tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1459624818429189602024-03-28T14:52:24.339+05:30Pratham Education FoundationPratham India is the official blog of non-for-profit organization Pratham Education Foundation showcasing exciting stories throughout India.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger213125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-145962481842918960.post-89400682634429996572019-08-05T13:28:00.003+05:302019-08-05T13:28:46.341+05:30The volunteers from Kabir Basti <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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"We have learned many new things, and are ready to take more responsibilities", says Sanjana. She studies in the 9th grade and is one of the volunteers from Kabir Basti, a village in Kathura block of Haryana's Sonipat district. Sanjana's group includes Rajni (11th grade), Neha (9th grade), Shalu (11th grade), Sheetal (10th grade), Ritika(9th grade), Tamanna (9th grade) who belong to Gudda-A division of Kabir Basti, and Nikki (9th grade) and Jyoti (12th grade) hail from the Gudda-B division. These girls have volunteered for collecting the Village Report Card and also volunteer for Pratham's library program. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From Left to Right - Rajni, Neha, Shalu, Sheetal, Ritika, Tamanna; <br />Back - Nikki and Jyoti</td></tr>
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"We got an opportunity to visit our neighbouring village, and it was the first time we travelled out of our village. It was a wonderful experience", says Sheetal. These girls visited Ahulana -A and Ahulana- B villages for preparing the village report card and are cherishing the experience. </div>
<br />"Talking to unknown people was fun", says Tamanna. Her sentiment is echoed by others who admit that this experience has taught them many new things. Most of these girls do not travel outside their village. The only time they are out of their house is when they go to school, and it is not very far from where they live. Hence, travelling outside their village was like an adventure and interacting with people not belonging to their village was an experience in itself. <div>
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But the journey was full of difficulties. </div>
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"Many villagers from Ahulana did not entertain us, and sometimes they shut the door on our face", recalls Nikki. "But we persisted", she says with pride. "Some families did not agree that their children cannot read simple text. They insisted that their children go to school, and hence they learn. But when we asked the children to read, they had to accept", says Ritika. </div>
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It is clear that travelling to a new village and talking to people was an experience these girls loved, and they will value it for a long time ahead. But how has it changed them? We get a diverse response from the girls when we ask this question. </div>
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"We have changed. This experience has made us bold and confident. We want to explore more villages now", says Neha. "I can feel a change in me. I can talk to people and express myself. Earlier I was shy", says Shalu. "We will talk to our parents and convince them to allow us to travel outside, and spread the message of learning", says Jyoti, the eldest of them all. </div>
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This group of young volunteers is excited to work with us and hopes to create a difference in their village and the neighbouring villages by asking everyone in the community to contribute in improving the learning levels of children. <br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-145962481842918960.post-81462208803702399212019-07-01T12:20:00.000+05:302019-07-01T12:20:18.564+05:30Trilochan's entrepreneurial dream<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Pratham's Vocational training centre at Mahule village in Odisha's Sonepur district offers training and placement to youths in the automotive sector. It is the only automotive centre in the region, and its infrastructure is provided by the Odisha Skill Development Authority, and the implementation is done by Pratham. The youths that enrol in this centre are from the economically disadvantaged background from Sonepur district, as well as neighbouring Boudh district. They generally belong to families who are involved in small-scale farming or daily-wage work. <div>
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Trilochan Khandagiri joined this course because he wanted a job. He hails from Lupursingha village, district Sonepur. His family owns a small piece of land, where they grow rice. He studied till 9th grade, and later opted to help his family on the farm and also look for a job. "As a child, it was fascinating to see the work of a mechanic. It was my motivation", he says. So when Trilochan found out that there is a centre that trains you in a course, that was his liking, he wasted no time in thinking! He enrolled himself at the centre and liked all aspects of the course. </div>
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"In farming, there is a lot of hard work, but the returns are less. But the same won't be the case in a garage. My family consists of my parents and an elder brother. If I have to take care of them, I have to earn a higher income", says Trilochan. "Moreover, people approach a person if he has skills."</div>
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The teaching at the centre as impressed Trilochan. He is happy about the personal attention, and also the patience of the instructors who answer all his questions, no matter how many times he asks them! He also likes the importance of maintaining a time-table, a concept which is very new to him! But his most favourite experience at the centre was learning English! "The centre has taught us how to operate a computer and how to communicate in English. I feel it is important because both things are needed in today's world", he says. </div>
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Before starting a garage, Trilochan wants work but does not want to go outside Odisha. He is sure that his garage will flourish as there are few garages around, and with proper skills, he can solve the problem! With his first salary, he wants to help his parents and home and buy a bike for himself. We wish Trilochan all the best! </div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-145962481842918960.post-49198867134822731992019-06-24T13:18:00.001+05:302019-06-24T13:18:40.914+05:30A dream to work in Rajasthan <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Sabyasachi Biswal hails from Dapala village in Odisha's Boudh district. His family practices farming at a very small scale, and they have involved themselves in rice cultivation. Sabyasachi always wanted to enter into a different occupation apart from farming. "I started a small shop in my village. But I did not get any returns. I had to close the shop", he says. However, his <i>didi, </i>a teacher from his classes informed him about Pratham Institute's vocational training centre in Mahule village, district Sonepur. This centre imparts training in the automotive vertical. "I was looking for a job, and it did not matter which course I was joining", he says.<br />
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"I was blank when I came here. In fact, I did not know anything about vehicles", he says. Sabyasachi admits that he did not have any idea about the course, and getting a job was his first priority. He thanks all his friends at the centre who helped him adjust and made him aware of the course. Apart from his friends, he also says thanks to his teachers for the disciplined nature of the course. "I like the silence and discipline here. I am experiencing it for the first time, and this is a new experience for me."<br />
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As we move ahead in the conversation, Sabyasachi mentions that apart from the practical training sessions, he also appreciates the theory which is taught at the centre. "The practical training is good, and it is required. But I love the way the conduct lectures. I love the 5 'S' of a personality which they taught us here - sort, set in order, shine, standardise and sustain", he says with a smile. As he narrates these five qualities, the teachers at the centre and his friends look at him with pride and happiness.<br />
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As we leave, we ask Sabyasachi what are his plans after he completes this course. He states that applying for a job would be his immediate priority, but not in Odisha. "I want to work in Rajasthan, as I have seen the culture of the state on television. And then when I get my first salary, I have to buy a few things. First of all, I will distribute sweets to everyone at the centre, and then buy a saree for my mother and a dhoti for my father. I also have a younger brother, and I will buy him anything that he asks for", he says. <br />
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Sabyasachi wants to work in Rajasthan for a few years and then come back to Odisha and work in the automotive sector in his village. He will continue with farming, but will also earn an extra income from this job. We wish him all the best!<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-145962481842918960.post-17724246969203522412019-06-17T12:36:00.000+05:302019-06-17T12:36:16.079+05:30The dream to become a Manager <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Hiren hails from Jharkheda village, in Madhya Pradesh's Sehore district. He has completed education till 10th grade through the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) with the support of Pratham's program for children with disabilities. We met him in Bhopal in 2017 when NIOS had organised a drawing competition, and Hiren was one of the participants.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hiren</td></tr>
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Hiren acquired polio when he was very young, and his future became a matter of concern for his family members. His parents work as daily wage labourers, and hence, the family has always faced the problem of earning a minimum income. Hiren tried to help them in his own capacity but nurtured a dream since a very young age. He wanted to become a manager. The idea of an office, a table and a chair always excited him. That was his idea of a manager.<br />
