Education

The programme was founded in 1992 with the objective of providing quality free education to socially and economically marginalized children with the support of another organization. Housed in a three storey building, spread across 255 square yards, the school has 9 classrooms, one computer laboratory, one multipurpose hall and separate toilet blocks for boys and girls. Today the school is providing free education to 500 children from nursery to class 5. It follows the NCERT syllabus and the medium of imparting instructions is English. Every Saturday the school conducts various extra-curricular activities to promote the holistic development of the children. These activities range from debates, sports to exposure visits. Health checkup including dental and eye checkup is conducted twice a year. Regular PTA is held, where parents are also engaged in children's education by providing counseling and a face to face feedback is given regarding the child's progress.

The children of this community largely come from families who have moved from villages of different states to the cities for jobs, better prospects and in search of better standards of living. The children of these families do not attend school and are often found playing on the streets or working as casual labourers to supplement the high cost of living in urban slums. Many who have studied in their native villages in a different regional language find it difficult to cope with a completely new language here and often either drop out of the education system or are uncertain about where to begin. Staying out of the education system deprives them of job opportunities and the cycle of inadequacy and poverty continues. Being vulnerable to exploitation of different kinds these children grow with deep rooted complexities that are difficult to deal with for any child. Ambedkar Vihar is close to Noida's main commercial area and is the oldest centre and also the largest. Most people are from different parts of the country who settled, in this settlement colony (earlier called HarijanBasti) with their families many years ago. The population consists of shopkeepers, vegetable vendors, painters, drivers, electricians, carpenters and plumbers. Most mothers also work as domestic help / cooks. Their average family income is Rs 10000 to 12000/- that needs to cater to an average family size of 5 to 7 members. Most households have both parents working to meet the high cost of living in Noida, this leads to children being exposed to vulnerable situations. In Vartika most of these children are first generation learners with very limited exposure. The community is primarily non-migratory in nature and belong to the villages close by. Most are either into small businesses or are into odd jobs. Average monthly family income is Rs 6000 to 8000/- that needs to cater to an average family size of 6 to 8 members. Most families who belong to the village have been living here since many years. They have had agricultural/ancestral land that has been sold for infrastructure projects to the government/builders and many of the male members don't work for a living. Some are relatively better off as they have continued to add to their family income however there are some who have spent all the money, depleted all resources from land sale and are financially in a very challenging situation with large family sizes and aging family members. The project tries to bring change through the following objectives: To initiate children into an education process from Nursery to Class VI and empower them to think for themselves and take meaningful life decisions.. To provide quality education to the children and prepare them for mainstream schools for higher education (IX and above). To enable children, from Nursery to Class V, to use digital content for academic enrichment through usage of computers, integrated within their academic curriculum. To capacitate teachers on computer skills so that it can be integrated effectively and efficiently into the curriculum.

The programme primarily works with underprivileged schools and deserving students from the existing 4 Government schools in and around the Hitech City area of Gachibowli, Hyderabad to promote qualitative learning. The aim of the programme is to run the Government school in a more focused manner, where the staff, volunteers and mentors can fruitfully contribute towards the vision of providing qualitative holistic education to the students. It started its operations in 2010 when the student to staff ratio of one school was 350 to 3 respectively. Since then it has expanded its area of work in an additional 3 Government schools. The programme concentrates on a structured approach to teaching and conducting activities as per the baseline assessments. Through co-curricular and extra-curricular activities, it was able to meet the two most important challenges the students faced: irregularity and parental non-involvement. The programme has enhanced qualitative learning through different programmes like the literacy programme, life skills programme, and value based education through sports, activity-based learning and extracurricular activities like dance, theatre and arts & crafts. The overall reading comprehension, writing skills and communication skills of the students have improved drastically.

This project is implemented in the state of Telangana reaching out to 208 children from a Government regulated primary school. The project provides opportunity for extracurricular activities and most importantly it ensures that children are happy when at school. The project ensures retention in schools by imparting quality education with increased participation of teachers and children. These children are prepared to manage their life with self-esteem and confidence, through life skill and value based education. Activities around all special days like Republic day, annual day, childrens day, Teacher's day, Independenceday and much more are celebrated.

Concern India Foundation supports 4 child care centres and a computer aided learning programme as a means of non-formal education for children of migrant workers in Pune. The programme aims at ensuring that the children of the migrant construction workers enjoy the right to safety, health care, education, recreation and participation. At their centres, they focus on the holistic development of children up to 14 years and provide a healthy environment to them in order to develop their basic health and hygiene habits, motor skills, creativity, and strengthen language, concepts, and teamwork skills. The centres have proved to be highly beneficial to children, particularly since their parents are labourers working long hours to make ends meet. The computer programme allows children access to computers with the aim to first familiarize them with what is now a necessary skill in the workforce, and then use it to supplement educational activities. The centre is not only a school for the children but also a place which provides them with a safety net and access to healthcare and nutrition.

