TEA-Trust

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June 1st 2003 Meeting

Harish Chawla

This is a renewals proposal. Asha-MIT was supposed to send money in March.

Hence the delay in taking up the agenda.

Overall discussions were centered around the need to pay for a Coordinator Rs3,000

and a facilitator Rs1,000 - and the value of their roles.

TEA-Trust funding covers only two schools and concerns raised by Mugdha and Nilanjan

were to find more information on a plan of action for the rest of 13-14 schools

under the Trust managment.

Other inputs were to check with the state resource center for learning materials,

suitability of the same, and answers to the challenge of having low paid TEA-Trust

teachers motivate higher paid Govt. teaching staff.

Asha-MIT recognized that TEA-Trust has indicated that the teachers would like to have

a salary raise.

Melli mentioned that the school area has a huge 'dust storm' problem more due to the

large heavy commercial vehicle traffic in the region.

Asha-MIT approved funding the back dues.

Yes Votes: 4,

Abstain : 3

No : 0.

TEA-Trust Project steward to get more info regarding questions raised during the meeting.

TEA Trust

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Dilip Warrier

April 2003 (Online Vote)

The following asha-strategy poll is now closed. Here are the

final results:

POLL QUESTION: Should we accept TEA trust for funding,

pending a revised funding proposal from

them in collaboration with Asha Chennai?

CHOICES AND RESULTS

- Yes, 7 votes, 100.00%

- No, 0 votes, 0.00%

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TEA Trust (Coordinator : Dilip)
9^th June 2002

History with Asha: Asha Boston has funded them in the past but no records found. Last person to talk with them was Nandini who is untraceable. 10 years ago, Berkeley funded them and a site visit
report is available on Berkeley site.

Site: Kanchipuram district in Tamil Nadu, a few kms from Chengalpatnam. Target population is mainly Dalit, with an added focus on child-labour working on brink-kilns. The project covers 5 government schools (644 children around 50% girls) with 18 teachers.

Org: R s Arputam is contact person for TEA. Dilip received prompt replies to his queries, so fairly well connected in terms of accessibility. TEA has been involved in the community for quite a long time. It works in association with TANPIC (a network of NGOs) that has received permission from the AEEO (Asst Elementary Education Officer) to work with schools in the area. How this translates to willing participation of the school/teachers is not clear.

Project aims to
1. elevate standard of teaching
2. strengthen PTA and village education committees.
3. child labour issues.
4. health camps
5. mobilize local resources for improvement of education

Implementation
1. reconstitute meetings of village ed committees.
2. Initiate program with 3 day program to evaluate status. Experts
will monitor students' progress over the course of 3 years.
3. training program for teachers.
4. Improvement in school infrastructure - toilet, garden, water, school environment with a view to improve retention.
5. health camps, sensitize teachers to problems of working children.

Main Costs
Meetings: Rs 5,000 per village per meeting Village education implementation plan Rs 10,000 per village to be used as seed money for raising more money. 3 day program to cost Rs 30,000 furniture - Rs 3000 per school

Comments:
Ranjini : Positive that they're bolstering existing infrastructure.
Dilip : Ideas are good, but the budget throws you off.

Questions raised:
1. Can Ram make a site visit?
2. What is the motivation for teachers? Do they get certification after training program?
3. How has TEA's sources for funding in the past few years?
3. What is the role of 2 teachers meant for child issues?
4. Can we get more information about TANPIC?
5. Can we try to get more information from Berkley?

Dilip to get in touch with Ram and Balaji.