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Hiren attended the government school in his village and studied till 9th grade. However, in a tragic turn of events, his elder brother passed away, and Hiren had to bear the responsibility of the family. Unable to cope up with this pressure, Hiren failed in class, and lost confidence in further pursuing education. He remained out of school for the next five years until Pratham's team members approached him and his family and updated them about the program. He was assigned a home tutor facility, and Deshraj Ahirwar was appointed as his tutor. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deshraj Ahirwar</td></tr>
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The partnership of Hiren and Deshraj was very productive and helpful for the former. Hiren not only enjoyed learning but also got back to drawing and painting, a hobby he had developed since childhood. Deshraj and the entire team of Pratham encouraged Hiren to draw and paint, and hence he could participate in the competition at Bhopal. His parents were also happy about the home tutor facility, as they believe that education will transform Hiren's life and eventually, the family's lifestyle.<br />
As we appreciated Hiren's painting and asked him about his plans ahead, he reiterated his dream of becoming a manager. He passed the 10th-grade examination in 2018, and we are sure he will accomplish his goal one day. </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-145962481842918960.post-52501087309546095692019-06-10T12:49:00.000+05:302019-06-10T12:49:39.814+05:30The tale of Sujata and Sarojini <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Sujata Padhi and Sarojini Mohanto are best friends and like to do things together. They travel to school together, study and play together, and now like to learn in a group. "There are many ways one can learn in a group, and it is not restricted to one group", says Sujata. "It allows us to explore more", adds Sarojini.<br />
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We are at Karadiha village in Karanjia block in Odisha's Mayurbhanj district. The two languages spoken in this village are Santhali and Olchi, and as the district has a tribal population, it is a challenge for them to learn in Odiya. However, thanks to the library program in the village and the learning camp in school, children in this village have found a new love for learning. Sujata says the group has also allowed them to develop leadership skills, and learning in groups is something that they have newly discovered, but now everyone is becoming used to it.<br />
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"The group allows us to explore each other. If one of us does not know anything, the others help us, and we help them if we know anything", says Sarojini. Both Sujata and Sarojini admit that they have become more interactive, and this is one change they observe in themselves. Sarojini further states that their mothers are a witness to it, and they also feel that their daughters have become more expressive and share a lot of things at home.<br />
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Sarojini, the more talkative of the two, smiles when we ask which are their favourite activities. "We like the games and activities, and also puzzles and <i>Antakshari </i>in English. We also enjoy the project work in science", she says. She further admits that language is not a 'problem' for them anymore. However, the difficulties in Math persist, and they are ready to work hard and learn more.<br />
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The newfound enthusiasm and interactive behaviour have translated into Sujata and Sarojini's interaction with their school teachers. The latter admit that children have become interactive and participate in the class with enthusiasm.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-145962481842918960.post-77785724265503399902019-06-03T13:08:00.000+05:302019-06-03T13:08:00.895+05:30The dream to join the Armed Forces <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
"I dropped out of school as the high school was far, and I could not afford a daily trip. While there was a private school nearby, the fees were very high."<br />
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Kajal Upadhyay lives in Sutar khedi village, located in the Mhow block of Madhya Pradesh's Indore district. Her primary schooling took place at the government school in her village, and for the reasons mentioned above, she discontinued her studies. Her family members - both mother and father - work as labourers and their income is sufficient to meet only the basic needs of the family. Kajal accepted this fact and discontinued her studies. But deep down in her mind, there was a desire to complete her studies. "I was attracted to the police force, but as I dropped out of school, my confidence levels dipped. It was as if there was no opportunity to grow", she says.<br />
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Hence, when she met a representative from Pratham who informed her about the Second Chance program, there was first a moment of disbelief for her. Is there such an opportunity? And will I be able to complete my education till 10th grade? These were the initial thoughts in Kajal's mind when she first heard about the program. But she thanks the Pratham team for an effective counselling which ultimately convinced her, and she joined the program.<br />
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"The village where I stay is conservative. However, my parents supported me in this decision", she says. Kajal soon adapted to the program, and in a few weeks, she became a part of it. "In my school, the teachers used to teach very little, and a large part was given as homework. Most of us did not understand anything, and we lagged behind. However, here we study in groups, and it was the most helpful thing. The teachers at the centre taught well, answered all our questions and hence we did not face any difficulty in our homework", she says.<br />
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With the help of her teachers, her fellow classmates and more importantly, with all her efforts, Kajal passed the 10th-grade examination in 2015, after a gap of two years. "My confidence is back", she says. She sees a complete transformation in herself as now she feels there are opportunities ahead. "My parents also now know that there are multiple options ahead, and I have a qualification to pursue any of them. But now I am confident that I can join the police force or the army. It is wonderful that passing an examination could do so much to me."<br />
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Kajal has now learned to browse the internet, and she now uses it to gather information about the entrance examinations required for joining the police force. Her next academic target is 12th grade, and that also seems easily achievable. "I run every morning, follow it with physical exercises and then study for my 12th grade. I am confident that both the outcomes, passing 12th grade and joining the army or the police force, are easily achievable. And I thank the 10th-grade milestone for the change and confidence in me", she says with a smile. </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-145962481842918960.post-62664797003693975442019-05-27T12:07:00.003+05:302019-05-27T12:07:58.486+05:30Mother-in-law's support and the Second Chance Program <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
"My mother-in-law was the biggest support, and I cannot thank her enough." Nainaben begins narrating her story. As she describes it further, we realise how crucial was her mother-in-law's support in making her what she is today. Nainaben passed her 10th-grade examination in 2017, and she had dropped out of school way back in 2004. But when she decided to enrol in Pratham's Second Chance program, she had to face two major hurdles - her husband and her father-in-law.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtD_vJraRA8yXgV0uh_9juzuKey4k5_wlfsdluXL5PWx7c66ufcv1qe-HfAdII3ZGesHaAntgYjniYAhKq28jE_El43YPHheLItkRxDjTh3fdXE5oYu2MTS0ZHGfHpZG9X9ije8hop084/s1600/Naina+Ben+Vanod.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtD_vJraRA8yXgV0uh_9juzuKey4k5_wlfsdluXL5PWx7c66ufcv1qe-HfAdII3ZGesHaAntgYjniYAhKq28jE_El43YPHheLItkRxDjTh3fdXE5oYu2MTS0ZHGfHpZG9X9ije8hop084/s320/Naina+Ben+Vanod.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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But Naina's mother-in-law wanted her to study again, and she had an innovative idea in mind to convince the two of them. "She told my father-in-law that my husband wanted me to study ahead. And she said to my husband that my father-in-law felt that I should complete my studies till 10th-grade. She ensured that they did not change their mind till I wrote my exams", she chuckles. But things were not easy for Naina. She had to adjust her schedule at home and balance it with her studies.<br />
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"I changed my schedule completely. I became an early riser and began my day revising what was taught the previous day. It was followed by household chores. But my mother-in-law ensured that I never missed my class", says Naina. However, as studies became intense, and the date of examination appeared closer, her participation at home became lesser. It led to frustration, as both, her husband and her father-in-law felt that Naina was not paying enough attention at home. But again, her mother-in-law acted like a glue and held the family together. She also mentions the 'Life Skills' taught in class and credits the subject for helping her plan her schedule.<br />
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Naina felt relieved when she passed the 10th-grade examination. Her parents were agriculture labourers, and they insisted that she should look after her younger siblings, and made her drop out of school. But she got a 'Second Chance' in life twelve years later, and she thanks Pratham and her mother-in-law for the same. With renewed aspirations, she wants to study ahead and help her children in their studies. "I can now operate a computer and a smartphone. It is my biggest gain", she says with a smile.<br />
