VISA --
April
22nd, 2001
Past
Project Discussion
Harish
Chawla
Village Improvement Service Association,
Tamil Nadu
Mr.
S.V. Vinayagamoorthy
Non-formal, literacy-cum-life education for
high school dropouts, between 10 & 17 years of age will be targeted by this
program. 30 children will be part of
the first phase of this program for the first year. These children are not attending school due to poverty and the need
for them to work in order to add to the family income. Children come from poor families in the
villages and will have classes at convenient times for two to three hours. Books and other necessary material will be
provided by the project. Emphasis on cultural
skills like music, drama, dance etc. in addition to necessary reding and
writing skills. The goal is to motivate
the children and help them develop their talents and interests. The children will have an opportunity to
follow this up with occupation centered education programs. Classes will involve a lot of discussion and
participation. Instructor and assistant
instructor will be selected from one of the villages. Month long training for them.
Instructor - Rs.1500 / month,
assistant - Rs. 1000/month. This is a
new project
30
children for 1 year (June '96 - June ' 97) in 3 - 6 villages.
Comments
§ Project being effective in providing
children with basic literacy and other vocational skills. VISA and CDDP (Center
for Development of Disadvantaged People) are sister projects, working on
Gandhian principles.
§ Have been supported by
o A Dutch group for a mushroom growing
project.
o CAPART, Govt. of India, for some other
projects
o Govt. of India, and state support, for
housing projects etc.
§ All beneficiaries are poor and
predominantly SC/ST.
§ Work closely with village panchayat
§ No current infrastructure, but plan
to use a vacant house / area in a temple.
§ Office bearers and village groups
will evaluate the project every 6 months.
Future followup project -- advanced learning program with local help.
§ Mobile library for children with
local resources.
§ VISA team is competent and the
villagers are enthusiastic about the progress.
Funding:
Rs
71,000 for 1 year in 2 installments
First
installment of $1500 sent in June 1996
Second
installment of $700 sent after review in May. 1997
Funding
breakdown - major costs salary for instructor / assistant / part-time
instructor, training, uniforms, nutrition
Followup
:
Followup
proposal received in early 1998, for continuing funding of the school. Project discussed in Feb. '98, and funding
approved for 3 years. First installment
of $1230.
Children
were interested in the school, and were regular. Can reenter main stream at 8th standard by giving exam. VISA plans to coach them for it, if somebody
shows interest. Those who decide not to
continue further will have achieved basic literacy and arithmetic skills. School will also have vocational
training. Village organizers and people
seemed quite enthusiastic. VISA team,
quite competent.
Reason
students drop out of mainstream in the first place - lack of encouragement /
motivation and role models.
School
called ASHA center.
Secretary
of VISA donated a plot of land in the vicinity of the villages, set up office /
training center / ASHA school. Parents / villagers contribution in
construction.
This
seemed to be another good project funded by ASHA Boston in the past. There is no present contact, and specific
details of funding provided in the past.
Current situation of the education programs, and the situation of the
organization as a whole are not known.
Anu will get in touch with VISA, and get some info/feedback.