring financial relief to their homes and contribute to their society’s socio-economic condition. Educated children can break the vicious cycle of poverty.
Education of Underprivileged girls
Families from low-income groups often favor boys compared to girls when it comes to investing in their education. “More than 50 percent of girls fail to enroll in school; those that do are likely to drop out by the age of 12, 53% of girls in the age group of 5 to 9 years are illiterate.” This is because of the gender roles and patriarchal norms present in the underprivileged community. Underprivileged girls are meant to do housework and are victims of child marriage. It is important to break these gender roles and spread awareness about the importance of educating girls. Education of girls is even more important because that ensures education for generations to come. An educated girl will never have illiterate offspring. Education can also help underprivileged children become aware of their circumstances, and it can provide them with skills that can help them overcome any challenges they come across.
Education and health
Education makes underprivileged children aware of their health and hygiene requirements. Through education, they not only study but also upgrade their living standards in terms of health and hygiene. With a healthy income and lifestyle, their families can commit to more nutritious foods, can pay for health services and can fulfil their medical needs. Most underprivileged households are vulnerable and cannot afford nutrition, and receive low wages. Their children can therefore gain knowledge through education and help their families step out of this vicious cycle.
Education acts as an equalizer for our society
From an economic perspective, a good education for the underprivileged will decrease the gap between the rich and the poor, and this will, in turn, increase the economic growth and the economic development of the country. Education acts as an equalizer for our economy. Educating the underprivileged fights inequality, as it provides an equal opportunity to them to make a change. It makes the children competent and trains them to succeed and compete, in turn liberating the low-income groups. According to India Today, 32 million Indian children have never been to any school. In a country like India, where the population is extremely high, having quality human resources will ensure a more prosperous nation.
Role of Door Step School
At-Door Step School, we have created an environment willing to teach and educate children from low-income groups who are underprivileged and do not have the resources to afford their education. According to our study, many underprivileged students drop out without finishing their complete education. Door Step School aims to provide easier access to education to slum dwellers, construction site workers, and the marginalized section of our society. We provide primary education for all children up to 14 years of age. We encourage healthy sanitization. We at Door Step School are committed to provide an environment of holistic development and ensure easy access to resources for our targeted beneficiaries. We believe that educating underprivileged students is like their ticket to success.
In a satisfying start to the new school year, our team has helped enroll 300 new students in public schools. Students were enrolled across all grades and the early grades up to 2nd saw the highest numbers. 3 students, enrolled in KG, were from Project Chetana where enrolments were started for the first time this year.
Our goal is to ensure that every child and family take advantage of their right to education, and also help them bridge related challenges along the way.
The teams are actively involved in meeting and counseling new and old parents to advocate school education for their children. As most of these community members lead transient lives, the enrolment process becomes a year-long initiative with continuous follow-up with every family re-locating into and also relocating out of the communities.
Under the Grow with Books initiative by The Society for Door Step Schools, we conducted a parents' meeting for 1st and 2nd std students of Yewalewadi School.
Teachers and the principal were present for this meeting.
Students were given coloring books, practice books, notebooks, and pencils.
Parents thanked DSS and the principal appreciated the efforts taken by our team.
