Attendees: Archana Mishra
(daughter of Ms. Chanchala Mishra who runs Matrichaya), Caroline, Sonu, Nirmal
Minutes
Intros
Archana
Mishra: Works as a Doctor in Buffalo, did schooling/med school in Ranchi,
moved to UK and then to US, very closely involved with Matrichaya.
Caroline,
Sonu, Nirmal
Current
activities at Matrichaya + Q&A
School
started in Jan 2005, interviews took place in Dec for selecting students,
visited project in Jan, kids been in school for just a month, had never been
in school, kids were singing "we shall overcome" in English! Mother lives in
one of slums where the Asha school is located, Rotary had sponsored another
school in a diff village 3-4 miles from Asha school, amazing experience
visiting the school, school luckily has really good teachers, one of the
teachers has 25 yrs experience in a CBSE system - volunteered to teach in
spite of minimal salary, guides other teachers; parents are now very
involved, annual function attended by ~600 people; basic literacy program (BLP)
currently 25 students, parents want Matrichaya to continue with school, but
no funding for next year; teachers continued to educate children graduating
from BLP, physical structure is a problem - currently school being run in a
room in mother's house upstairs; also want to do vocational training for
kids, recently started paramedical training, not limited to BLP, other
villages with microcredit programs are also doing well; charity can only go
so far, need them to have feeling of support.. People in the area trust
mother,
Administrative people: another person w/ PhD in Chemistry (father's
student), moved to Ranchi after retirement, the secretary of Matrichaya who
manages accounts, key right hand people for mother (Dr. Pandey); a cousin
oversees projects; 11 members/professionals help w/ planning; every project
has coordinator; local community people form the core body, Matrichaya
volunteers are responsible but community people are the core.
Schools -
Matrichaya has helped with minimally funded schools (paid for teachers
etc.).. Strcutured BLP started in 2004 when Rotary started 2 schools,
initially plan was to have 2 yr literacy program but within a year the kids
were at par with other kids in regular school, kids going to school - food
is an incentive, basic hygiene, etc. ; kids who graduate from BLP in a year
go to one of 2 new schools and new batch of 25 students join the BLP; who
pays for the schooling - sometimes they go to the free govt school, Rotary
school - out of 30 kids, 20 kids are enrolled in Vedansh school… don't have
data yet since program started only 2 yrs back… mother used to sponsor a few
kids to school earlier.. Plan now is to ensure that kids who graduate from
BLP go to either govt school or English medium schools..
Rotary
funding is continuing - have commitment for this year and following year.
Also got district to put Matrichaya on list of projects; Rotary is willing
to provide computer education, also sponsorship for child who's top of
class.
Community
- predominantly tribal community, but minority communities exist.. Not
transient… background - most of them are coolies or laborers or
rickshaw-pullers.. Mainly manual labor.. Mission statement says women and
girls, what abt men? Are they interested? Most of the men work during the
day, sit and drink and gamble during the evenings.. Now, children are
putting up nukkad plays to highlight evils of drinking and smoking etc..
Some men are being involved in vocational training program.. No structured
program for men..
Kids - if
not enrolled in school, they'd end up roaming around in villages, girls were
working as house helps, boys loiter around, some boys took care of younger
siblings..
Interviews
for selecting kids - interviews for motivation and economic background..
"Red cards" that show below poverty line but no one had red card since they
were not aware.. Another criteria was commitment - had to commit to 90%
attendance of child, would commit to teacher-parent meeting.. Had admission
test but scores weren't primary… overwhelming response recvd but had to
limit # due to lack of funding.. Need exists, this was in just one village,
there are other villages that are interested..
Place for
schools that are opened in villages - this particular school has a
structure, with funding rent can be paid.. But one of the other schools was
held in a cowshed/courtyard that people allowed them to use…
Has land
purchase and building construction been considered? Ultimately kids in BLP
will have transportation, go to formal schools, and then graduate from CBSE
10th grade.. Land exists where mother wants to construct a school…
Vocational training program of Matrichaya was thru Vedansh.. Kids from BLP
go to school run by Vedansh as well as Rotary school…
Been
getting publicity in press…
Difficulties
being faced and how Asha can do more
Continuation school - after BLP, funds to continue with school - resources
(fees, books, materials, food, etc.)
Health
aspect - cover immunization, checks, etc.
Schools in
other areas with same pattern…
Asha
Cornell - waiting for site visit before committing.. Archana presented at
Cornell..
Want to
find out other agencies that can fund.. - need to send contacts to Archana..
One of the
problems - getting red cards - have to wait until next census…
Q&A
Any way to
talk to Archana's mother - will email cell phone # and home # …
Would like
someone to come visit the project.. Gautam is trying to plan visit in
August..
Need
guidance in terms of what type of feedback and information is required..
Next steps
Conf call
with Archana and mother
Send info
on other potential sources of funding to Archana