Asha for Education

Project Brief: Non-formal education centers for children of migrant brick kiln workers.
Project Type: Non-Formal Educational Centers (description)
Primary Focus: children of migrant workers (description)

Secondary Focus: girls

Area: Rural
Supporting Chapter Contact:
Houston

Status: CLOSED - ENDED
Project Steward: Nirupama Gopalaswami
Project Partner(s): K Murthy
Project Address: Pasumai Trust - Build
1A,Kalaigner Karunanidhi Street,
Melnallathur and Post, Thiruvallur District,
Thiruvallur, Tamil Nadu 602002
Tel: 91 9443340137
Stewarding Chapter: Houston

There is a growing awareness about child labor in India. However, this awareness focuses only on certain sectors such as the firecracker, match, and beedi industries. One of the most neglected sectors is brick industries. More than 80,000 children are working in brick industries near Chennai city alone. These children face a more difficult situation than child laborers in other industries because they are the children of migrant workers.
The Pasumai Trust was involved educating the child labor in brick industries from 1997 onwards. Project Build was initiated in July 2002 to support the activities of the Pasumai Trust. The objective of these centers is to provide basic literacy and numeric skills and motivate the children to continue their formal education.

Around 300 children attend 6 education centers (named Sunflower, Lotus, Rose, Hibiscus, Mullai, Lily) that are functional in and around Thiruvallur. These centers serve children from 7 different brick kilns.