PROJECT CAUSE KHALIGHAT, CALCUTTA Research conducted by: Deep Bhattacharya, D.P. Prakash 16 Dec 1995 Abstract: Children of prostitutes and very poor people in the congested Kalighat area are growing up in the streets. They live right next to the gutter with the dogs and their condition is a cause for much concern. Although there is a government school nearby, the children lack motivation in attending it. In this situation Arup and Swarup Ghosh, a delightfully enthusiastic pair of twins, have taken it upon themselves to inspire and lead the kids to a promising future. The twins being graduates in international management & advertising from St. Xaviers, Calcutta, have a clear-cut action plan regarding where they want the children to be, and how they want to get there in the coming years. PROJECT STREET TO SCHOOL(Proposed ASHA-LA code name for this project) Kalighat is a poor district located near Calcutta. Congested, smoky and overpopulated there are a large number of "street children" born and living on the pavement next to the open gutters. Arup and Swarup took up 12 of these children in 1992 and coached them for two hours from 8-10 AM every day. English, hygiene and painting were covered. Milk and biscuits served as incentives. As it became popular they turned it into a formal system after arranging with the local govt. school, Dharamdas Model School. From May-Dec 1994, a high drop-out rate was observed. The children were taking the easy way out taking up menial jobs and begging. Morale of school teachers went down. Arup and Swarup sat down and wrote the following plan for themselves drawing inspiration from a Gandhian project for children in Segaoun: Where we want to be 1) To motivate the children to continue their education. To bring back past students who have left due to lack of motivation. 2) To re-start a workshop on vocational training that was abandoned in the govt school in 1977. Teaching ways to earn a livelihood in a better and healthier way. 3) Bring improvements in the lives of children economically, socially and culturally. Why we want to do this 1) Give them back their childhood 2) Help them earn their own living How we want to be 1) Renovation of place for workshop 2) Employing teachers for vocational training 3) Free meals 4) Uniform for a sense of belonging, discipline, cleanliness 5) Professional trainers for cultural and extra-curricular activities 6) Generating a fixed fund for operating expenses 7) Review periodically Action Plan 1) Obtain school uniforms 2) Arrange for mid-day lunch 3) Get started on vocational training programs: - Tailoring - Handicraft products using jute - Greeting cards & Drawing 4) Cultural activites - music - dance - drama and theatrical workshop - Drawing Results 1) School uniforms were a great success. Acted as a good motivator. Gave them a sense of community and belonging. Provided only to those children who kept up a high attendance record. This made them feel like they earned it. They now look full of possibilities. 2) Mid-day lunch was arranged through a small-time caterer: Menu follows: Monday: 2 pieces toast+ 1 egg = Rs 2.80 Tuesday: 2 pieces toast+ Jam = Rs 2.50 Wednesday: 1 cake + Banana = Rs. 2.25 Thursday: 2 pieces roti+ a dish = Rs. 2.80 Friday: One cake + One banana = Rs. 2.25 Total per week = Rs. 12.60 This is about $2/month per child The number of children rose to 110! 3) Workshop Tailoring: Lady teacher Ms. Sheila Roy teaches them with a sewing m/c Needles, Scale, Pencil, eraser, books, tape, scissors, cloth and paper were bought with Rs. 500. Operating cost/month: Trainer: Rs 350 ( at 4 hrs/week) Copy books: Rs 200 Pencil: Rs 60 Needles: Rs 80 Total: Rs 690 Jute Operating cost/month: Trainer: Rs 250 Raw material: Rs 150 Total: Rs 400 Greeting cards - in progress Extra-curricular activities Step I: Music teacher Rs 300/month Step II: Professional theatrist, street theater group Step III: Drawing and painting Schedule: Monday: Tailoring Tuesday: Music Wednesday: Tailoring Thursday: Jute, Handicrafts Friday: Drawing, Greeting Cards Saturday: Theatre workshop Finances Fixed Fund: Salary, Mid-day lunch, raw-materials, uniform, scholarships, educational tours For 110 Students per month: Meal: Rs 5544 Tailoring: Rs 690 Jute: Rs 400 Greeting Cds: Rs 1250 Music Teacher: Rs 300 Administrative Expense: Rs 200 Miscellaneous: Rs 200 Total: Rs 8584 (Best to approx this as Rs 10,000/mo with recent changes in Indian economy.) Internal Appraisal: Every 2 months. Performance evaluation of each and every participant of the workshop and overall growth of the project. Projected Plans: 1) Selling greeting cards. ( A retired French lady, 65 yrs old, is working with the twins in Calcutta). Titled "de la rue a l'ecole", these cards will be sold in outlets in France and other places. 2) Charity shows of different plays as performed by children 3) Exhibition of paintings by children 4) Regular medical check-ups 5) Scholarship scheme 6) Workshop for trained people 7) Marketing outlets of the various items manufactured by school students. Long term Goal: To provide children with support and care so that in addition to formal schooling, they get exposed to vocational training opportunities. It is expected that 30-40% of the children being supported now will make it to higher studies beyond the 10+2 stage. The remaining may find it difficult to keep up with the rigours of formal schooling. In which case, they will at least benefit from the vocational training they receive here. (The twins have volunteered to oversee this effort through the long term.) Funding needed: About Rs. 10,000 per month Date needed by: April 1996 onwards For further information: Arup and Swarup Ghosh 178A, S.P. Mukherjee Road, Chandraloke '48' Calcutta-700026 India Phone & fax: (91-33) 4641075 Direct contacts in USA: Deep Bhattacharya email: dbhatt@ee.ucla.edu Phone: (310) 824-0215 D.P. Prakash email: prakash@ee.ucla.edu Phone: (310) 820-1222