Located near the picturesque coastal town of Vishakpatnam, Vasista Mithila Vidyalayam (VMV) is a school that caters to the children around the Mangamaripeta village. VMV was created and is operated by our project partner, Circle of Goodwill, a charity that operates several schools in and around Vishakpatnam. Circle of Goodwill believes that love is the strongest medium for change and accordingly, has worked with the children, teachers and community to make VMV a success.
VMV started five years ago, when Circle of Goodwill realized that no government schools were available to the children in this rural hamlet. The local community consists mostly of fisherman and other day traders who have no fixed income. This has contributed to creating conditions where parents have had to prioritise daily sustenance over other issues such as education. Even today the community largely remains impoverished and disenfranchised.
VMV certainly embodies the 'Quality of Education' theme for WAH 2009 by providing a learning environment where children are nurtured physically, emotionally and intellectually. Children at VMV are provided an academic education based on the state syllabus and, taught about personal and external cleanliness. A strong dialogue between the stakeholders ensures that VMV continues to be an invaluable resource for the local community.
WAH Budget Proposal
Budget Item
Amount
Teachers Salaries/Honorarium
$2,700.00
Mid Day Meals
$3,600.00
Educational Material
$1,320.00
Total
$7,620.00
For complete WAH proposal click here (pl.s upload doc and provide link.)
More on VMV
VMV began with 13 children in first standard and each year since, a higher class has been added to the school. Currently the school runs to sixth standard and has plans to finally expand to Std seventh standard. At VMV, besides free tuition, children are provided mid day meals, school uniforms and all other educationally related materials and school supplies. A fundamental strength of the school is its close links with the community that it serves. In spite of modest salaries, the teachers and coordinator are motivated as well as committed to ensuring that children in the local community receive an education. They work tirelessly with parents to stress the importance of an education: an attitude that has enabled VMV to have an excellent retention rate. Another indicator of their success is that now, parents too clamour for the school to be expanded.
WAH 2009 will help support the running costs for VMV. As would be clear from the brief budget break up presented above, VMV is predominantly requesting costs for child-centric activities that would support 150 students, 4 teachers, a coordinator and helper, will be drawing a modest salary, from as part of this budget.
