Asha for EducationTM

P.O. Box 322 • New York • NY 10040-0322 www.ashanet.org

6 MONTH PROGRESS REPORT

Please send fill out this form and send back to Asha for Education within 3 weeks from the time you receive this form. Thank you for your time and patience.

PLEASE COMPLETE THIS FORM AND MAIL IT TO:

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CONTACT INFORMATION

Name of the organization: Youth Unity for Voluntary Action

Organization description _: YUVA is a non-profit, non religious, non-political NGO, formed by few like-

minded enthusiastic youths and social activists of Makdampur area of Jamshedpur in the mid nineties of

the last century which was registered in 1996 as a Social development Trust under the Indian Trust Act .

The organisation is engaged in the solemn task of social development for the poor and marginalized tribal

communities especially for the women, children and youth, working in the field of education, health care,

livelihood, environment and so on by touching all the vital aspects of human life in the community.

YUVA is run by a governing body consisting of the 7 members who are reputed persons of this locality

with a rich experience of working in social development sector. There are 10 nos. of permanent staff and

36nos. of social animators and nearly 50 active and committed volunteers in our organization working

with a moderate infrastructure and financial health.

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Date of establishment : 12 Jan 1996

Contact person(s) : Barnali Chakraborty

Phone number : 9430391884Email : barnali.yuvajsr@gmail.com

Address YUVA, Munshi Mohalla,Makdampur,Parsudih,Tatanagar,Jamshedpur-831002

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Location (village/town): Tangrain and Dhengam ,Block: Potka,East Singhbhum

Description of area: YUVA is operational in the state of Jharkhand over 3 districts. viz. East Singbhum ,West Singbhum and Seraikela-Kharsawan for last 15 years . Geographically the area is the laterite sub- region of the hilly extension of Chottonagpur plateau with less fertile bushy forest terrain slope and rolling up lands. The climate is generally dry. Area is drought prone. The people of the area are economically downtrodden, socially underprivileged and educationally backward. Most of the population of this area is composed of backward communities. The scheduled tribe population is 28%. The literacy rate is abnormally lower than the literacy rate of Jharkhand (59.6%). A good majority of the population is daily wage labourers. Animal husbandry and allied trade also provide a supplementary source of livelihood to the community people

STATISTICS

Number of children currently enrolled in the project : 34

Ages of the children :9-14

Standards taught _I-I1

Number of boys : 17

Number of girls : 17

Number of teachers :2

Number of MALE teachers : 1

Number of FEMALE teachers1

Current Teacher/student ratio 1:17

Salary of Teachers Rs 2500

School timings :7 am-10 am, 3 pm-5 pm

School days : Daily

Over all school attendance percentage : 54

Medium of instruction : Hindi

Economic background of the parents of the children : Very poor

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Is the school in a rural or urban area :Rural

Is it a residential school? _No

How far away are the homes of the children? Zero km

How do the children get to school? _On foot

School days : Daily

FCRA Number: 337820044

Below are some general questions regarding the project. Since your feedback is valuable to us, please make your answers as detailed as possible.

Please tell us the progress of the school in the last 6 months (usually from April to September of the current year based on typical April 1 – March 31 school year in India)

Much has changed in the lives of Savar children in the six months period starting from the first day of the community school for Savars to the present day. Habitually a shy community, Savars did not have access to an academic institution, not even a primary school. Today Savar children are going to Kislay, the community school started by YUVA, and attending regular classes on all weekdays. This has been made possible by the persistent efforts of our team members and two teachers appointed to teach the children in school. Now the children not only attend classes, but also participate in group activities such as a simple interaction among students and teachers, a sports event or interacting with YUVA team members outside the four walls of their house or classroom. Definitely, shyness has given way to growing confidence among the Savar children as is evident from the positive behavioral change being demonstrated by them. There has been tremendous change in the outlook of Savar parents as well. During the six months, we continuously carried out interaction with Savar parents and kept educating them on the virtues of education. We told them about the world around them and convinced them to open themselves to the outer world and allow their children to be a part of the social mainstream through formal education. The eight children regularly coming to school are the wards of eight awakened parents who see no harm in sending their kids to school for few hours while they themselves do their household chores.

How do you think the school has improved in the last 6 months?

Some of the children have started coming regularly to the school and attend classes.

Eight children have started going to formal school regularly

Behavioural change : Savar children have begun to pick up good habits and understand the virtues of hygienic existence. This is evident from the fact that many of them have started brushing their teeth on a daily basis without fail. They also take bath everyday before starting the day. They clip their nails and get haircut at regular intervals in order to appear tidy. They wish others whenever they meet them. They have learnt to express their love and emotional toward their family members and other children and make apt gestures through humility, courtesy, gratitude and show of concern through deeds. There are 16 children regularly coming to the centre in Dhengam. The average presence of children in Tangrain is between 14 and 17.

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What are the problems you have faced in the last 6 months?

1. Children are working in households as domestic help.

2. Habitual and excessive consumption of country liquor by Savar people.

3. Other developed communities exploit Savar children for their benefit.

4. Low attendance.

5. Superstition

6. Child marriage

7. Lack of health facilities

How would you rate the overall effectiveness of this project over the past 6 months?

