MinutesDec-16-2007

Meeting Minutes

Dec 16, 2007

Bala, Lakshmi, Sangeeta, Jyoti, Ikhlaq, Puneet, Ann, Amit, Jayanth, Pankaj, Milla, Anand, Meena, Digvijay, Barnali, Adeeti, Hari

Announcement

Lakshmi is new chapter coordinator.

Agenda

I. Club Fair

II. Parijat Academy proposal

III. Sahyog update

IV. Future collaboration with Pink Mango

I. Club Fair (Amit)

    * On-campus event(part of spring welcome week)
    * 23rd Jan 2008 - Wed
    * Amit suggested to do tabling for recruitment on 23rd and have a follow-up infosession a week after (~30th Jan 2008)
    * Will need Asha banner 

Action Required – (Milla/Amit/Lakshmi) work on the banner, decide on the design/template etc., and then email the group for feedback

On separate note, Bala will talk to Adeeti about calendars

II. Parijat Academy Proposal (Digvijay)

Background

    * Located in Pamohi (near Guwahati), Assam
    * Rural, tribal
    * Primary education for tribal students (aged 3-12 yrs)
    * Goal- Free formal education to reduce drop put rate, vocational training – handloom, knitting etc., computer literacy for classes 3-6.
    * 102 boys, 90 girls
    * School is running (since 2003). Infrastructure is in place.
    * Toilets, drinking facility available, Health check every month, mid day meals to students
    * Govt. recognized
    * Language – Assamese
    * Teaching methods- conventional
    * Kids walk 4kms one way to go to school
    * Teachers-15 (with more than or equal to 10+2 qualification), Staff-2
    * 1:20 teachers/student ratio
    * 9 classrooms, 2 bldgs, 3 computers, teachers 15 (> 10+2 qualifications, staff -2)
    * Going forward, they want to improve literacy rates of tribal kids in the area and extend school to class std. X
    * There seems to be some community involvement as well; activities include adult literacy program, adult vocational training
    * No self sufficiency plan
    * No religious and political affiliations
    * Total Budget For 2008: Rs 552200/- total
          o Salaries (annual)
                + Rs. 1500-2000/ month - teachers
                + Rs. 500-1000/month - staff
          o Books (one time)
          o Salary for cook (annual)
          o Food for 7 hostel children (annual)
          o 30 pair of desks and benches
    * Asha, Atlanta has funded the school in past.
    * Questions-
          o Is it too early to start vocational training?
          o Language of Tribe?
          o Clarification on mid-day meals to students (not enough information)
          o Background on Parijat Academy. Is it possible to talk to references they provided
          o Details of the hostel mentioned in the proposal?
          o Rs. 1200/- for a pair of bench and desk seems a bit too high.
          o Kids walk long distances to get to school. Should we consider transportation for them?
          o Current source of funding?
          o Budget proposal is for Jan-Dec 2008. Generally school budget is for academic year (July-April). So, how are they planning to cover the 2008 academic year?
          o Their proposal is for partial support (~$7500) from Asha. How are they planning to cover remaining budget.
          o Do they have FCRA clearance?
          o They mentioned adult literacy. Are they running any independent activity to focus on adult literacy? How is it being operated – evening classes etc., same teachers?
          o Can we get audited financials?
          o How can we do site visit?

Action Required –

    * (Pankaj) mail FCRA summary to Digvijay
    * (Digvijay) look at the other projects in Assam and other tribal schools' projects
    * (Digvijay/Bala) Contact Asha Atlanta

III. Sahyog update (Barnali)

Current project, recurring proposal

Background

    * Started in 2000
    * Located in Bombay in slum settlement
    * Started Funding in 2002
    * NY/NJ, Atlanta chapters have also funded this project in past, was WAH project as well
    * For Adolescent girls; dealing with the problem of drop outs
    * Have grown big since its inception, initially money was going to Anusandhan trust; but now they have separate trust (Chehak) and they recently got permission to get one time FCRA.
    * Currently Asha supports 3 activities
          o 2 schools in Jari Mari (strength -70) and Dindoshi (strength-56)
          o Sangharsh- deal with kids with special needs (strength 20-25), also provide training and employment for girls, 4 girls come for Jari Mari to help (get stipend)
          o Ekta- community based health program
    * Big challenge has been to find space for school. Schools are being run on rented space.
    * Site visit is possible next month
    * They have mailed audited financials

Proposal

    * Total budget ~ 20,000, common expenses of 3 schools (Jari Mari, Dindoshi and Sangharsh)
          o Teachers' salaries, rent, training, admin expenses, text books, travel, stationary, accountant, clerk
    * Barnali recommended funding the project for $10,000 now and reviewing it again in April. By that time, she will hear from Asha, Atlanta about their plan to fund.

Action Required –

    * (Barnali) mail proposal to the group, so that we can vote in our next meeting.

IV. Pink Mango Collaboration (Milla/Lakshmi)

    * They want to continue working with Asha, Berkeley/IOI.
    * They suggested using Asha sticker for their merchandise.
    * We can also access their e-mailing list for future Asha events.