Proposal For Saturday Health Program

1. Proposal For Saturday Health Program Deenabandhu Children's School

2. Background • Deenabandhu started as a Children’s home (orphanage) in 1992, housing 30 children (0% dropout rate, to date) • Growing number of children not attending schools and high dropout rates at local government school • Deenabandhu used its children’s home complex as a primary school • Encouraged by success in eliminating dropouts, construction of a proper school began in 2001 (partially funded by Asha-AZ) • As of March 2005, Deenabandhu Children’s School accommodates 170 children from LKG to 6th standard with more than 80% of the children from below the poverty line • The Children’s home is now home to 44 students and there are plans to start a children’s home for girls

3. Deenabandhu’s Teaching Philosophy • Joyful Learning –process of learning should be joyful for both Teacher and Child. • Learning through activities- learning aids are used to educate children in various subjects through an education resource center • Special projects • Information gathering (e.g. greens) • Improve social skills and communication skills through team work • Improve social awareness and respond in social service • Develop environmental awareness followed by action

4. Community Involvement • Deenabandhu school has involved parents in the education process of their children. • “Micro-credit” program for mothers • In addition, they have started using plays and skits to promote awareness among community members.

5. Motivation for Saturday Health Program • Most of the children coming to the school come from poor families. • Average income of 80% of the parents is less than Rs 15,000/year. • Parents are mostly dwellers in urban slums. They own meager facilities and lack proper sanitation facilities.

6. Health Education Programs Covered in 2004/05 • Personal Hygiene • Drinking water - importance of cleanliness. • Water born diseases • Communicable diseases – importance of flushing toilets. • Balanced diet – basic food constituents, nutrients micro and macro. • Vitamins. • Minerals.

7. Feedback from 2004-2005 • The main purpose of this program was to educate children about health. • Through the children, the important health education would also filter out to the villagers. • This has been accomplished through skits performed at parents meetings and through street plays at the village.

8. Proposed Health Education Programs for 2005/06 • Food Preservation. • Food Adulteration problem. • Pesticides in Food. • Dairy. • Sericulture. • Organic farming. • Vermicompost

9. Funding Details Last year we had only four teachers to supervise but this year we are going to have eight teachers to supervise. 1. Food expenses for Saturday Health Program 50,000* (@ Rs 1250 x 40 Sat ) 2. Additional Honorarium for Teachers 48,000 (@ Rs 150 x 8 x 40) 3. Honorarium for teachers to work in Summer to develop material for 7th std children( 8 x Rs1000) 8,000* 4. Material for poster presentation Printing 15,000 Pamphlets etc. (material from previous year are available for 5th and 6th Standard) 5. Purchase of ready material, consumable items 10,000 for food preservation (7th )experiments etc. 6. Expenses of field visits. 24,000 7. Expenses of getting specialists 10,000 8. Involving parents and village people for community health education program 12,000 9. Expenses towards an excursion 20,000 Total 197,000 (*Received donation for Food Expenses from midday meal program. *Received funds for additional Honorarium for teachers to work in summer. Less Rs 50,000 + Rs 8,000= 58,000 ) - 58,000 • Total required 139,000 (approx $3250 @43/$)

10. Dennabandhu’s Alumni • Children from the children’s home have finished their high school. • 4 children are employed in the housekeeping department of Infosys. • Chi.Swamy is studying B.Sc at Mandya and working part time. • Chi.Purushotham completed his Diploma in Machine Tool Technology and got a job in quality control. He is supporting his mother. • Chi. Mohan was trained in welding and is now self-sufficient. He takes care of his grandmother.