Educating poor rural children in Goa

Anil, our Project Leader in Goa, and his team have been working hard over the past six months to ensure that the children they are working with are getting the best possible support to improve their educational ability. 

Here's some highlights from his recent report:

• A total of 74 Boys and Girls students were supported by the residential hostel programme and 130 children have participated in primary study classes in 10 villages for year 2015-16
• The village study classes are having a significant impact on drop out rates. All students from 5th to 10th standard are now regularly attending school
• Three students, who failed twice in their Standard 9 exams at home and were expelled from school as a result have passed with good marks at hostel, and promoted to 10^th class this year where they will take their school leaving certificate (SCC)
• 80% students in our residential hostels have gained vocational computer qualifications, preparing them for professional work in the future
• Meetings with parents in the villages are increasing their confidence and understanding of the importance of education, particularly for girls, and this is being seen in a reduced drop out rate of only 10%. The project is hoping to get this to 0% over the coming year
• The students in the hostels are thriving in the extra curricular activities.  They particularly love Karate with 1 student achieving black belt this year. 6  are competing in national competitions.

Saish is one student benefitting from this work.  He is a 6th standard student attending the Mandrem village study class. He is one of 4 children. His father was an alcoholic and died of liver failure in May. His mother obtains daily wages work when she can and the family financial situation is very difficult. 

At the time of admission, Saish was not able to read or write languages. He found it very difficult to recognise the words/phrases in English and even in Marathi.  So he preferred to sit last bench in his school class and was not getting any additional support from the teacher in school, causing him to lose his confidence in his study. Our tutor was able to give Saish one-to-one support, helping him to build his confidence slowly. She asked him to share good things he enjoyed in school and worked with him to improve his English and Marathi reading and writing skills. 

Slowly, Saish started to give responses and complete his study regularly. After one year, he has become very confident and aware about his class and home work. He is always ready to do study. He participates in school activities and takes part in sports and look happy every day. He can now read the whole lesson of any language very confidently and fluently. He is very happy for his success and has got his confidence back!

Pooja is in the 7th class. She has father, mother and two sisters. She is elder amongst her sisters. Her father is a Motorcycle Pilot. (in Goa motorcycles are given on rent means any one can hire motorcycle with driver). Her Mother is housewife. Both her sisters are studying.

She started at the hostel this year. When she got admission in hostel, she was very shy and avoided talking with teachers and other staff. She use to stay aside.

When we took study, we found that she didn’t know proper reading and writing in any languages. But same time we found that she is very cooperative and ready to learn different things. So we planned to teach her with help of other children. So during the study hours we formed class wise groups of children. Those who know how to write and read, helped her in doing homework. Our staff helped her in reading the different languages. She was also giving good response and achieved some reading skill.

We found that she likes to participate in various sports activities in school and hostel. So we inspired and push her to participate in these activities. So she took admission in boxing classes at school level. She is the first students of the hostel to participate in boxing. So others children have given her the friendly nickname of “Mery Com”.

Now she leads other groups very confidently. She is very kind with others.  She helps others in daily work. Within four months she understood importance of self awareness, education and others values.  She shows  progress in her study and does her study regularly.

She wants to become a good boxer in her life.