Concern India Foundation supports a programme which addresses formal Education through the National Institute of Open School (NIOS) for adolescent children in the Govandi area of Mumbai. Initially the programme had started with around 100 children in 2011 and since then it has touched the lives of more than 654 children (through education) and 100 adults (through adult literacy) and enhanced the livelihood opportunities for more than 200 girls and boys through their Vocational Training. Families living at Rafiq Nagar are from lower socio-economic backgrounds and are uneducated. Children have grown up making quick money as rag pickers or scrap dealers and do not understand the need for education. It is populated with children who are majorly school dropouts or who have never been to school. Even if they have, earning to make ends meet is the reality of their lives. Lack of education among these children will again result in deprivation of basic needs and low standards of life. Education is critical to social and economic development and has a profound impact on the overall mind set of an individual. This community which was rampant with illiteracy had 20 children passing out of Std X in 2017 and entering college. The programme aims at providing children with an opportunity for holistic development and to encourage school dropouts to complete schooling and opt for higher education. In conclusion, the programme equips children with essential life skills in addition to literacy and numeracy skills so as to live a life of dignity once they grow up.

This is an after-school support programme that runs evening learning centres for the children of domestic workers and unorganized workers. They come from either a resettlement colony or one of 5 slums in Chennai. It provides tutorial support to children who are first generation learners, and assists them with their daily studies. Their parents work as domestic help and are unable to support their educational needs. Most of these children go to government or corporation schools. The inability of their parents to guide their children coupled with their illiteracy results in poor academic performance The programme runs each centre in the major slums including Choolaimedu, T. Nagar, Vyasarpadi, Mylapore and two centres in Perumbakkam resettlement colony in Chennai. The programme works very closely with the parents and organizes training programmes on different issues faced by the children. Various activities as part of the children's club are carried out for the children to develop personality and leadership qualities, thus, bringing down the dropout rate and reducing child labour.

As part of Chennai's post-flood re-development, the Municipal Corporation has moved majority of the slums from the city to the outskirts of Chennai, which are nearly 40 kms away from the main city. Semmencherry is one of these resettled colonies. Due to the distance from the city, the school drop-out rate greatly increased. The Educational Support project has directly reached out to children studying in government schools through Activity cum Resource Centres (ARC) located in Semmencherry. They provide supplementary education and additional skill based training for the children in their own localities. The centres are facilitated by trained "Motivators" and assisted by volunteers from the community. The Motivators and the volunteers assist the children with their daily homework and lessons and engage them in various activities to improve their extra-curricular skills like writing, singing, elocution, dancing, miming personality development, life skills etc. The centers also targets children with learning disabilities and slow learners. It focuses on reducing mental stress and provides psycho social care through counseling.

This project is located in Uthiramerur, Kancheepuram district of Tamil Nadu; it works to uplift the most economically backward communities among the scheduled tribes including the Narikuravar (gypsies), Malaivaazhum makkal (inhabitants of mountain regions) and Irular (traditionally snake catchers) communities through education. Almost all the children that are a part in the project are first-generation learners. Tribal children are given skill enhancement training on computers and English apart from their regular academics. After completing a basic education, the children are encouraged to pursue a higher education, depending on their capabilities and areas of interest. Career guidance sessions are organized for the children belonging to higher grades, to guide them to choose the right courses and career paths. The programme has been able to reduce the school drop-out rate within the communities and is helping them weave a brighter future.

The Higher Education Scholarship Programme aims at encouraging and promoting higher education amongst meritorious students from less privileged families who would like to pursue higher education but are unable to do so because of financial constraints. This Programme was established in 2016. While reaching out to the youth for its Skill Development Centre, it came across the challenges faced by talented less-privileged students who were interested in pursuing higher education rather than working at entry level positions but did not have the financial resources for the same. In view of this, the programme offers scholarships to deserving candidates from Delhi/NCR & Bangalore areas to pursue their education in undergraduate/post-graduate & professional courses and launch a sustainable career in a field of their interest. Along with financial support, career guidance & counselling sessions, support in the admission process, mentoring programme driven by employees of the Donor Company, remedial classes, workshops and lectures are also organized for the scholars.

