Send a Child in India to School for a Year

Dear Friend,

I hope this update finds you and your loved ones in good health. 

First of all we want to thank you for all your help and support to our project. Your continuous support gives us the confidence that we are on the right path and doing well.

COVID-19 pandemic plunges the world into a state of uncertainty but we have faith that India and the world will be able to weather this storm as we have weathered many in the past. Seva Mandir has an important role to play, and we’re working hard to help rural communities in southern Rajasthan during this time of need.

After the announcement of lockdown due to Covid-19, all educational institutes have been closed. With COVID-19 being declared as a pandemic and continuous state of lockdown in the months of March, April, and May has posed significant challenges to the ongoing projects in our work area. Though now the phase of unlock has started.

We realized that solution lies in adapting to the situation and thus continuous brainstorming sessions within the organization at different levels and outside with other organizations paved way for certain interim measures.

We have undertaken the following measures for our education programme –

• Since all the classes and field activities were suspended during these months, so teachers were given a set of planned activities to be completed from their homes. These activities aimed at preparing lesson plans in Hindi, Mathematics and English along with making teaching learning materials.
• Work on capacity building of teachers was done during this period through conference calls
• Awareness program- Teachers have actively participated in raising awareness in communities about COVID-19, its spread and preventive measures. Information over phone calls is also being disseminated within the community especially to the parents of children enrolled in our bridge schools.
• Considering the current crisis, running Bridge Schools with preventive measures of social distancing will be unfeasible. Thus, it has been planned that teachers will reach out to children in their respective hamlets with proper security measures. These children will be provided a student kit with essential stationery and worksheets which can be done independently with minimal guidance. Teachers will act as facilitators and visit regularly in order to keep these children motivated.

With these measures we have also faced some challenges –

• Fears & doubts of the parents- which we had addressed through counseling activities & regular discussions.
• Convincing parents for the instant continuation of education of their children.
• Making children to catch up with the pace of learning.
• Individual’s responsibility of taking the responsibility of every child taking their health, personal hygiene, and mental well-being into top consideration.
• Network issues

But as it is said that problems also brings new opportunities with them, so during this time we also learned a lot.

We are also happy to share that till now through our Covid-19 Relief Programme we have provided more than 50,000 relief kits for sanitation, food, storing grain and personal protection. Our comprehensive awareness campaign on Covid-19 has focused on the symptoms of Covid-19, how to protect those most at risk, quarantine methods, and more. Additionally, Seva Mandir is also coordinating with the government to support their own relief efforts.

We are deeply grateful for your overwhelming support and messages of encouragement. Until now, over INR 6 million (USD 80,000) has been spent in providing relief. Now, it is essential that we look forward and begin the second phase of rehabilitation efforts. The economic consequences of Covid-19 are becoming apparent and the families and communities that we work with will be disproportionately affected.

Once again thank you for your valuable contribution. Please stay healthy and keep social distancing.

Regards

Atul Lekhra & the Seva Mandir Team

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Links:

• Seva Mandir's Website
• Seva Mandir's Facebook Page