Project: Concern for Humanity Date: 18th January 2011 Impressions: Due to lack of time, I could visit only the two centres located in Mehrauli: Babu Camp and Samjhauta Camp. The camps are close together. Each camp has one centre and approximately 25-30 students are enrolled in each centre. There is one teacher per centre. The teacher is recruited from the community. What impressed me most was the neat line of shoes kept at the entrance. The children at one the centre (Samjhauta camp, I think) were articulate than the ones at the centre. The number of girl children predominated in both the centres. The children come to the centre to do their home work. The teachers help them with their work as and when required. At one of the centres the children were learning to write a letter while at the other centre, the teacher (Shazia) was helping them solve some math problem. In addition, the centres also encourage the children to participate in other activities. During Diwali they had been asked to make clay sculptures. The caveat was that they should not make any thing connected with Diwali like diyas etc. So the children spent considerable amount of time to come up with ideas and their art work was impressive. They also made Christmas/New Year cards during December. Some of their paintings had been displayed on the walls. Each centre has one single room. The room has a blackboard. Charts and paintings are displayed in wall. The children come to the centre after school. The centre timings are 2-5 pm and the centre is open through the year. The main motive of the project is to ensure that the children have a place to go after school and that their encouraged to study. However, the project does not make any claim as to ensuring that the students continue their studies. Arpana is cognizant of the reality that this is a complex issue and makes no pretence of trying to overcome it. Recommendation: Can be funded for another year. -- regards rohini http://scribblesside.blogspot.com/