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What next for Nainaben, we ask, and she smiles widely in response. "My husband is a policeman. He once told me that I would never complete my 10th-grade. I proved him wrong. Now, I want to study ahead, join the police force and walk a step ahead", she says. We wish Nainaben all the best in her future endeavours. <br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-145962481842918960.post-30350732963053210602019-05-20T01:16:00.000+05:302019-05-20T01:16:17.517+05:30The library at Hyakanuru village <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
"I talk to other women in the village, and I want to see this grow as a movement." Rekha expresses her optimism during our meeting at her house. We are at Hyakanuru village in Karnataka's Mysore district. It lies in the T. Narasipura block, where people either cultivate rice or travel to Mysore for work. Rekha's family is involved in the former. While she is a housewife, she also helps her husband on the field sometimes.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiAl8kvQBcxVKsFjSKkFVw4_jSGOAySbiQEzQMRW5r_04MihW7Zr0waj1t4TnXlIroCmiy9nPlew0lKq1TYfzePjDP5fnirNo3lskg9x7lNJiOtNyVzFe3T9jr28EH6pa_gljzkqn12sM/s1600/Rekha__01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1211" data-original-width="1600" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiAl8kvQBcxVKsFjSKkFVw4_jSGOAySbiQEzQMRW5r_04MihW7Zr0waj1t4TnXlIroCmiy9nPlew0lKq1TYfzePjDP5fnirNo3lskg9x7lNJiOtNyVzFe3T9jr28EH6pa_gljzkqn12sM/s320/Rekha__01.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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"There was no after-school class in the village. I wanted to initiate it so that children could revise what they studied in school. I wanted it in my village, just like they have it in cities", she says. Hence when she came to know about Pratham's library program, she felt the need to initiate it and implement it at Hyakanuru. Rekha was also worried that children spent their time roaming in the village after school, and nothing was productive. The time from 4 pm to 6 pm was without any activity, and the library program filled the gap!<br />
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There are ten children in Rekha's library, and she enjoys her duty of ensuring that they learn in groups. "The good thing about this is that I also learn with children, and it is like a revision of concepts for me", she says. She has identified that children struggle in Math, and she has come up with some activities of her own. "I ask children to identify the price of daily use items and then frame the problems based on them. Children find it interesting, and it improves their Math as well." For the activities concerning the Kannada language, the activity of story-telling has helped the children. "They now know more words", she says. <br />
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There is a marked improvement in children, according to Rekha. They are more confident, express themselves clearly, and more importantly, they enjoy all the activities. "The group learning technique has helped them, and that is the reason they have changed. It makes me happy", she says. Now in the initial stage, Rekha is determined to carry this forward as a movement. She is confident that her daily interactions with other women in the village will be fruitful and one day, the whole village will contribute to this initiative of improving the learning level of children.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-145962481842918960.post-58585363996354804052019-05-12T10:32:00.002+05:302019-05-12T10:49:27.847+05:30Happy Mother's Day - The story of Marzeena and Tamanna <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Marzeena lives with her husband and daughter, Tamanna, in Rajkot, Gujarat. Due to low income and rising rent costs, the family had to move away from Tamanna's school. As that area was unsafe and far from school, Tamanna had to drop out five years ago because Marzeena and her husband thought it was too risky for her to go to school alone. So Tamanna stayed at home and helped her mother with household work but wished she could continue studying. They heard about Pratham's Second Chance program which helps dropouts in completing their secondary school education. Marzeena realised that the only way she could help her daughter fulfil her dreams was to accompany her to class. Marzeena had also dropped out of school as she got married when she was 16 years old - this opportunity could be her Second Chance too!<br />
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Thanks to the patience of their teacher, Viral, and the encouragement of their classmates, both of them were able to catch up in class and passed their 10th-grade exams together! With her new found confidence that the program gave her, Marzeena wants to work and looks forward to interacting with others without hesitation. Tamanna wants to study further and find a job so she can support her family.<br />
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Marzeena says, "It gives me immense joy that I was able to help my daughter achieve what she wanted to."<br />
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Marzeena and Tamanna, thank you for taking a (second) chance! You inspire us! </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-145962481842918960.post-69598996443477787662019-05-05T22:37:00.002+05:302019-05-05T22:37:54.808+05:30 A checklist of dreams <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
"I was working as a driver and felt that I should know the details of a car." Vivekanand begins his story as we interact with him at Pratham Institute's vocational training centre in Odisha's Sonepur district. This centre offers training in the automobile vertical, and youth from Boudh and Sonepur districts enrol themselves for better job opportunities, and a better future ahead. Vivekanand is also one of them. He lives in Patrapali village in the Sonepur district.<br />
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Both these districts are economically backward, and the reason for this is low literacy and a lack of opportunities in the secondary and tertiary sector. The people here speak Odiya, but many of them also converse in Sambalpuri, a dialect of Odiya. A large population in these districts indulges in small-scale farming or daily wage labour.<br />
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"I used to drive a truck before, and my driving assignments took me to different places. I also went to Chhattisgarh once", he says. But that became tiring, and he took to driving cars. That is when he felt that he should know the inner details of the vehicle, and the same brought him to the centre. "The lectures here are motivating, and my confidence has increased", he begins. "It made me realise that I can do many things after completing this course," Vivekanand says that the lecture and the practical applications have made him explore the possibility of starting a garage. "There is no garage in the entire Ulunda block where I live, and I want to fill this gap."<br />
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However, the stint at the centre has also made him aware of the opportunities that lie outside his district. It is incredible, he says, that I drove to many places, but this course made me realise that there are opportunities everywhere, and more in cities. "...and that is why I want to work in a big city. Bhubaneshwar is a good option. But my dream city is Delhi", he says with a confident smile on his face. Vivekanand is a regular browser of the internet, and he spends many hours on his smartphone. And that is where he found out that Dubai is a place that has cars in plenty and of different designs. "Before I start my garage, I want to work in a big city, and I also want to visit Dubai", he says.<br />
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The course at the Sonepur centre has made Vivekanand aware that there are many unexplored opportunities around. It has made him prepare a check-list which is not only national but also global! We wish him all the best, and we are sure Vivekanand will achieve all that he aspires. </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-145962481842918960.post-10090801515677387002019-04-29T12:07:00.000+05:302019-04-29T12:07:38.685+05:30Niranjan and Jhillirani - meet the couple who passed 10th-grade together<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
We are in Chandpur village in Odisha's Jajpur district. Jhillirani offers us a chair to sit whereas Niranjan, her husband orders some soft drink from a nearby shop. Soon a group of people assemble, and one of them says in Odiya, "they must have come to take the interview." And then we realise that we are sitting in one of the most well-known and respected houses in the village. People respect Niranjan Das and Jhillirani Malik because they both completed studies till 10th-grade and are now preparing for the 12th-grade exams. Hence, their story is one of the most inspiring and amazing stories from Pratham's 'Second Chance' program.<br />
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Niranjan recalls that he belonged to a poor family and had to start working at a very young age. He studied till 9th grade but then opted to earn money and hence discontinued his studies. This was in 1996, and in the same year, he chose to move to Hyderabad. He worked there for some years, and finally decided to return back to Odisha in 2012. During his stay at Hyderabad, he realised that there are many opportunities to work, but all he misses is the 10th-grade certificate. Meanwhile, during one of his visits to Odisha in 2009, he married Jhillirani.<br />
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Jhillirani had dropped out of school in 2006, and she too had no family backing owing to a poor financial background. She chose to contribute to household work until Niranjan came back to the village in 2012. "He likes to read, and he used to bring books at home to read", she says, pointing towards her husband. "But his motivation was to complete education until 10th", she says. Jhillirani admits that her husband's love for books and his resolve to study was the reason for her motivation as well! Hence, both of them lost no time in opting to join Pratham's Second Chance program, and this was in 2016.<br />
