By Atul Lekhra | Manager- Resource Mobilization
Dear Friend,
Given that poverty and lack of quality education are the key factors that lead to a child not going to school, Seva Mandir’s education program attempts to ensure primary education to the out-of-school children through Shiksha Kendras.
Shiksha Kendras are Bridge Schools run by community teachers for children aged between 6 and 14 years. The schools provide them with functional literacy and mathematics skills in rural hamlets where government schools are non-existent. The instructors in the Shiksha Kendras are from the respective local community, meaning that they already have an understanding of the local context and are able to speak the local dialects such as Mewari, Marwari or Wagdi. Currently, Seva Mandir facilitates 151 Shiksha Kendras reaching out to more than 5,300 out-of-school children aged 6 to 14. The role of the instructor is not just restricted to teaching and facilitating classes, but they are also the guiding force behind motivating the children, encouraging them to succeed and building their interest in education. This enables an attitude in the children to fall in love with education and continue their studies after they graduate from the Shiksha Kendra.
To ensure that the school is being run to schedule, teachers are required to take a photo at the start and end of each day with the entire class. The photographs are time and date stamped and then monitored by Seva Mandir. The instructors are only paid on verification of these photographs.
Dharmi is a 10 year old girl studying in Raanpur, Shiksha Kendra of Jhadol block. Dharmi’s family comprises of her parents, three brothers and grandmother. Her father had studied till 8th class and now works as a water supplier in village Ogna, while her mother farms their household land. Alongside her siblings Dharmi is encouraged to help her mother in the field and with household chores like filling water and cooking food. She specifically mentioned ‘making rotis’.
Dharmi seldom gets to play with her brothers due to her dedication and commitment to work both at home and at Shiksha Kendra. During class she is on time and an attentive student. She is able to grasp the concepts early and helps other children in the class to understand better.
When Dharmi grows up, she wants to be a police officer, or in her terms the ‘Ladies Police’. Apparently, she saw a lady in uniform at another village, since then she has had this dream to be like her. She wants to go to college and for that she knows that she has to study. We are delighted to see Dharmi embody our goals that aim in fostering a passion for education and raising children to strive for their dreams. The school provides support for children straddling high demands between home and school, encouraging a healthy balance that works for the family.
We are immensely proud of what we have achieved so far and hope to continue making a positive impact on the lives of children in southern Rajasthan. I would like to thank you for being an integral part of this journey and giving dreams to many children like Dharmi. Your support will help us reach out to more aspiring youth. None of this would have been possible without you. Thank you once again for your support and for the confidence that you have placed in us.
Regards
Atul Lekhra & the Seva Mandir Team
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By Atul Lekhra | Manager- Resource Mobilization
By Atul Lekhra | Manager- Resource Mobilization
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