From Child Labour to College: Support Her Future

Thanks so much for your support. We’ve nearly hit our target. We now need less than $1,000. If you have any suggestions how to achieve that last bit please let me know. I’d love to hear from you.

I am very pleased to report that, thanks to your generosity, children living in the villages around Sangamner, India are growing in confidence and that is being reflected in their school results.

Take Deepali aged 13, for example who you will remember from our last report. Deepali has just achieved 72.33% in her 7th grade examinations. Her marks were: Marathi (her local language) – 81, Math – 61, Environment Studies – 55, Social Studies – 53, English- 71, Hindi- 76, Drawing - 83, Work Experience – 84 and Physical Education 87, giving a total of 651 marks out of 900.

Deepali is very pleased with her success but it is tinged with sadness as she will soon be leaving the school which she has been attending for the last seven years as it only teaches up to seventh standard. Her parents and NISD staff are trying to get admission for Deepali in a new school, which is 2 km away from her village, Pokhari. Deepali is hoping that some of her friends will also join her at the same school.

By funding this project you have helped Deepali and her friends attend play center activities. These activities include reading, and painting. The benefits have certainly been reflected in Deepali’s school results.

You will also be pleased to hear that Deepali’s Child Parliamentary group participated in an international initiative called Global Action Week. Through the Global Action Week program our project partner, NISD links with many international organisations united in working for child rights and development throughout the world. During this week, activities for children are organised on a particular theme to give broader publicity. Last year's theme was Education for All and Deepali’s Child Parliament performed a street play. Deepali received a prize for the best performer.

On behalf of Deepali and the all the other children benefiting from your support, thank you.

Yours,

Steven

During Diwali celebrations children from well off families in the city area build or purchase forts. They make these forts from mud and decorate them with artificial trees, people, the military, horses, animals and so many other things. The members of Balpanchayat group decided to organize their own Fort Building Competition. Dipali was responsible for organizing this and around 24 children participated in making and decorating these holiday Diwali forts. At the end of the competition some small prizes were distributed amongst the children and Dipali was able to successfully complete her duties in organizing and seeing the event through to its end. In other learning experience the parliamentary group members decided to organize a study of two different Dairy Co-operatives and learn about their work. They divided into two groups and each group visited one of two village dairies. They observed and tried to understand all the processes of milk collection, chilling etc. and to learn from that. Then both the groups came together and shared their learning with each other. This provided a good learning experience for the children.

Dipali’ interest in her studies has increased as she has studied more regularly. She motivates other children to study and helps them if they have difficulties. In the half yearly examination she was very pleased to get a first class mark.

In December the block level Educational Department organized a ‘Math-Science Exhibition’ and asked all schools to participate in the competition. Dipali participated on behalf of her school. She prepared her exhibition on one of the local pulses and its nutritional value for the human body. Her project received first prize in the 5th to 7th standard at block level and became eligible to participate at the District level. At the district level of competition, where selected block level school projects were displayed, she did not get any prize but was awarded with a certificate. She reported that she was very happy to be able to learn a number of things from the other children’s projects. Her confidence and interest in science has now greatly increased.

Dipali and her Child Parliamentary group are active in social work. On January 10th the Government decided to give a polio vaccination to all eligible children under 5 years of age. Dipali’s group divided into two and visited all the houses with children below 5 year of age. In two days they visited every household and asked parents to bring their children for a ‘pulse polio dose’ explaining how this dose will help protect the child from polio. On the day of the ‘pulse polio dose’ vaccinations they also helped the Government personnel in keeping discipline and provided whatever help they could and this was much appreciated by all involved.

NISD organized a visit of members of the Child Parliamentary Groups to several villages. They visited ‘Anandwan Vidhyalaya, Nashik’ which is well known for preparing educational and other materials. The Child Parliamentary Group members learnt how to produce different materials from these teachers.

Dipali is now more confident and takes the lead in many different activities. She is a very active member of her Parliament and as a consequence is respected within her group as well as in the school. Her mother is very happy and proud to see Dipali’s progress and thanked NISD and Karuna Trust for their efforts in developing the children’s potential.