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"However, there was one problem", recalls Niranjan. "I could not skip my work, and hence I asked her to attend classes all days, and attended only twice a week." Jhiilirani admits that it was a difficult task, as she had to be very attentive and narrate everything to Niranjan at home. "We both studied and many times stretched it till 2 in the morning", he says. But both of them thank their family members and acknowledge their cooperation which helped them achieve success. "We have two daughters, one is 6 years old, and the other is 4 years old. My family members attended to their needs and ensured that we were able to study", says Niranjan. Both of them, however, acknowledge that the teaching method by the 'Second Chance' faculty was very positive and it helped them generate interest in the subject. They also agree that the entire experience of getting back to studies and passing the 10th-grade examination transformed their personality. "The best thing is that we can talk to people with proper eye contact", says Jhillirani. "...and we can also ensure a bright future for our children", says Niranjan.<br />
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Both of them are now studying for their 12th-grade examination. Niranjan plans to change his job, whereas Jhillirani will apply for a new one. We wish them all the best for their future endeavours. </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-145962481842918960.post-44105012139196780722019-04-22T00:22:00.000+05:302019-04-22T00:22:08.154+05:30Two sisters and the Second Chance Program <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Nisha Shukla and Preeti Shukla are sisters, and both live in Indore. Their story is one of the most unique stories of Pratham's Second Chance Program. No, they did not give their 10th-grade examination together. Neither were they in the same batch and hence they did not study together. But today both work and are happy that they could get back to studies because of the program, a thing they had not imagined some years ago!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Preeti Shukla (left) and Nisha Shukla.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Preeti had studied till 9th-grade, but became ill and owing to health issues did not complete her 10th-grade. She lost interest, and for the next three years, she was away from studies. However, a friend told her about the Second Chance and to quote her, 'it appeared interesting.' She sensed that there was a chance to complete education till 10th-grade and hence acquire the primary degree to be eligible for certain job opportunities. Preeti confesses that learning in a group made her understand many things and she still recalls those discussions with her friends. She further admits that such a discussion made her bold and confident and she passed her 10th-grade examination in 2016. "English and Math were my favourite subjects, and I also liked the activity of painting", she says. The one year spent at the centre was so transforming for Preeti that she overcame her initial shyness, and went on to complete a computer course from ITI (Industrial Training Institute) and also completed a course in beauty techniques.<br />
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Preeti's elder sister Nisha was observing the former's journey. She was a housewife. As she watched Preeti, she recalled that she also had not completed her 10th-grade and had got married in some years after leaving school. All these years she had lost hope, but Preeti's journey made her renew it afresh! After many sessions thinking about it, Nisha too decided to take the plunge and enrolled herself for the Second Chance program. "I had lost touch, and the teachers here taught me as if I was a primary school student. Such was their dedication and patience", she says. This was one year after Preeti passed her 10th-grade. Nisha's initial goal was to pass 10th-grade and then secure a job. However, she got a job immediately after passing the exam, and this was in 2017. "I am now planning to study till 12th-grade, but time is a constraint", she admits with a smile.<br />
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The sisters are happy that they could share their story with us. As we drink tea prepared by their mother, Preeti says, "I really thank the Second Chance program for this turnaround in life." Nisha says the same thing but also adds a few more words. "I really thank the Second Chance Program. And I also thank my sister for inspiring me to achieve this." </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-145962481842918960.post-47270510805258108292019-04-15T00:29:00.000+05:302019-04-15T00:29:26.106+05:30The positive change in Hemi ben Chauhan <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Hemi ben Chauhan passed the 10th-grade examination last year. For someone who opted to become a student after fifteen years since leaving school, this was a special moment! She now pursues a computer course from an Industrial Training Institute and is eager to share her story when we meet her at her house. We are at Bhojpara village in Gujarat's Rajkot district.<br />
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"I will always thank the lady whom I met when she visited our village", she begins. A woman - an ASHA worker - had come to visit her village. As their conversation progressed, she told Hemi ben that she got this job after passing the 10th-grade examination. "That was my motivation", she says.<br />
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"I failed in 10th-grade and seeing no future ahead, my parents decided that I should get married." After marriage, she came to live in Bhojpara and to say in her words she was 'leading a good life.' Unfortunately, her husband died, and it made her think of doing something. As the days passed, she felt lonelier, and a job was her only motivation. But she soon realised that she lacked the basic qualification for a job, and hence completing 10th-grade examination seemed the only way out. "Hence, I thank that woman. It is because of her I decided to enrol myself to the class", she says. And in this way, she became a part of the Second Chance program.<br />
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"I was the eldest in the class. And I was the only one who wore a saree", she recalls. Hemi ben admits that it was difficult to sit in a class with so many young girls around her. She also confesses that it was intimidating. And despite full support from home, she wondered if the next steps would be easy. "But I was a regular student. I ensured that my attendance was 100%." As the days progressed, she opened up. Owing to the activities, group-work and presentations, Hemi ben began to gain confidence. Out of them, her favourite was learning in groups. "In a group, you can share your views and also carefully understand what others have to say", she adds. However, the biggest takeaway for Hemi ben was the fact that she could speak in public.<br />
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Apart from the computer course, Hemiben takes up stitching assignments, and that is her contribution to the family income. Her father-in-law drives the rickshaw, and her mother-in-law helps her in household work. "Girls of today are lucky that they have supportive parents", she says. "They are more free and confident than us. Hence, I want to thank this program. It made me what I am now, and ensured that there are opportunities ahead."<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-145962481842918960.post-420000487457437012019-04-05T16:43:00.000+05:302019-04-05T16:43:33.410+05:30Balanagamma's new beginning <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Balanagamma hails from Lingasugur, a small town in Karnataka's Raichur district. She was searching for a job, and a job-fair brought her to Pratham Institute's hospitality training centre at Mysore. "I did not know anything about the Hotel industry. I came here with the hope of getting a job", she says.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifXhRKxHPZEqnPJMrO8Cs759TbsS_FM29KHWgQk43gDK0ro4FkcGyPofvc8-UMulfiQnpi29mGcKOyZSU5igPK8guu0KmkOyMRWi6PmCOnsQZZEw6y8xhRVglGv7JfmA6_zyZ3sI_0ObY/s1600/Balanagamma__01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifXhRKxHPZEqnPJMrO8Cs759TbsS_FM29KHWgQk43gDK0ro4FkcGyPofvc8-UMulfiQnpi29mGcKOyZSU5igPK8guu0KmkOyMRWi6PmCOnsQZZEw6y8xhRVglGv7JfmA6_zyZ3sI_0ObY/s320/Balanagamma__01.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Her father passed away, and the sole income for her house is the pension that her mother receives every month. Hence, Balanagamma's primary focus was to start earning money and contribute to the family income. But now she feels that she has gained something substantial from this course and feels that her decision to enrol here was the right one! "I had an initial worry, but the way of teaching cleared all my doubts. In fact, I know one a few things about the hotel industry", she says.<br />
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As we talk to her, she explains that apart from the work techniques taught here, there was an overall orientation of the hotel industry. Everyone from the batch was oriented about the industry, who are our customers, and how to behave with them, the importance of grooming, and how to communicate with others. All her batchmates realised that a Hotel is not merely a place to work; instead, it is a place where we serve our customers. "I was not aware of all this, and after the training, my social behaviour has changed", she says. "Initially, I spoke only to my family members. But now I can speak to everyone around me. My confidence has increased as well." She now likes the faculty members, their approach towards teaching and the overall discipline of the place. According to her, the training here is the reason everyone has become more organised. She also says that this place has given her new friends and the same would not have been possible at home.<br />
