About the Organisation: The school is situated in the quiet residential part of Noida, a town which is a part of
Delhi, but is actually outside the city limits, in the state of Uttar Pradesh. Although the area where the school is situated is fairly affluent, the children attending it come from nearby villages and slum areas. Children are aged between 4 and 14, with many of the older children re-sitting classes which they missed when they were younger.
It is an English medium school and Hindi is used often to teach when the younger children have a difficulty understanding the subject. Subjects taught include English, Maths, Science, General Knowledge and Social Studies. There is also a strong emphasis on teaching cleanliness, hygiene and nutrition to the children. Computer classes are held twice a week in small groups, as there is only one computer.
Who they are: The school was started in 1997 by the wife of a retired army officer who wanted to do something for the poor children in the area. She started off in her garage with just 3 children, belonging to her housemaid, and soon this number rose to 40 the same year and to 93 within two years.
What they do: The school today has a yearly enrollment of 180 children and has moved out of the garage into their own property. In 1999 they registered as a non-profit organization.
Their main activity is educating poor children and once they finish this school, sponsors are found for the children so that they can continue their studies at public schools. They also conduct vocational training for a small group of their pupils so they are better equipped for finding employment. The health needs of the children are also looked after by providing nutritious meals, regular health check ups and free medicines when required. Their help also extends to the families of the children and the community at large.
What you can do: Your presence and assistance at the school will be of tremendous benefit to the children and their quality of education. Outside of normal teaching hours you can organize fun and extra curricular activities to increase their confidence and build important life skills. Using your imagination and innovation can really make a huge difference in a project like this.