Project Brief: Navsarjan was started to conscientize the community to fight the social and economic exploitation of Dalits.
Project Type: Residential School (description)
Primary Focus: children of dalits/tribals (description)

Secondary Focus: girls

Area: Rural
Supporting Chapter Contact:
Boston

Status: CLOSED - ENDED
Project Steward: Maulik Nagri
Project Partner(s): Martin Macwan
Project Address: Navsarjan Trust
Sanand Bavla Road,
Village Nani Devti,
Taluka Sanand, Ahmedabad, Gujarat 380 007
Tel: +917965443745, +919727750448
Stewarding Chapter: Boston

Navsarjan runs 3 residential schools near Ahmedabad in Gujarat specially catering to Dalit children living in the surrounding communities. In 2012-2013, these co-educational residential schools housed 322 children from grades 5 through 8. The Dalit children face harsh social and economic discrimination in the local government schools and communities. These schools impart not only academic education in a safe supportive environment but also essential life skills such as non-discrimination and equality. Also, these schools epitomize simplicity and function. For example, for every school, Navsarjan uses modular buildings for different purposes at different times of the day. The same area is used as a mess hall in the morning, class room during the day, and dormitory at night.

Historically, the Boston/MIT chapter funded scholarships for girl students starting 2007-2008. In part due to the scholarship program, the girl enrollment increased more than 6 times in 2012-2013. Starting 2013-2014, the chapter started funding the operational expenses for residential schools, motivated by Navsarjan's fee policy change.

Also, Navsarjan received the Asha's "Quality of Education" grant to organize "Chhotte Bhim Drama Competition", a grassroots drama competition that engages children, parents and the greater community. In the 2013-2014 competition, children teams from 200 villages are expected to enact a play focusing on equality and non-discrimination.