REACHING OUT TO THE MARGINS

Amongst the various causes behind India’s innumerable issues of social concern, unequal distribution of wealth or economic disparity is one of the major impediments when it comes to education. Where a metropolitan child gets fancy school accessories at the beginning of a new session at school, it is the deprivation of the same and much more which becomes the cause of dropping out of school for many in economically and socially inferior sections of the nation.

In such a scenario, it is not necessary that the contributors have to be million rupees worth corporate firms or international organizations. Initiatives taken by local communities and well to do schools in the metros can be yielding, if done with diligence and integrity.

It is said that education is not the answer to the question but the means to the answer to all questions. Identifying this as the launch pad for a wholesome qualitative education, UNICEF in collaboration with central and several state governments has kick-started a wide spectrum of innovative programmes. Supplementing the government’s Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, GOI-UNICEF Elementary Education Programme focuses on enhancing schools effectiveness, eliminating gender and social disparity and reinforcing the resource base to confirm an emphatic scrutinization of the education system. When 13 students from the Valsad district of Gujarat wanted to shift from private schools to schools where ADEPTS (Advanced Education Performance through Teacher Support) supported by UNICEF was running, it was realized that when teachers are personally involved in improving the minimum basic conditions of the school system, students get attracted towards studies. Dr.Yogendra Mathur, UNICEF Representative of Gujarat said about their recent initiative that performance standards have been designed in a manner which caters to the expectations of the community.

Similar results were observed last year in the tribal regions of Orissa where the local schools were encouraged to integrate traditional methods of learning to increase their student base. SRUJAN, a special scheme under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and District Primary Education Project (DPEP) is founded on the idea of community building to develop education in socially marginalized regions of the country. Replacing rote learning which makes education a dead weight carried by students with innovative ways of teaching originating from their vested tradition and culture such as story telling reiterates the idea voiced by George Bernard Shaw – “What we want to see is a child in pursuit of knowledge, not knowledge in pursuit of the child.”

In a country which is characterized by startling gender bias, overcoming caste and class barriers without shunning gender discrimination would be a damp squib. Despite a surge in literacy rate from the 1950s, 90 million females are still illiterate. Therefore, it is important to realize the urgency of increasing the strength of girl students and their retention in the schools. Causes like lack of proper sanitation and awareness of hygiene maintenance during menstruation become the defining reasons for dropping out of schools. In association with TVS, UNICEF has launched sanitary napkin vending machines in the schools of Kancheepuram district of Tamil Nadu. This initiative, along with the rest of the programmes, can act as a source of inspiration for various flourishing schools in modern cities. They can participate in gender sensitization campaigns and weekly or monthly trips to government-run schools can be arranged where students from different stratum of society can interact and impart knowledge. The way Muslim girls in Lucknow ghettos put forward a manifesto which demanded relocation of schools near home, proper sanitation facilities in schools and a discussion in parliament on children issues, other states can follow suit

In addition to this, metropolitan schools respective of their geographical location can plan awareness campaigns in their district schools. Educational fairs can be organized by them where the district schools students could be invited to interact with their counterparts. Experiences like these for the students will teach them something which is difficult to learn in the four walls enclosed classrooms. Cultivation of such a symbiotic relation can become the foundation of a refined education system, characteristic of a healthy teacher-student relationship and burgeoning inquisitive minds.

When talking about quality education, the role of a teacher is the mainstay of such a project. Without the engagement of teachers, from taking a personal interest in the development of the students to making the classroom an enjoyable learning experience, the picture of a quality education system remains incomplete. Sometimes it is the lack of resources and infrastructure which cripples the teachers from giving their best. A substantial amount of their time and energy goes into doing work other than teaching. In such cases, conditioning of teaching and management skills of the teachers becomes a core imperative. Different schools, regions and communities have different and distinct requirements. First a clear identification, and then a systematic meeting of these requirements is what is needed to be initiated. This is what lied at the heart of the programmes started by UNICEF. If the same could be realized by the rest, one can only imagine the range of significant results it will bring with itself.

By :-
Harpreet Bhullar

Manorath Starts A New Venture -- School Workshops

Manorath has now entered in a new engagement to take its campaign to new heights.These workshops have already begun after seeking formal permissions from the MCD authorities.
The workshop begins with a fun filled, entertaining skit where the children are encouraged to come to school regularly and where they are informed about their rights. It is followed by a song sung by volunteers on child rights. After the skit and the song, there is a engagement with children in various ways such as colouring, painting activities While these students absolutely enjoy and loose themselves in the world of creativity and colour, for the students of senior classes we prefer a one to one interaction. The volunteers talk to the children about various things like about how important is education for all of them and how vital it is to continue their studies. They ask them questions about themselves, what is their favourite subject and probably some knowledge based questions..maintaining the fun quotient of course!!
In the meanwhile the volunteers also talk to the teachers about various the school or probably if they are facing any problem in the there. The idea is to break the ice and let them know that we are there to support them in case of any trouble. Pointers like school facilities and infrastructure are also noticed so that any lack in the same can be highlighted to the concerned school authorities. Finally a summary report of all the observation is made.

