Sumavanam - Neel Bagh Trust-

Sumavanam - Neel Bagh Trust- for 1997

SUMAVANAM - NEEL BAGH TRUST

Name of organization: Neel Bagh Trust

Date of establishment: October 7, 1974

Name and background of the directors of the organization:

David Horsburgh: Educator and writer of text books for grade schools
Nicholas Horsburgh: Educator and writer of text books for grade schools
T. M. Narasimhan: Founder and Teacher at the rural school and Managing Trustee since June 1987, M.S. in Aerospace Engineering from IIT, Kanpur.
Formerly, Scientist at the National Aerospace Laboratory, Bangalore.
Name and Address of the contact person:

T. M. Narasimhan,
Sumavanam Village School,
Cheegalabailu, Madanapalli, Chittoor Dt,
Andhra Pradesh - 517 325,
India
Number of administrative and field staff: Eight

A brief description of the long term objecties of the organization:

Provide economically deprived, rural youth the knowledge to understand the politics of poverty and to empower them to better their own lives and their environment through quality education.
Introduce new and innovative teaching methods in a rural school that could be a model for non-traditional teaching in other parts of the country.
Previously funded projects and funding sources:

Action Aid India: Teacher training programl concluded in April 1996.
Government of India: Innovative experimental school project; concluded in March 1996.
David Horsburgh: Royalties from text books. Presently not funded.
United Nations International School, N.Y.: Nutrition and Health of children; $1000/- for one year from September, 1996.
References:

Dr. Radhika Herzberger
Director, Rishi Valley School,
Chittoor Dt, Andhra Pradesh - 517 325
India.
Project Identification number: No. 11/21022/64(477)/85-FCRA-lll Regd. No. 0945 70027 (4. 11. 85)

Description of the sponsored community:
The Trust runs two schools - one in a remote part of Andhra Pradesh (120 km from Bangalore) and another in a rural area (about 20 km from Bangalore). Both provide quality education to about 30 children (in each school) who come from the most economically deprived families from the neighboring villages. The average income of the families in these villages is less than Rs 500 a month (less than $200 a year) and most are seasonal agricultural laborers. The total number of households in the neighboring five villages together is about 200.

Description of project beneficiaries:
The children who attend the schools are in the age group 5 through 16 years. They study at the school for 9 to 10 years and sit for the standard X examination run by the State Government. The emphasis at the schools is on self-learning, independent thinking and problem solving, group work and support and, a lot of handicraft (painting, needle work, carpentry etc). They all belong to backward classes and Scheduled castes.

Long-term and short-term aims of the project:
The schools are able to arrest drop out rate by making children enjoy learning. This is done by providing a unique environment of cooperation, self and peer supported learnign along with crafts and hands on learning tools for lifelong support. Children, unlike in most schools in this part of the country, have shown a great desire to attend the school and a desire to learn to read and master language and math skills. They are excellent in their craft work and have great concern for their environment. They have taken part in putting out forest fires adn saved small animals in and around the school. They do not tell lies nor steel school property though the schools are completely in their care. The older chldren take part in teaching the younger ones.
While this profile has been achieved in the years of working with the children, the short-term and long-term aim of the project is to continue to serve this remote and poor society by turning out future citizens who could take full pride and part in the development of their environment and society.

Project Duration: Five years

Details of funding needed:

Amount required per annum: Capital $2000/- and yearly $6600/- for five years
Duration for which funds are required: Five years
Confirmed and anticipated funding other than ASHA Arizona: See under "Previously funded projects"

Itemized description of the proposed use of the funds:

Capital Equipments: TV, VCR and Overhead projector: Rs. 60,000 ( $2000 )
Consumable (per year)
Salaries for eight staff (@ Rs. 15, 000 per month) Rs. 180,000 ( $6000 )
Building maintenance Rs. 6,000 ( $200 )
Books, painting materials, stationary Rs. 6,000 ( $200 )
Nutritional and health support Rs. 6,000 ( $200 )
Proposed means of continuing the project after current funding: Many individuals both in Bangalore and Madras are getting interested in the working of the schools and hopefilly, these individuals and some industrialists will be able to support in the schools.

Nimber of staff members involved int he project:

T. M. Narasimhan - Teacher and Managing Trustee
Usha Narasimhan - Teacher
Ms. Malathi - Teacher Trainee
Mr. Shankara - Teacher Trainee
Mr. Narayana - Teacher Trainee
Mr. Cinna - Teacher Trainee
Mr. Chaudri - Teacher Trainee
Ms. Chitra - Teacher