Akshardeep - Swadhar Akshata Rao

"Swadhar, IDWC Pune” – registered NGO established in July 1995 Vision "Swadhar” - Help and empower women in distress Achieve healthy development of under-privileged children Mission "To provide services to women and children to ensure protection of rights, leading to self reliance and empowerment for a dignified life."

Akshardeep

• Founded in 1998 – Bibewadi Slums in Pune

• Mission

Providing education to out of school underprivileged kids

– Distance from school-the vastis are mainly unauthorized and do not have any amenities.

– Migration of their parents leading to inability to go to school

– Responsibility of the child to look after the home and her siblings when parents are at work.

– Drop outs due to no support in education at home

• Association with ASHA – Since October 2003

• Number of students – Approx 300 per year

• Budget(2013)- INR 6,53,746 (approx 11,424 CHF)

Figures & Facts

• 2 sites (PCMC & PMC) in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad

• Reaches more than 900 children

• 44 small (<20children) classes in remote or difficult areas (slum area)

– Kindergarden (Balwadi)

– Support classes (besides regularly school to improve educational quality)

– Bridge classes

Community: Mostly Migrants

Lamanis, Boudhs, Muslims & Banjaras

Occupation

domestic work

manual work

rag-picking

scrap collection

driving autorickshaws

selling vegetables

sculpting

puppet shows

ironing

Sex Workers

Income : Rs 2000/- to Rs 5000/-

• Teachers: – also hails from the from the same community – Std X and completed Balwadi or Anganwadi Training – (ECCE) and early parenting programme –improve quality of education

• Curriculum – Early childhood Development Project-age group 0-3years – Balwadi-kindergarten classes-age group 3-6years – Support classes for school going children-age group-6 to 14 years – Reading Library Project in 44 PCMC Schools – Community Library for parents – Abhyasika – supervised place for study for children from Std V to Std X

• Admission Procedure – Teachers identify how many children are out of school &Why? – Re-enroll kids to regular schools – Enroll to Balewadi/bridge/support classes

Kindergarden in remote or difficult

areas

Pre-school education

Safe & quiet place to play

Improved perspective and easier way to join

regular school

Target group: Children younger 6 years from poor and difficult areas No of joining children: 280

Classes: Balwadi

Additional classes besides municipal

school

Help with homework

Additional education

Support in learning Improved education

and better perspective

Target group: School going children (governmental school) No of joining children: 360

Classes: Support Class

Classes to catch up the educational level with governmental

school

Basic education Admission to regular school after 1 year

Target group: Not-school going children No of joining children: 200

Classes: Bridge Class

Child Development

Events -Annual Day -Sports Day -Science Day -Festival celebrations

Trips and Visits -Museums (Agakhan Palace) -Forts (Shaniwarwada) - Post office - Bus stand - Vegetable & fruit stall

Participating in events -Concern India Foundation -Dnyanadevi trust,ARC, -Garware Balbhavan -SSA -Hope For The Children foundation.

Nutrition Programme started in 2009-10

Protein rich supplement in the form of ladoos and mixed dal puris introduced

Formed Staff welfare strategy

Medical and other help Health camps at community. Medical support Nutrition support Counselling

-Awareness Programmes Parent Meetings

- Rally

-Morcha

-Street Plays

-Poster exhibitions about education and child rights

Community Development :Started Asha Community Center with all programmes of Swadhar under one roof. Worked with Shelter Associaltion to build toilets at Shivrainagar area.

Children Rehabilitation Admitted: 1 child with special need at Anandvan,Vardha 3 physically handicapped kids at Helper’s of Handicap,Kolhapur. 1 child at Asha Kiran Shelter.

Community participation and development

Impact

• Children who were put in school by Swadhar are now studying in 7th and 8th Std.

• Every year 20 to 25 children are admitted to school .

Impact in numbers

No of children who benefitted from Asha Zurich support so far.

Funding

• Past

– Dorabjee Tata Fund

– Unicef

– Tech Mahindra Foundation

– Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan-government

• Present

– Mphasis –in Pune

– Asmae france-in Pune

– Asha Zurich-in PCMC

– Individual donors

Thank you!!