Akshardeep - Swadhar Akshata Rao
"Swadhar, IDWC Pune” – registered NGO established in July 1995 Vision "Swadhar” - Help and empower women in distress Achieve healthy development of under-privileged children Mission "To provide services to women and children to ensure protection of rights, leading to self reliance and empowerment for a dignified life."
Akshardeep
• Founded in 1998 – Bibewadi Slums in Pune
• Mission
Providing education to out of school underprivileged kids
– Distance from school-the vastis are mainly unauthorized and do not have any amenities.
– Migration of their parents leading to inability to go to school
– Responsibility of the child to look after the home and her siblings when parents are at work.
– Drop outs due to no support in education at home
• Association with ASHA – Since October 2003
• Number of students – Approx 300 per year
• Budget(2013)- INR 6,53,746 (approx 11,424 CHF)
Figures & Facts
• 2 sites (PCMC & PMC) in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad
• Reaches more than 900 children
• 44 small (<20children) classes in remote or difficult areas (slum area)
– Kindergarden (Balwadi)
– Support classes (besides regularly school to improve educational quality)
– Bridge classes
Community: Mostly Migrants
Lamanis, Boudhs, Muslims & Banjaras
Occupation
domestic work
manual work
rag-picking
scrap collection
driving autorickshaws
selling vegetables
sculpting
puppet shows
ironing
Sex Workers
Income : Rs 2000/- to Rs 5000/-
• Teachers: – also hails from the from the same community – Std X and completed Balwadi or Anganwadi Training – (ECCE) and early parenting programme –improve quality of education
• Curriculum – Early childhood Development Project-age group 0-3years – Balwadi-kindergarten classes-age group 3-6years – Support classes for school going children-age group-6 to 14 years – Reading Library Project in 44 PCMC Schools – Community Library for parents – Abhyasika – supervised place for study for children from Std V to Std X
• Admission Procedure – Teachers identify how many children are out of school &Why? – Re-enroll kids to regular schools – Enroll to Balewadi/bridge/support classes
Kindergarden in remote or difficult
areas
Pre-school education
Safe & quiet place to play
Improved perspective and easier way to join
regular school
Target group: Children younger 6 years from poor and difficult areas No of joining children: 280
Classes: Balwadi
Additional classes besides municipal
school
Help with homework
Additional education
Support in learning Improved education
and better perspective
Target group: School going children (governmental school) No of joining children: 360
Classes: Support Class
Classes to catch up the educational level with governmental
school
Basic education Admission to regular school after 1 year
Target group: Not-school going children No of joining children: 200
Classes: Bridge Class
Child Development
Events -Annual Day -Sports Day -Science Day -Festival celebrations
Trips and Visits -Museums (Agakhan Palace) -Forts (Shaniwarwada) - Post office - Bus stand - Vegetable & fruit stall
Participating in events -Concern India Foundation -Dnyanadevi trust,ARC, -Garware Balbhavan -SSA -Hope For The Children foundation.
Nutrition Programme started in 2009-10
Protein rich supplement in the form of ladoos and mixed dal puris introduced
Formed Staff welfare strategy
Medical and other help Health camps at community. Medical support Nutrition support Counselling
-Awareness Programmes Parent Meetings
- Rally
-Morcha
-Street Plays
-Poster exhibitions about education and child rights
Community Development :Started Asha Community Center with all programmes of Swadhar under one roof. Worked with Shelter Associaltion to build toilets at Shivrainagar area.
Children Rehabilitation Admitted: 1 child with special need at Anandvan,Vardha 3 physically handicapped kids at Helper’s of Handicap,Kolhapur. 1 child at Asha Kiran Shelter.
Community participation and development
Impact
• Children who were put in school by Swadhar are now studying in 7th and 8th Std.
• Every year 20 to 25 children are admitted to school .
Impact in numbers
No of children who benefitted from Asha Zurich support so far.
Funding
• Past
– Dorabjee Tata Fund
– Unicef
– Tech Mahindra Foundation
– Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan-government
• Present
– Mphasis –in Pune
– Asmae france-in Pune
– Asha Zurich-in PCMC
– Individual donors
Thank you!!