Covid-19 Awareness drive by DSS Team

Audio resources are one of the useful resources to create public awareness. We decided to apply this in our COVID -19 awareness program in communities. We installed a mike and amplifier in the vehicle and use a computer to play video clips. Team members make sure that the entire community pays attention to the tape. The main objective is to encourage ‘COVID appropriate behavior’ among the people in the worst affected areas. 

We identified key communication pointers related to Covid appropriate behavior like hand hygiene, wearing of a mask, safe distancing, de-stigmatization of disease, dos, and don’ts regarding home isolation, helpline numbers for hospitalization, etc. 

We also informed them of the campaign started by Maharashtra government - My Family My Responsibility "माझे कुटुंब, माझी जबाबदारी”

The vehicle covered 24 communities in PCMC area reaching out to 86 parents and 164 children.

And PMC vehicle covered 34 communities area reaching out to 221 parents and 490 children.

We are using 3 Vehicles (PMC AREA 2 & PCMC AREA 1 Vehicles)

Testimonial by Col. Ashutosh Kulkarni

 I am Col Ashutosh Kulkarni, retired from the Indian Army in 2019 after 23 years of service. 

I came across Door Step School on the Internet and felt touched, primarily because of the Noble Cause that the Organisation is striving for.

When I was just about to start my journey as a volunteer with Door Step School, the Lockdown was imposed due to Covid -19 in Mar this year and it made me wait for nine months to commence with my little contribution with DSS. Since then I am now taking four different small batches of students of Class IV and X.

Having interacted with the staff of DSS and a few students, I do realize that although the wings of Education are spreading there still is scope for further stretching them a little longer and wider. The gravity or the importance of quality learning is yet to mature among the less privileged populace. However, I strongly feel that with our wholehearted and consistent efforts, the situation will keep improving. 

Thank you, DSS for giving me this opportunity.

The Zeal to learn

In the class at Sugar factory, Sonali Bhatane and Suvarna Bhatane of grade 7 attend the classes. Suvarna is attending since the last 3 years while Sonali has joined this year. They are neighbors. They study in class as well as at home.

However, this year, due to Covid19, without much teaching material but with the help of board games, floor games, language activities, also with the use of leaves, flowers, sticks, students were given training on mulakshar (marathi alphabet), words, and maths concepts.

Suvarna and Sonali are taking the effort to teach their siblings and other kids.

In most households there are buffaloes and oxen, hence for most kids, daily work includes making cowdung cakes.

Suvarna and Sonali came up with the idea of teaching letters by writing on cowdung cakes. They trained other kids on the alphabet and words and also took their reading exercise using cow dung cakes. They also took the puzzle game of joining letters to create words.

This shows that if a child has an urge for education, even in unfavorable conditions, he/she continue learning.

Testimonial on PPCE book

We are grateful to Mr. Bhau Gawande , Retired Education Officer, Mumbai for his appreciation of our book - गोष्ट पालक सहभाग प्रकल्पाची (Goshta Palak Sahabhag Prakalpachi - Parent Participation In children's education - A story). In 2019, DSS published a book on participation of parents in their children's education. The book captures the experiences of the team who worked in planning, designing and execution of the project since its launch in 2013. Mr. Gawande has very rightly expressed that in the times of Corona, this book serves as an aid to increase the involvement of parents in their children's education. The book is available on below link: 

https://www.doorstepschool.org/pune/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/गोष्ट-पालक-सहभाग-प्रकल्पाची.pdf

Facilitation of our team

On 8th March, on account of Women's Day, in 13 Municipality Schools and 1 Aided School, under the 'School Closed, Learning Continues' program, 13 book fairies, 1 supervisor, 1 area coordinator and 1 coordinator were felicitated by the school. 

At that ceremony, the principals of all schools appreciated the work of DSS.

Thank you Seema ma'am

Volunteer Seema mangaonkar had come to meet the N&N team. She is the one who trained our teachers Google Meet application, took followups, and solved their difficulties. Due to her consistent effort, they gained confidence owing to which they could conduct online classes for kids from different NGOs under the Networking and Nurturing Program.We were honored to have Seemaji at our main office and a big thank you so much ma'am for volunteering with us.

Computer Lab in Karmaveer Bhavurao Patil School

 In Karmaveer Bhavurao Patil School in the Pimpri Chinchwad area, Y4D Foundation and Alfa Laval together have established a Computer Lab. As the next stage of this project, teachers will be given computer training. On the occasion of Women's Day, training for teachers has begun. For this program, Y4D Foundation invited Rajashri Jadhav, the coordinator of the Reading Culture Project. That time, Jyotsna Shinde, the administrative official of the Pimpri Chinchwad area, felicitated Rajashri Jadhav. Rajashri Jadhav appealed to everyone that maximum teachers should take the training. She shared how DSS reached students through WhatsApp groups and successfully conducted the reading culture project. This event stands as an example of how DSS team members are an inspiration for others in the field.