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Balanagamma is geared up to work in the Hotel industry but wishes to work at a location that is near to her house. "My mother lives alone, and I want to be close to her." She is eager to contribute to the family income and initiate a new beginning in life. With her first salary, Balanagamma wishes to perform a small ritual for the family, buy a dress for herself and a gift for her mother. We wish her all the best in her new beginning.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-145962481842918960.post-50324824382466497802019-04-01T02:33:00.003+05:302019-04-01T02:33:45.598+05:30The primary school at Vidi village <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Dakshaben Tripathi is the principal of the government primary school at Vidi village in Kutch, Gujarat. The school has classrooms till 8th grade. She and her colleague Sanjaybhai who is a teacher are familiar with Pratham's learning camps and speak very fondly about it. Both of them first tell us about the problems faced by the village and the background of the people living there.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs1UMLy-JBnCnkZk8bjs_dCrnDfnjmXZIca9S9Kv6E7i9tfEelA3qGWQYtaYSWuCDEMLVESrXOffm5me2bdsOpb4PKZvt93mY0cZIaYffNiWyygSa2oTPGenmFOhkqIBvMR7VRGKfzWBs/s1600/Dakshaben+Tripathi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs1UMLy-JBnCnkZk8bjs_dCrnDfnjmXZIca9S9Kv6E7i9tfEelA3qGWQYtaYSWuCDEMLVESrXOffm5me2bdsOpb4PKZvt93mY0cZIaYffNiWyygSa2oTPGenmFOhkqIBvMR7VRGKfzWBs/s320/Dakshaben+Tripathi.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dakshaben Tripathi </td></tr>
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"The biggest problem we face here is that parents are not aware whether children are learning anything in school", Dakshaben begins. "They work as autorickshaw drivers, truck drivers and labourers. They are not aware of education." Sanjaybhai nods in agreement. He then points out that these are the reasons for children being irregular in school. From their explanation, it seems clear that absenteeism is one of the major issues in school. The other problem is alcoholism as many villagers indulge in it, and there is a lack of enthusiasm towards learning.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsR_6AkynqtbOoSmQUC-ytFRo2yAxq3bgz6pPlj4w-lvturv8-IZgguio-Hmx4UJmBtXVykI8pcIHoM3pwO_qsCYb-O3qQa8dFFRRmRbvU7yTypSWGnPuu-iBTP9MkwmXSxymbkhZwh5w/s1600/Sanjay+Bhai+Chawda.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsR_6AkynqtbOoSmQUC-ytFRo2yAxq3bgz6pPlj4w-lvturv8-IZgguio-Hmx4UJmBtXVykI8pcIHoM3pwO_qsCYb-O3qQa8dFFRRmRbvU7yTypSWGnPuu-iBTP9MkwmXSxymbkhZwh5w/s320/Sanjay+Bhai+Chawda.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sanjaybhai Chawda </td></tr>
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Vidi is one of the most backward villages in Kutch. It is backward on all three parameters - economic, social and educational. The prominent economic activity here is stone-cutting, and a lot of villagers are engaged in it. Moreover, there is hardly any agricultural activities, and hence no jobs associated with it exist in the village. Because of all these reasons, children do not study beyond 8th grade, that is when they pass out of school.<br />
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"The learning camps have helped", says Sanjaybhai. " We like the technique when children are divided into groups as per their learning levels. It ensures that individual attention is given to each one of them." He further stresses that the school does not face a major problem from Math. But language is a problem. A lot of children speak Kachhi at home, and the medium of instruction is Gujarati. We then ask them if they see any difference in children now.<br />
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"We find that there is a natural progression in their learning levels. As a consequence, their interest in studies has increased. It has a good effect on them as they now understand the syllabus better than before. This is what happens when you strengthen their fundamentals", says Dakshaben. "It also has improved attendance", says Sanjaybhai. Both of them feel that if the learning camp initiatives continue for a couple of years more, it will benefit all the children in the village improve their learning levels. Both of them have assured their cooperation in these efforts.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-145962481842918960.post-60292335055385150272019-03-24T12:36:00.000+05:302019-03-25T11:00:28.705+05:30The Library of Pallavi and Sitalakshmi<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Muthathi is a small village located in the T. Narsipura block of Karnataka's Mysuru district. Most of the people here are daily wage labourers. Some of them work in agricultural fields, whereas some of them are small-scale farmers. Pratham decided to start the library program in the village, and two volunteers have ensured that it is implemented in the village with sincerity and dedication. Two friends Pallavi and Sitalakshmi - both pursuing their graduation from the nearby government college - have taken up the dual task of improving the learning levels of children and ensuring community participation.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0pcqGOVuhS-a5Auu8B9cjXE4iet6HyHpF_whcaE-zfGug18x2dp2e_CJT7ynbLTF6r8S4vUssgic3XeYxrgd_5JyDhcREg4YLRyQsvoikaO7fO7dAHdTaNCQRMeKgZcHY7Z73Oj9xy9E/s1600/1553491525273_Pallavi__01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="958" data-original-width="1600" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0pcqGOVuhS-a5Auu8B9cjXE4iet6HyHpF_whcaE-zfGug18x2dp2e_CJT7ynbLTF6r8S4vUssgic3XeYxrgd_5JyDhcREg4YLRyQsvoikaO7fO7dAHdTaNCQRMeKgZcHY7Z73Oj9xy9E/s320/1553491525273_Pallavi__01.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pallavi </td></tr>
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"We wanted to do something for the village", begins Pallavi. "In college, we understand how important it is for children to know their basics right." Sitalakshmi further stresses that they want children to follow their footsteps. "But if they want to continue higher studies and enter college, they should be familiar with language and math." Both of them began with the library program in August 2017, and it continues even today.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5w94hKMU4QS4vOyBdQoll4WgKgJ1KOM6rYoyucsM_hgfpInMdHWVN3mZ6pD2xF0YzcbJ6pOV3SCKADadchhIx1eXG56EvCkdzVSCil63qUqf-s2HW2dvq4aykPE_XAfeZvvv_sXW4emI/s1600/Sitalakshmi.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5w94hKMU4QS4vOyBdQoll4WgKgJ1KOM6rYoyucsM_hgfpInMdHWVN3mZ6pD2xF0YzcbJ6pOV3SCKADadchhIx1eXG56EvCkdzVSCil63qUqf-s2HW2dvq4aykPE_XAfeZvvv_sXW4emI/s320/Sitalakshmi.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sitalakshmi</td></tr>
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"We observed that initially, children did not mingle well with each other. They came to our house but did not pay attention to what was told to them. They came because their parents sent them to us", says Pallavi. "However, activities brought a change in many of them. Soon it became a talking point in the village." Sitalakshmi nods in agreement, and they both narrate that more children joined the library because of the activities. They both also agree that writing is still a concern and both of them are trying their best to address it.<br />
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"But there is a change", says Sitalakshmi. "Some of the children are able to write well. When I dictate words, they write them down." Pallavi further says that she sometimes gives them keywords and they form a story. "We also give them a topic and children then talk about it. They now look confident and have become more expressive", she says. "The activities like drawing, painting, games, role-play and making models have also contributed to this."<br />
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Both Pallavi and Sitalakshmi want a visible change in their village. Their parents are daily wage labourers, but they could study till college because of the encouragement and motivation at home. "We want the same to happen with the children of our village", they say with a smile.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-145962481842918960.post-58537736323972896742019-03-18T11:27:00.001+05:302019-03-18T11:27:41.265+05:30Sarika Pahu's Anganwadi <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Kawada is a slow-moving, peaceful village near Talasari in the Palghar district of Maharashtra. A tribal region, it consists of 7 tribal <i>padas, </i>and the total population of the village is close to 8000. The people here practice seasonal agriculture. On the days when there is no farming, they work as labourers in the construction and fisheries sector. Some of them also work in factories in Gujarat as this place is merely 20 km from the Gujarat border.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Jh4clR7i4d9FTrfGUtqurjv2Yqv6UudeydGpl8Wj6q8hJ9O4HkSWMRahg_bkXsFdR9YPc2jGvDnNdlm3Jm6zTiVliWqjP6n4_rxhKdTT7X-8xzihcaNnuBBi0mHmeNwFlBwwnARZRgM/s1600/IMG_20190222_142009_Bokeh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Jh4clR7i4d9FTrfGUtqurjv2Yqv6UudeydGpl8Wj6q8hJ9O4HkSWMRahg_bkXsFdR9YPc2jGvDnNdlm3Jm6zTiVliWqjP6n4_rxhKdTT7X-8xzihcaNnuBBi0mHmeNwFlBwwnARZRgM/s320/IMG_20190222_142009_Bokeh.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Since the past few years, there is an increase in awareness of education. Parents have begun to understand the importance of education, and there is an increase in the enrollment of children in schools. There is also an increase in awareness of pre-school education and it is reflected in a rise in enrollment of children in all the six Anganwadis of the village. The Anganwadi at Patil Pada is one such vibrant unit, and Sarika Pahu is happy to be associated with it. Sarika, in her fourth month of working with Pratham, is well aware of the difference the Anganwadi has created in the village.<br />
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"I was told by Manisha who worked here before. She left the job, and I joined. I knew about the Anganwadi. It is in our village since the past four years", she says. "When I came here, children looked delighted and sang songs. I felt happy seeing this and decided to join immediately. It was last year in October", she continues. The Anganwadi has children from 3 years old to 6 years old, and Sarika has to ensure they play games, are indulged in activities, offer prayers and sing songs. We then ask Sarika if she observed any marked difference in children. "Yes", she replies.<br />