This programme provides support to needy children in slum communities and is dedicated towards the welfare of abandoned and destitute children. These children belong to marginalized families with disturbed backgrounds. Some have been deserted after the death of their parents; some are children of HIV infected mothers who have been abandoned by their families. It is a safe haven for children where they are provided with shelter, educational support, counseling, life-skills, health checkups & educational field trips The project strives to ensure that the needs of each child are met so that he or she can develop into a self- sufficient adult who is able to become a participative member of society. The children from the shelter home pursue their education in the nearby schools. The project's intervention is built around identification of missing children through the missing child bureau and through community visits, preparing the children and enrolling them in schools. Regular follow-ups are conducted for children enrolled in the school.

Concern India Foundation has created a platform to provide athletic training to promising children from underprivileged backgrounds under the aegis of Bangalore School Sports Federation since January 2017 at the Kanteerva Stadium. The training takes place on two levels - the first 3 months for basic training and the next 9 months for advanced training. The basic training focuses on agility, endurance, stamina and strength. The advanced training is based on an individual area of performance to build more skills and techniques. Every training day, the children are provided with nutritional snacks, egg and milk and have also been given a sports kit with a yoga mat, track pants, shorts, T-shirt and shoes. This initiative has helped the children boost their self esteem and self worth and become more confident. They have been able to prioritize their daily schedules and manage their academics to be part of this training. All of them are showing improvement in their stamina as they are able to sustain themselves through all the activities during the training sessions. During the school vacations in May extra sessions were held. A workshop was organized for the children on "Sports- What is in it for Me" where they got inputs form different coaches about the scope they have in sports; being athletes or as trainers, opportunities for both higher education, jobs based on sports quota and on the importance of nutrition and personal safety and care. During the training period, the children have opportunities to participate in various competitions, July 2017 onwards.

This programme is addressing one of the most sensitive issues, which has been long neglected by the Government and the private sector. Children of the victims of trafficking are very often neglected and looked down upon. Thousands of people - largely poor, rural women and children - are lured to towns and cities each year by traffickers who promise good jobs, but sell them into modern day slavery. Women and children are particularly vulnerable to human trafficking. Due to circumstances and financial constrains mothers are unable to provide children with their basic needs, education included. This programme helps fulfil these basic needs. It provides a conducive environment to the girl child. The programme enrols the girls into English medium schools. The programme has rehabilitated the children from their exploitative environments by providing educational and residential care. There are 43 female children aged between 5-14 years. They are facilitated with quality educational support in a stigma free environment in a private English medium school, ensured to be aware of their basic rights, quality Health check-ups by a qualified team of Doctors, Nurses and Psychologists carried out periodically, hence contributing to their overall growth and development.

After the completion of secondary education, the Foundation Programme aims at supporting the children in the most crucial years of their career building so as to help them and direct them towards a better, secured and independent future. For this purpose along with the financial support to pursue education, the programme also carries out the following activities with the beneficiaries: Academic support from professional tutors Mentoring support Career Counseling Specialized coaching for competitive exams Life skills education Interaction with beneficiaries' teachers to identify gaps and take corrective measures in their studies The Programme provides continuous career counseling and mentoring to 22 children and exposure to different fields/streams which help them in making a judicious career choice. Children are also exposed to actual work places through visits which help them understand different work environments and types of work such as banks, hospitality, IT companies, etc.

Khoda is a big slum community in Noida where this programme has a center for Non Formal education of children from nursery to the 5th grade. A computer lab, with 14 computers, one printer, one laptop and one LED TV was set up. The support helped strengthen the effort to provide quality education and exposure to children from nursery to the 5th grade. Mathematics and EVS was taught using computers. Story telling with computers as a medium was used to impart moral education to children.

The computer lab programme has been immensely successful and hence the project decided to take the same programme forward to their other centres. Barola had a computer lab which had old computers which did not function well. The lab was refurbished and the quality of the computers was improved ensuring better learning for 300 children through exposure to computers. A lab, with 12 computers, one printer, one inverter, four inverter batteries, twenty four headphones, four speakers, fixtures for the lab, anti-virus, education software was set up to enhance the learning ability of the children.

This programme is a non formal English medium school with a capacity of providing education to 500 children. The children are charged a nominal fee of Rs 500 per month. However, the school also offers free of cost education to children who cannot afford to pay the fees. The school is from nursery to the 10th standard. In addition to the regular classrooms, the school also has a library, computer room and science laboratory. The approach of the project is to provide a platform wherein children learn through experience, discovery and the very act of 'doing'. Apart from academics the school also encourages co-curricular activities. The project adopts a child friendly approach and special care is taken to make the teaching methodology as adaptive as possible to the needs of the children.