3 Aug 2008 Asha Meeting – Lalbagh, 11 a.m. Attendees: Anand, Anita, Asish, Sanjeev, Santhosh I) Chaitanya Anand discussed how asha had interacted with Chaitanya over the years. He also discussed chronologically how things had changed over the years and filled in the gaps of our understanding and answered our questions regarding the effort. Additionally, he also gave a perspective of how Chaitanya has grown as an organization from when asha started supporting it at almost its inception. Anand will send out the write up he prepared for the same shortly. We agreed on the following: 1) The centers help children with their homework. The children feel that they will not be isolated or ridiculed at school and are enthusiastic to go to school. Further claims are somewhat exaggerated and expectations are somewhat premature. 2) Chaitanya has a certain level of commitment to the communities where the present centers are being run. There are practical issues/questions Chaitanya is facing regarding three of the centers and Chaitanya will communicate if they find running these centers possible/meaningful given these limitations. 3) Chaitanya will not increase the number of centers and will instead focus on quality of the present centers and sustaining them financially with their other initiatives. 4) The government program of remedial teaching that had been initially outsourced to Chaitanya (that grew them from 3 to 13 centers) is not providing any support for these centers now. The government has modified the program so the government teachers are required do this 2 hrs after school. However, due to the remoteness of the villages many teachers are unable to stay on after school. Chaitanya will not be working on forcing the teachers to stay longer, but hope that their support to the children will enable to children to learn better in the regular working hrs. 5) A few centers of Chatanya are doing much more than (1) due to the efforts of enthusiastic and trained staff at these centers. Chaitanya will be expected to continue their efforts bring all centers to this level – monthly meeting of teachers, training, looking for best individuals, etc. 6) Asha will support the salaries of teachers @ Rs.1000/- a month for the centers that Chaitanya decides to continue (3). Chaitanya will be expected to raise any other support they need for the centers and a percentage (10-25%) of 13*1000*12 = 1.56 lakhs (max). This percentage is expected to increase as their income generation activities in non-overlapping (Naikanatti). It is unlikely for this to be the last year of asha's support. 7) Asha will attempt an awareness trip at least with the teachers (on volunteer basis) who are interested in exploring teaching to Sita school (one-two day trip). If the teachers are interested in specific aspects – e.g. language, math we will explore a 1-week course at Sita school for the teachers. Anand and Sanjeev will coordinate this trip. II) Sita school/Asha Calendars We looked at the lovely calendars from Sita school. We talked about working with the school with the calendars and felt that it would help us work with the school in a unique context and create calendars that will promote hand-made materials and works. We then debated on the kinds of calendars and what would work well for us. http://www.ashanet.org/bangalore/events/2008/calendars/ We agreed upon a style - wall and calendar (vs organizer style), size - between the small wall and regular large. sheets - 6 sheets with one month on each side. People liked the theme 'activities at school' if it is possible. But, if that does not work well - garden, flowers, birds, etc that children draw would be fine too. We will not try to cram in too much info (one project/effort each page, etc) into the calendar. Basic info of Sita school and asha will do. III) Info Santhosh mentioned that one of the asha teachers at the government school has decided to quit. The new government remedial teaching rule – after school, school for 2 hrs has increased the amount of teaching hrs every day to10 hrs. The principal has asked of asha teachers to also follow this rule and this has been difficult for her. IV) Sharad please add: Ashishagarwal21@... to the asha-blr yahoogroup.