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"The younger kids get delighted if we ask them their name. They know how to pronounce their name properly and always begin by telling their name in a full sentence. In fact, the children who are not from the Anganwadi reply just by telling their name but children from here reply by saying my name is and then tell their name", she says. It has been achieved because of repeated interactions with children and also their parents. Sarika insists that parents should talk to children when they are at home. "We ask them to narrate what they did at work or how did they spend the day on the field. The idea is that they should talk to the children", she says.<br />
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Sarika recalls an incident which convinced her <span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">that children had begun to acquire the skills of imagination and narration. "Mayuri was a silent kid when she came here. But the activities and conversation with her parents were creating a difference in her. Her mother catches fish and sells it in the market, and once Mayuri was with her the whole day. Next day she narrated how her mother caught fish and enacted all the steps perfectly", she says with a smile. </span><br />
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Sarika says working with kids gives her satisfaction and happiness. She thanks Pratham for giving her this opportunity and wants to continue this association further. "I want to see these kids excel in primary school. And it is my job to create a strong base for them here", she says with a smile. </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-145962481842918960.post-19840727308564521442019-03-11T10:18:00.000+05:302019-03-11T10:18:15.102+05:30The dream of Tapas Kumar <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Tapas Kumar belongs to Taraikela village in Odisha's Sonepur district. He greets us with a smile and talks to us during our visit to Pratham Institute's automotive training centre at Sonepur. The training centre targets two backward districts of Odisha - Boudh and Sonepur. Both these districts are characterised by a population that is economically very poor and less literate as compared to other districts. Pratham is the only training centre here that provides training in automotive. Pratham has collaborated with Odisha Skill Development Authority where the infrastructure is provided by the latter, and the implementation is done by the former. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioOplGmPuD8fgUQKsrYAk91OZMYXABDPtXg2Kyo72rF9YmpMS16sP3f5_3Zkw4yypgWhL6MihUQ1NuSmRpAdRmKJuZWkcCVM1CFWK0VM3BQHTgazJzqAqLDapY4cQrL1v8NvepBm5Bo9A/s1600/Tapas+Kumar+Sahu__01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1153" data-original-width="1600" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioOplGmPuD8fgUQKsrYAk91OZMYXABDPtXg2Kyo72rF9YmpMS16sP3f5_3Zkw4yypgWhL6MihUQ1NuSmRpAdRmKJuZWkcCVM1CFWK0VM3BQHTgazJzqAqLDapY4cQrL1v8NvepBm5Bo9A/s320/Tapas+Kumar+Sahu__01.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Tapas's uncle works as a peon at an ITI near his village, and he recommended him Pratham's course. His uncle knew that Tapas loved cars and this course would give proper justice to his career. Since he was a child, Tapas had a keen interest in cars and watched them on television. "My favourite bike is Yamaha whereas I like BMW the most among cars. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">"But I did not like the course for the first 10 to 15 days. I felt I was learning only theory. But later my interests grew", he says. However, Tapas made new friends, and he liked chatting with them for long hours. "It was for the first time that I interacted with friends from other districts", he says. Tapas further mentions that his life was restricted to his village and hence he liked spending time at the centre. Practical training started soon, and then the entire batch began working with the numerous spare parts of vehicles. "It was a different feeling", he begins. "I had never imagined that I would do this job one day. The joy of fitting a part to a car is difficult to explain." </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Tapas is happy as he feels that he has developed an identity. Moreover, the work and process learned here gives him immense joy. He likes to learn from friends and loves to witness that many of them have come from different background and places. After getting placed, he wishes to work in Haryana and Rajasthan as he has seen these places quite often on television. He belongs to a family of farmers, and he lives with three sisters, one brother, his parents and his grandfather. "What will you do with your first salary?" "I want to buy a saree for my mother, and I want to go on a tour with my family. I also want to take my grandfather as he is very old", he replies with a smile. </span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-145962481842918960.post-45083521880934322432019-02-19T00:26:00.002+05:302019-02-19T00:26:33.368+05:30Ajra Shaikh - a tale of grit, determination and dedication. <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Ajra Shaikh passed the 10th-grade examination in 2018, after a gap of 13 years, and with it, she came closer to her dream of studying and what she says in Hindi - "<i>Kuch Karna Hain" </i>("I want to do something in life.") We met Ajra in December 2017, when she was attending the 10th grade classes at Pratham's 'Second Chance' program's centre in Bhopal. The Second Chance program provides an opportunity for girls and women who drop out of school due to various reasons and offers them a platform to complete education till 10th grade. Once they clear 10th grade, a lot of opportunities open up - they can study further, or work somewhere (or get promoted at an existed workplace) or even help their children in their studies.<br />
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The first thing Ajra shares with us is her childhood. "My studies stopped in 2005, and I got married when I was only 13", she begins. "In fact, my marriage took place much before my elder sister's, and my parents were not bothered to know what my husband was doing for a living." After marriage, she had to adjust to the new house which was a joint family. But owing to the differences with other members, her husband decided that they will live separate. Both of them moved to a new locality in Bhopal, and soon Ajra was to find out that it would provide her with the trigger to change her mind and build a resolve that she would get back to studies.<br />
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"I met Rubina, and we became friends. While talking to her, I realised that she was living alone and her husband did not like that she studied. But she chose to follow her dreams and risked living alone. Meanwhile, I used to observe many working women who were independent and also managed their house. I felt that I should also be like them", she narrates. Then once Ajra asked Rubina from where did she complete her 10th-grade studies. "She then told me about the Second Chance program", she says.<br />
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The next task was to convince her husband. "He was not ready to listen!" Ajra recalls the conservative nature of her husband who refused to send her to classes as she would have to talk to boys and men. But, there was hope! Ajra found out that one of the teachers at the centre was her sister's friend. She then arranged his meeting with her husband, but despite this, her husband remained adamant. Finally, I shouted, " I will leave you, but I will study!" My sister supported me and even paid the fees.<br />
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While leaving the centre, we asked her if she had thought of anything after 10th grade. "No", she said. "I will think and then take a decision. But I am sure I will do something better in life. I have seen women work and in many cases, they are much ahead than their husbands. I begged and quarrelled at home to reach here. And I am sure that this is just a beginning." </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-145962481842918960.post-26117629208135808882019-02-18T01:28:00.001+05:302019-02-18T01:28:38.342+05:30Induben's plans for her village <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
"Some children who did not understand anything had developed a tendency of disturbing others. But when they realised that they understand the concept, they began to look inward, and this tendency declined." We are at Sinugra village in the Anjar taluka of Gujarat's Kutch district. And we are the home of Indu ben, the village Sarpanch since May last year. However, she is associated with Pratham for the past five years. She was a government school teacher at the village primary school.<br />
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Indu ben recalls that almost thirty years back, no one in the village studied till matriculation. The village population indulges itself in agriculture, and some of them work as daily wage labourers. Many of them also work as rickshaw drivers and seek employment opportunities at Anjar. Also, Kutch is a place where one forms a lot of migrant workers, and all this affects the schools learning levels. "Many children here are first-generation school-goers, and they do not have an environment of learning at home. Because of the nature of their work, parents also do not find much time to know what they are learning in school", she says.<br />
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Indu Ben observed that children entering school did not know how to read and write. Owing to the migrating families, some children leave school in between and in some cases, new children join in. And soon she realised that the learning levels are low because the fundamentals are weak. "If children cannot read a sentence properly, how will they read the textbook and progress ahead?" This is the reason she aligned herself with Pratham's 'Read India' program for children in 3rd, 4th and 5th grade and the association has lasted for five years now.<br />