60 %

Please give examples of activities at the project in the last 6 months. Please give details.

Cleanliness: Savars have learnt the virtues of hygienic living and started looking tidier.Regular classes: Savar children are attending regular classes now. Their families are sending them to school regularly on a daily basis.Regular counseling: We are holding regular counseling sessions for Savar families in order to sensitize them on various important issues concerning their daily life, standard of living and future.Health check-up: We are holding regular health camps for Savars. Doctors are examining them and administering them free medicine and advice.Advocacy with panchayat and block officials: We are advocating for the rights of Savars and helping them get their dues by ensuring they get benefit of every single scheme of the state and Central government. Keeping contacts with the government officials and panchayat representatives is helping achieve our goal.Advocacy against child labour: We are creating awareness on evils of child labour by sensitizing Savars and other rural communities living with and around them.Regular sports activities: We are organizing sports events to promote physical activities and stress the significance of a healthy lifestyle through exercise, sporting and a positive outlook toward life among the Savars. Teaching by making learning a fun: All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. Same applies in the case of Savars. Any subject, however crucial, may be learnt if taught by way of games and fun. We have used and are in the process of utilizing innovative ways of teaching Savars on various subjects and aspects of life.

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Please explain how Asha funds were used in the last 6 months.

The Asha funds were utilized to bring about a number of changes in the habits, mindset and locality of Savars during the six months period. We started Kislay, the community school of Savars, which was inaugurated with the purpose to educate Savars, the primitive tribal group which has long been living in ignorance and at the same time being ignored by the society. We have employed two teachers including a lady for conducting regular classes for Savars. Daily classes are being held in the school. We have employed the teachers, Khelaram and Joba, on contract by giving them a monthly salary of Rs 2500. Keeping in mind health, another important factor, which cannot be simply ignored, we organized a medical check-up camp on 22 May at Savar Nagar, Tangrain village, Potka. More than 30 children were examined by Dr Mrityunjay Kumar on the occasion. This was the first step toward the launch of a Savar Community School in the area with a view to enabling and encouraging Savar children tojoin the mainstream of formal education. Most of the children were found to be suffering from malnutrition including Vitamin A deficiency, vision related problems, worms and malarial symptoms. The doct prescribed medicines for all children and recommended that all the family members of the child be taken to an eye hospital for examination as they were found to be suffering from vision-related problems. He also advised that all children be de-wormed and administered Vitamin A. .Medicines were purchased and administered to the children whenever advised by the doctors after medical examination of children. Further, working to remove nutrition-linked deficiencies in Savar children, we started giving them eggs and gram as a part of their daily diet in order to make sure they get their nutritional benefits on a regular basis through a healthy food. All children are being given eggs and gram so that they may fight off diseases and other abnormal health conditions arising as a result of malnutrition. Funds were used to purchase eggs and gram to start the nutritious diet of Savar children.____In order to make learning interesting and rewarding, we supplied learning materials, school uniforms and playing kits to Savar children so that they may come to school and attend classes on a regular basis. Each child was informed about the practice and way to wear uniforms and the significance of personal hygiene in the classroom. The funds were utilized to purchase the required learning materials, uniforms and playing kits for the kids. Opening the school could not have sufficed for the huge needs of Savar community coupled with their habits and problems. Child labour remains a major problem hindering education process of Savar children. Hence we launched a campaign against child labour by organizing community meetings with Savars and also going door to door to tell each parent about the evils of child labour and the potential of their wards.

Is there any other feedback you would like to provide to Asha for Education?

There are several key points on which persistent efforts are needed to be put in order to achieve the goal of our project. Perhaps the most important one is the need for giving Savar children continuous exposure to formal school education which should be introduced in a gradual manner. Unless and until, the Savar children are given the classroom atmosphere for a long time, they are not going to imbibe the values which the formal education system provides to the young generation for a lifetime utility. The project should be continued in order that the long-term goal of creating a generation of educated and responsible Savars is achieved successfully. Savars are a primitive tribal group (PTG) community which has long been cut off from the rest of the world. They live in a world of their own, though its boundaries are physically no different than the one encompassing other communities. Hence a long term goal is the best approach since we cannot imagine a short-term crash course to educate Savars or bring about a radical change in their lives or outlook. We should not only continue classroom teaching for Savars for disciplining them, but also continue the campaign for creating awareness among Savar parents. With the cooperation of Savar parents assured, we can move ahead to achieve our dream goal with surety. We should not forget that the mindset and socio-economic-political status of a highly backward community

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shaped over many decades of darkness cannot be expected to change like a miracle. We need to make it happen the way we want it. But before we achieve that goal, we should understand the needs and problems of Savars. In one word, it is their attitude, our attitude and the attitude of every single individual in society toward them. If we dare to change it today, we will be able to get the 100 per cent of our efforts. After all, A+T+T+I+T+U+D+E together adds up to 100.

Please send fill out this form and send back to Asha for Education within 3 weeks from the time you receive this form. Thank you for your time and patience.

________________________________________________Your Signature

BARNALI CHAKRABORTYYour Name Printed

14-12-2011Date

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