Informal school for tribal children in Khadkee, Gujarat

1. Informal school for tribal children in Khadkee, Gujarat Primary Steward: Amita Chudgar Secondary Steward: Mihir Desai

2. Some background • Field visit September 2004, Sarvodaya Parivar Trust’s yearly report for year 2000-2003 a field visit report (Feb 2004). • The trust has been active in Dharampur taluka, Gujarat for 36-37 years • 99% of Dharampur taluka is tribal • The trust serves a population of 80 thousand spread over 125 villages. • The main activity of the trust – community development, medical facility, education • The trust is based in Pindval- Khadkee is 20 km from Pindval. (Pindval is about 50 km from Valsad, which is the nearest ‘town’)

3. Project Description • Location: Khadkee, Gujarat (Gujarat/MH boarder) • Area (urban/rural): Remote tribal area in Dharampur Taluka in Gujarat where 99% population is tribal • Primary Focus: An opportunity for never enrolled/dropped out children to study and to enter the formal system (70/30) • Project Type: Residential school, regular school for local children • Amount Requested (US$): 4 lakh per annum • # of Beneficiaries: Four villages including Khadkee. Khadkee has 103 families, 600 people. Plan to increase focus to villages in the interior.

4. Project Goals • Current Condition of Beneficiaries: Currently children in villages near Khadkee and even youth are particularly disadvantaged in terms of exposure to formal schooling (Government schools and teachers, exist only on paper) • Short-Term Objectives: Basic literacy, numeracy skills, basic Science, community living, developing art, music skills, understand and speak Gujarati – so that they can join the main stream. • 5-Year Vision: Enrollment of these children into formal schools- for younger children this would mean enrollment in first grade and for the elder children (youth) they would be helped with the 7th grade school entry exam or with vocational training for future employment. • Community Involvement: When the center was built the locals donated 680 working days in 34 days. The current land is provided free of charge by a local resident.

5. Project Background/Impact • Asha MIT currently partially supporting the school at Pindval, 20km from the present location. • Successes/Impact Thus Far: Over the years they have educated some 200 children. In 2003-2004 for example, • 72 children studied in Khadkee • of which 36 were enrolled in formal schooling after pre-primary school. • 8 enrolled in 3rd 4th grade formal school • 7 joined the work force (farming) • 21 continued at Khadkee in the informal system • In the current year, 74 children are enrolled, 30 for pre-primary training and 44 in the informal-school.

6. Organization Description • Name of Organization: The Sarvodaya Parivar Trust • Background of Directors: Founded by Kantaben Shah a Gandhian- now run by Harvilas ben Shah • 9 trustees in all, necessary to condition to become a trustee is to wear Khadee. • The Khadkee center: Sujata, MSc. M.Ed (Gold Medal) • FCRA status: Registered public trust, no:E-578/Income tax exemption under 80-G.

7. Existing Infrastructure/Facilities • Staff: Sujataben, 3 teachers and 2 people for other work. But roles are loosely defined and everyone performs multiple tasks based on the need. • Infrastructure: 8 rooms, 3862 sq. feet built area. The campus recently received donation for fencing, for furniture and other kitchen items for children, water tank, pipeline, generator, shed for children’s lunch and dinner gatherings. • Overall very basic living condition, no electricity or bathrooms for example. • Food/Medical Services: They keep the basic essential medicines. And feed the children who stay there.

8. Curriculum/Pedagogy • Curriculum Currently Used: Non-formal schooling, Nai Taleem, work on developing own course material for math and science. • Teaching Methodology: Focused on overall growth and development of the child • Teacher/Student Ratio:1:20

9. Expected Outcomes/What After? • What happens to beneficiaries after this program? • Literacy, numeracy • Younger children may join 1st grade in formal schools • Elder children may join 7th grade in formal schools, or, • Join some vocation locally, help the community. • Evaluation Methods: They collected benchmark data of the neighborhood when they started their work and plan to reevaluate in the coming years.

10. Budget for Requested Funding (in Rs/-) • Salary for the staff of six people : 102,866 (1,428 per month) • Transport: 3,383 • Grains: 110,716 • Vegetables: 13,606 • Fire-wood: 9,566 • Khaadi-uniform: 22,364 • Excursions/training programs for children: 30,589 + 5,150 • Children’s playground: 29,810 • Tools for gardening, painting etc. : 14,854 • Nursery labor costs: 44,310 • Academic materials: 2,871 • Cycle: 1,900 • Misc.: 8,371

11. Other Funding Sources In year 2003-2004 • Total expenses for SPT: Rs. 58,10,186 • Expenses for Khadkee: 4,02,356 • Previous/Other Funding Sources: 1215 sources for Rs. 52,26,362 the rest of the money was spent from reserve funds. • Interest income: 7,86,021 • Administrative expenses: 7,44,320 for every 100 rupees to the trust, 87 rupees reached the final beneficiary. • They take no help from the government • Continuing costs

12. Project Big Picture • Education Components: One of their key activity at Khadkee • Non-Education Components: Feeding and clothing these children who study there from very poor tribal villages. Medical facility, help with farming technology and water-harvesting, bi-weekly meetings to discuss local issues (women’s issues).

13. Site Visit Report • This is a very good project to support. • It comes very close to what many people would say Asha projects should be like. Education is an integral part of an overall plan of socio-economic development. • Sujata is a committed person, and has contacts with various grassroots people in the area. • I strongly recommend that chapters looking out for good projects consider supporting the Khadkee centre. I am available for further details. Visit by: shriram narasimhan. (zshriram_un@yahoo.com) Date: 11 Feb 2004 (http://www.ashanet.org/datastore/data/Chapters/MIT/Events/Shriram_Asha_Tour_2003-04/Gujarat/Khadkee-Report-Feb-2004.htm)

14. Strengths/Opportunities Part of a dedicated organization with a proven track record Dedicated project leader Fills a unique gap that is impossible for the formal system to ever fill effectively Weaknesses/Risks Sustainability SWOT Analysis

15. Steward Recommendation • Excellent work • Dedicated group of people • Reach an area that is really hard to reach even by the government system- unless there is such high commitment

16. Project Discussion/Decision

17. Discussion (10 minutes) • Questions/Thoughts • Arguments for funding • Arguments against funding

18. Decision (5 minutes) • Round I: Need more information/Can decide today? • If ready to decide: • Round II: Fund/Do not fund • If decided to fund: • Round III: Fund full amount/Fund part amount • Notes: • Please vote only if you are familiar with the project details and our overall funding philosophy • Decision to be made by 2/3rd majority. Quorum of 5. • All projects must be resolved by the 2nd meeting