As of now there have been 3 successful school workshops (details of which you can read in the next posts) and there are many more to be held.We hope that Manorath finds success in this new beginning.

Mera Bhi Toh Adhikaar Hai !!!

Manorath has formed a children group in Dakshinpuri and the video shows Manorath members and children learning and singing the CHILD RIGHTS song together. There is Bhavay leading the choir, Amit swinging his hands from one side to the other and the rest of us in chorus . I am recording the video. Special thanks to Garima for uploading the video.

NOTE: The video has been shot and uploaded with permission from the children involved and does not violate child rights.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFV6v35e1wA

And if you want to humm along, here are the lyrics :

http://manorath-cryvolunteersdelhi.blogspot.com/2009/04/cry-anthem.html

PS. This is just the practice, the final version would come out soon ;).

For the uninitiated: The CRY Anthem is a song penned down by Javed Akhtar as a part of the "CRY Telethon". The Music is by Aadesh Shrivastava. It is is sung by Sonu Nigam, Alka Yagnik, Hariharan, Shreya Ghoshal, Udit Narayan, Shaan, Sapna Mukherjee, Babul Supriyo, Vijeta Pandit, Shankar Mahadevan, Abhijeet and Shraddha Pandit. Apart from the artistes mentioned above, the song also features Aadesh Shrivastav's sons Avitesh and Anivesh, Alka Yagnik's daughter Sayesha and Abhijeet's son Jai, adding to the beauty of the song. Following is the link to the original song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C05PWaYeNtE

A prelude

Manorath, the very name, takes one's vision to a softer, humane request for surviving, where we who are priveleged, raise voices for the children who are not. Here, we pledge, to make a difference in whatever way we can, to make the life of children better.

A child is the epitome of innocence, and the love one recieves from children is the purest. Their hearts are free of mailce, and their souls absolutely pure, away from the sightings of the world. This beautiful existance is called childhood, of which unfortunately, many lakhs of children are deprived today. We invite you, to become a part of 'Manorath', to share this feeling of a drive to do something for children, to experience the unconditional love we recieve from them, and to feel the satisfaction of having contributed in your own little way.

Lets help nurture the today, that will be us tomorrow.

The Sleeping Child

"As i went through my daily grind..
With thoughts and worries intertwined..
I lay my eyes on a sleeping child...
Resting in the heat that could burn the wild...

What had she done to deserve this...
Why cant i pick her up and give her a kiss...
Why is that suddenly all my worries seem triffle..
I have enough I said ..
But who'll feed this angel ??

The chips I had, to her I gave..
Feeling small at the contibution I made...
Wanted to do more ..
Could i adopt the child...
And suddenly ma boss called ..
Hurry up he said...
I said be there in a while...

In a moment I lost the smile...
That a pack of chips had brought to the girl...
I left that place...cause the heat was killing me...
I feel like a coward .. I had no right to flee...

Its our obligation as citizens of the world...
To feed the needy .. to help the troubled...
Why is then... we all commit the crime...
Of not being humans.. but only being prime...
The misery of defeat .. or the pain of death...
Doesnt compare to what I felt...
Seeing myself shy away..
From a sleeping child.. who had no way... "

By Shubham

MANORATH's intervention at the community level

Manorath members engage with children & parents in areas where MCD schools operate, One example is the Dakshinpuri community intervention ,near Ambedkar Nagar,South Delhi, where members engage with children of all groups and organise Drawing and other fun filled activites wid them. The group was able to identify problems with one of the schools and take it up with the concerned authorities.

Sachin with his masterpiece
Manorath members with children at Dakshinpuri

Manorath's Rally to demand books for 11 lakh children of MCD schools.

In April'09 when new academic session began , Manorath discovered that MCD has not given any text books to children of the MCD schools and the same was expected to not to be distributed till August'09. Manorath found that children were finding difficulties to continue with their studies without the text books. Therefore, To protest the attitude in the delay of the distribution of books on the part of MCD authority, Manorath organised a RALLY to demand the earlier distribution of books to the children.

Children of MCD schools & parents along with Manorath members at the Dakshinpuri park

Rally progressing towards the Residence of Education Minister

The protest was held along with other groups in front of the residence of the Education Minister,Delhi Government on 5th april'09 ,where in an assurance was taken that the books will be given soon. Manorath also wrote a letter to the minister holding him by his assurance. Our follow up interaction with the children has revealed that the books will be given to all the children on 1st of july when school reopens for the new session.

Infront of the Residence of the Education Minister
The rally saw participation of many children studying in MCD schools of Dakshinpuri along with their parents.