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"I could observe a difference in children at the end of the learning camp. They could read better, count well and there was an overall improvement in the learning level", she says. "All this is very important for 5th-grade children. The syllabus in 6th-grade becomes lengthier, and the teacher guidance slowly diminishes. I observed that children who finished the learning camp and then entered 6th-grade could better understand and grasp the new syllabus." Indu ben was also a part of Pratham's 'school readiness' camp conducted in the village in May last year. An assessment of mothers and children was undertaken, and a kit was given which the mothers had to follow while working with children. Indu ben feels that the camp ensured that children were better prepared to enter school.<br />
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There are two schools in Sinugra, one for the girls and the other for the boys, and Pratham works in both of them. Indu ben has a lot of hopes from the educational activities in these schools. As a Sarpanch, she has some plans as well! "I want to collaborate with different organisations to start a tuition initiative for children from poor families. This will ensure that they will continue with their studies even after 8th grade. "Education", she says, "...is a long term investment for people in this village. They want to work and get employed. Quality education is a must, and the children here deserve it", she ends with a smile.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-145962481842918960.post-14878271763766293142019-02-11T01:00:00.001+05:302019-02-11T01:00:33.235+05:30From a farmer to an electrician<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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"I belong to a family of farmers. We grow rice, cabbage and tomato. But ours is a small farm." Surya Mani Das introduces himself by talking about his family. After a few minutes, we realise that he is from Agiriya village which is in Kendujhar district of Odisha. Like many youths in his village and also in the district, he dreams to shift from the traditional family occupation of agriculture to a job delivering stable income. We are at Pratham Institute's vocational training centre at Cuttack where students get trained in the electrical vertical. </div>
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Kendujhar district is one of the 250 most backward districts of the country. As a consequence, a large population here belong to the agriculture sector. Many of them work on the farms, or they work as unorganised labour elsewhere. Many families in the district live with no steady income, and their finances fluctuate as per the fluctuations in agriculture. Surya studied till 10th grade and felt that he should change the way of living, and it brought him to the centre at Cuttack. </div>
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"My parents liked the idea. They felt that I should work and earn additional income as I have studied till 10th grade." He is the first generation school-goer from his family that has till now spent life earning income from agriculture. "They have hopes from me", he says. Besides this, Surya says his village needs electricians. Owing to a lack of industrial activity, there is no availability of skilled labour in his village that will maintain the electricity supply of the village. "If there is a problem in the supply of electricity or there is an interruption, we do not have enough people who are trained to solve it. I want to change this situation", he says. </div>
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Surya came to Cuttack with an intention to solve this problem and earn money. "I did not know much about this course till I came here", he admits. "But I thought I should give it a try." Surya happily adjusted to the course, made new friends and is now keen to enter the job market. "I am part of a Whatsapp group that has previous students from this centre who share photos of different cities where they are working. As Pune has the best reviews, I want to work there", he says. "But..", he begins, " Mumbai will also do." He then confesses that he wants to work in Mumbai because of his love for Salman Khan and Bollywood movies. "My favourite movie is <i>Hum Aap Ke Hain Kaun</i> as it shows a family", he says. </div>
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As we leave, we ask him what are his plans when he gets his first salary. "I will undertake house repairs, and I will also start saving money as I have to buy a smartphone", he says with a smile. </div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-145962481842918960.post-19478624215311780082019-02-04T01:35:00.000+05:302019-02-04T01:35:40.028+05:30The inspiring journey of Geetanjali Sahu <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
"I studied till 9th grade, and that was way back in 1994. My parents and people around me were of the opinion that I should help my mother in household work and then get married." Geetanjali Sahu narrates her story as we listen to her at her house in Laxmanpalli village, in Odisha's Ganjam district. She smiles at our colleague and tells him in Odiya that she is thrilled that someone from Mumbai has come to hear her story. "But I had the desire to study further," she continues. <div>
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Geetanjali got married in 1999, five years after leaving school. And sixteen years after her marriage, in 2015, she enrolled herself in Pratham's 'Second Chance' program with an aim to complete education till 10th grade. She became a student again after a gap of 21 years! </div>
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"It was not that things were bad. I adjusted well (after marriage) in this house and adapted very well to the household work here. But deep down I was aware that my life was not complete. I was aware that I did not complete my school education", she recalls. "I used to wake up in the middle of the night after seeing myself in a dream where I would be either studying or writing an exam," she chuckles. But in reality, the feeling was of anxiety and worry. What will people say? Geetanjali's feelings and thoughts represented the countless women in the country who wish to change their lives for better but are faced with the primary constraint of what people around them will comment or remark about it. However, in 2015, she witnessed a meeting in her village. Some representatives of Pratham had come to her village they introduced the audience to the Second Chance program. "I announced there that I want to study," she recalls. As she narrates this she thanks her husband, who not only supported her but also resisted the opposition of her father-in-law. The latter was of the opinion that Geetanjali was spoiling the family's honour and hence should not study at this age. At times this friction would result in quarrels, and they would affect her mentally. But her resolve and her husband's support overcame all of these and motivated her to study. Her husband works in Surat and in his absence she had to manage her studies and household work and face the taunts of her family members. </div>
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Gradually she adjusted well to the overall schedule. Despite the gap of 21 years, she adapted well to the Foundation course lectures. "I was in touch with studies. I used to oversee my child's homework, and through it, I was connected to the world of reading and writing", she says. But the thing she liked the most was group learning! "Group learning gave us a different kind of joy and satisfaction. We used to have a discussion, and after a few days, we used to realise that we were now familiar with the concept. That feeling was exceptional." She remembers her class for other reasons as well. "There were younger girls in the class, some even half my age. Their mothers used to treat me with respect as I was a friend of their daughter. Despite the age difference, the overall feeling in class was of friendship, and I liked it", she says. </div>
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Geetanjali passed 10th grade in 2016, and a lot of things changed in her life since then. She distributed sweets, and the first piece went to her father-in-law who happily acknowledged her achievement. "Earlier I used to visit my child's school for the annual day celebration. But I never interacted with anyone. But now I talk to everyone around me. I like this feeling so much that someday I will give a speech there", she says. Geetanjali continued studying after 10th grade and passed the 12th-grade examination in 2018. She is currently pursuing her graduation in Arts, and she will be a graduate in 2021. "Now I help my husband in bank transactions. He is proud of me. Earlier I used to take someone' help, but not now", she says, as her eyes reflect confidence and her voice resembles satisfaction. </div>
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"We live as a joint family. My nephews were happy that I was studying but used to warn her that it is difficult to continue till the end. But I now guide them in their studies", she laughs."I also interact with my other relatives and try to convince them that it is possible to get back to studies at any age." It is heartening to see that Geetanjali is sharing her experience with others and motivating them to learn. After her graduation, she wants to work as a teacher in a private school, and we have promised to meet her at her workplace after two years. </div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-145962481842918960.post-59880361101745036962019-01-06T00:32:00.000+05:302019-01-06T00:32:31.582+05:30Satiben Vaghora's Library<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> <i> </i></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"><i> "I have not studied, but now I know how to sign a document. That is the change in me!" </i><br /><br />Satiben Vaghora lives in the Ajapar village in the Anjar block of Gujarat's Kutch district. Until a year back she was not aware of the importance of learning and education, but things changed last year. Pratham approached her for implementing a library at her home, and likewise, children assemble at her home every evening and learn together in groups. Vinod, her son, who was in 8th grade then, was asked to lead the group. Satiben was given a role in supervising the proceedings. The year that has passed by has transformed her as well - from a person who had no knowledge of learning levels and its importance, to someone who is now a pivotal figure in conducting the library proceedings. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"><br /><br />"This place is of great importance. Children study here. It is my responsibility to keep it clean", she beams as she shows us the place where the library class takes place. "Everyday I clean this place and spread the mattress. I also arrange two water bottles, and all this before children start the session." Satiben thinks that every child in the village should learn and that is how the village will find a solution to its problems. Satiben also left her laborious job and decided to spend time for children. The first thing that came to her mind was children needing enough space to sit through the two hours of the library session. To achieve this, she cleaned the animal shelter and tied her animals elsewhere in the house. This new place thus became the library!<br /><br />"Initially Vinod found it difficult to get things done from the children. They were not very cooperative. In those days, I decided to step in. Everything was new, but now children follow all procedures and participate in every activity", she says. Vinod now stays in another village as he is studying in higher grades. But the library continues, thanks to the serious involvement of Satiben. The sentiment of learning that has been created at her home has helped Vinod aim high. He has decided to study till 12th grade and then opt for a proper job instead of doing a laborious job like his parents.<br /><br />However, Satiben's job does not end there. In case a child remains absent from the library for more than two days, she personally visits his/her house to know the reason behind the absence. Overall, children listen to what she says, and hence their mothers feel that she should guide them ahead. Like Vinod, other children have also begun to share their ambitions with her during the library session. For her, this is a huge accomplishment. And what has she achieved from this experience so far? Has she seen a positive difference? To these questions, she asks us to refer to the very first statement with which this conversation began.<br /><br />We wish Satiben all the best for her endeavours ahead. </span></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-145962481842918960.post-84741942061525178312018-12-23T19:25:00.000+05:302018-12-23T19:25:04.699+05:30From a school dropout to a District Manager<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Vidya Tupe is one of the many women who has benefited from Pratham's Second Chance Program at Satara in Maharashtra. "I was a housewife and did not work anywhere for the first eight years after my marriage. People from Pratham came to our house and asked if my cousin sister wanted to get back to school and complete 10th grade. She had dropped out as well", she recalls. When she heard about the program while it was explained to her sister, she gathered interest and decided to enrol herself for classes. <br />
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There are many reasons why girls drop out of school. In some villages, the distance to reach school (for higher grades) is high, and families do not risk sending their daughter for safety reasons. Early marriage is another reason that forces girls to leave school and migrate to a different place. Pratham's classroom in Satara consist of many such women - poverty, failure in 9th grade, early marriage, lack of attention in school, fear of subjects like Math and English, the reasons are many! Owing to a rise in the construction activities in Satara, many labourer families migrate to the city, and girls and elderly women from these families also enrol themselves in this program and complete their education till 10th grade. Like all of them, Vidya has her story to share.<br />
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"I was scared of English and Math. English was still <i>ok, </i>but Math was horrible", she laughs as she recalls her school days. "My family sensed that I was not showing any interest in studies and decided that I should get married. I got married in 2005, and this became my city", she says. Vidya hails from Panvel, a city in the Raigad district of Maharashtra. She became a student at the Second Chance program in 2014, eleven years after leaving school. "Satara was a new city for me. I did not interact much with people, and hence I was not confident of speaking in public. I did not talk to anyone in my class for the first couple of months. But I was able to realise that the teaching method here was different, and I soon developed a liking for it. It was point-wise and covered basic principles. I understood that I was solving the practice papers easily. Moreover, the teachers here paid attention, and it was not like school where only the first few benches were attended."<br />
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Vidya admits that she did not have a clear goal of what she would do after passing 10th grade. Women like her join the program so that they can start working. For some girls, private tuitions demand fees that are unaffordable. Some women who work in Anganwadis eye a promotion at their workplace after completing 10th grade. "I cleared my 10th grade in 2015, and I decided to give the MS-CIT examination. While interacting with people, I realised that I was speaking comfortably. I realised that I had changed! One year at the Second Chance program had transformed me, and the change happened unknowingly", she says, with a twinkle in her eyes. <br />
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After completing the course, Vidya gave an interview for <i>Maharashtra Arthik Vikas Mahamandal </i>(MAVIM) for the district of Satara, and she currently heads all the four blocks of the region. "I later came to know that my co-applicants were women who had passed 12th grade or even MSW graduates. But my confidence enabled my selection! How can I not thank Pratham for this transformation in me?" Vidya works from the Satara office for the first ten days of the month, and she has to travel to the Mahabaleshwar office daily for the remaining days. She thanks her husband who stood by her when she took the decision of becoming a student again. Her mother-in-law was opposed to the decision, but she has now happily accepted a changed and transformed Vidya.<br />
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Vidya's next goal is to apply for a job at Satara Municipal Corporation and work in the administration department. And with the experience gained in these years, she is confident of a positive outcome. </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-145962481842918960.post-8272641402352803352018-12-17T11:55:00.000+05:302018-12-17T11:55:41.320+05:30Saraswati Sahu - the changemaker from Odisha's Mahule village <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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"The mind-mapping activity is my favourite." Make no mistake, this sentence is not from a student, but from a school principal! Her name is Saraswati Sahu, and school is at Mahule village in Odisha's Sonepur district. She is implementing Pratham's methods in the school despite facing challenges on multiple fronts.<br />
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A large population in Mahule consists of unskilled landless labourers, whereas a section of them work as small-scale farmers and agricultural labourers. Some of these parents, when they go out to work, expect their children to do the household work. That, for Saraswati, is one of the biggest challenges as it directly affects the attendance of children. In addition to this, she also encounters a problem that is beyond her control. "Some families migrate to places like Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra to work in the brick-making units. It is a seasonal migration and children also migrate with their families", she says. "And there is a problem of monkeys in this village. They disrupt the fields and hence, parents ask their children to go there and shoo away the monkeys", she says suppressing her smile.<br />
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Saraswati came to know of the methodology of 'Teaching at the Right Level' from a representative of Pratham who came to her school. She was aware that despite enrollment, the learning levels of children in her school were low, and after witnessing a demonstration of the method and the activities, she gladly accepted the intervention in her school. She also found that this methodology was very close to the work she was already doing in the village in her own capacity. "Since the past ten years, I am trying to teach children through <i>Barnabodha. </i>I used to teach the syllabus in the morning and then teach them letters and words. But with this method, children are learning faster." She stresses that she likes the way children sit in groups, interact with themselves and solve problems together and admits that for her, this is very innovative! "The weak learners benefit from group learning, whereas worksheets and activities help to harness the talent within them", she says.<br />
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Saraswati is also happy that children are learning through tablets and she mentions that their attendance has improved because of the curiosity and excitement associated with it. She gives an example of Mantu, who struggled to read until he came across the tablet. "He enjoys reading, and I am sure he will soon be a fluent reader. It is all because of the tablet."<br />
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Today, Saraswati visits almost every household in the village to make parents aware about the importance of education. She claims that it has resulted in fewer children dropping out of school. "The tablets have added to it and made my work simpler. Children attend school because of the tablet", she says. Her next goal is to be a volunteer for Pratham's library program. She is happy that representatives of Pratham gather feedback from every parent involved in the library program and this is the biggest reason for her choosing to be a volunteer for the program. We are sure Saraswati will continue the wonderful work she is doing and will generate a positive impact in her village. </div>
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