Ananda Bharathi

Project Brief: Afternoon classes in literacy, hygiene,general knowledge for girls working as domestic help. Funded since 2002 by Cornell. In 2006 Asha Irvine started funding Ananda Bharathi
Project Type: Non-Formal Educational Centers (description)
Primary Focus: girls (description)

Secondary Focus: children who are working

Area: Urban
Supporting Chapter Contact: Irvine
Status: completed - requirements ended
Project Steward: Ajitha Koratala
Project Partner(s): Ravi Kumar
Other Contacts:
Project Address: , 12-13-1173, Street #10,Tarnaka,Secunderabad,
TELANGANA  500017
Tel: 91-40-27017700/7019315/7150107
Stewarding Chapter: Irvine
Feb 2008IrvineUSD 2187
Dec 2007IrvineUSD 1250
Apr 2006IrvineUSD 1250
Dec 2003CornellUSD 1000
Dec 2003CornellUSD 1500

Total = $7187

Ananda Bharathi conducts nonformal classes for girls in Tarnaka, a middle-class neighborhood in Secunderabad. Most students are domestic workers and live in a nearby slum. Currently there are 30 students between 5 and 16 years of age.

Asha-Cornell funds part of the recurring expenses of the school (rent for premises, water, electricity). The grant for one year starting September 2002 was $1000, and the same amount was donated in 2003.

Asha-Irvine started funding the project in 2006 and plans to continue funding in 2007.
The goals differ from one student to another--those who have dropped out of school fairly recently are encouraged to give school board exams privately; others acquire basic literacy in English, Telugu and Hindi. The curriculum for all the students includes knowledge about the environment, health and hygiene, and crafts.
Ananda Bharathi was started in 1989 by Mrs. Janaki Iyer. Currently there around four volunteers-turned-employees. It is a registered society and received FCRA clearance in early 2003.