Site Visit to Sarva Vidya Trust – Nursing Assistant Training

By: Sabita Balachandran Asha SV(ex) volunteer on Aprl 26 2015 330 to 5 pm

As requested by the steward Vandana Hariharan I connected with SVT. As it happened they were running classes on April 26th and having alumni celebrations on April 30. Since I was interested to see a class in session I chose to go on April 26th

SVT has supported by Asha Stanford for several years now and the background information including site visit reports can be found at:  http://www.ashanet.org/projects/project-view.php?p=1012

I was met warmly by the committee members led by Mr Srini Sundaram, Mrs Sarawasti Vaidyanthan, Mes Namagiri( who runs NCLP) , MRs Thenmozhi, Teachers Priya and the two people helping with accounts Ganesh and Kamala.

They gave me a detailed account of the history, operations and why they are so passionate about this, I am not repeating the same as it is well laid out in the site visit report by Pradeep and Aparna.

Mr Sundaram and the original inspiration behind SVT have long associations with Ramarksihnan Matt and inspired by’ MOTHER” to uplift the girl child. The members are committed especially Ms Thenmozhi who personally makes several trips to villages just outside Chennai to reach out to girls who can benefit from this service.

During April-June, they reach out to panchayats, NGO network and the Balwadi network through the ICDS platform to spread the word. Ms Thenmozhi has interacted with Balaji Sampath (AID India) who is well known to AfE. The outreach helps to set a favorable attitude towards the nursing program given the apprehensions of the parents sending their daughters away.

I visited the class in session where the students (30) where studying about the endocrines. They stood up and kept standing until I remembered to have them sit down reminding them I was a visitor. At first if I asked a question all fo them would answer simultaneously so I would walk up to one to them ask their name, background, what they thought about the program etc. Most of the parents are coolies or farmers. I asked one girl what she would be doing if she were not here and she said “Oh I would be married by now”!

I asked one of them what she was studying in the class. English is an issue but I was talking primarily in Tamil from the start. They do have a volunteer who helps them with English but mentioned that in most hospitals they can get by talking in Tamil. They are

assistants who clean, make beds and are not performing primary functions of a registered nurse though they do learn enough about medicines to get by

They are an enthusiastic lot, children frankly excited to meet someone from the US. Unfortunately I had not time to prepare so went empty handed. To my question what she would like us to bring for them: pencils, pens et al, one girl said Chocolates!

There are 30 students each in two classes. It is a 2 year program and they have connected with other resources to address cultural issues (city life and allure of technology and opposite sex), health camps primarily for dental and vision. An NGO Born to Win helps with confidence building skill programs

After my interaction, they girls got their tiffin (snack) Samosas and tea.

The budget is not fully funded by AfE and the balance is raised by personal donations, regular donors including Mr. Sundaram who make up the backlog

Specific issues discussed:-

1. Alternate sources of funds: Regular committed donors exist. They would welcome connections to other Asha chapters and orgs like Vibha. I have offered to connect them

2. They are inspired to build the program to 500 students but lack funds and also staff with skills to handle the expansion

3. Facility: RK mutt is giving them their space and have started charging a nominal rent. This may become formal especially as the program grows

4. They want to have structured counseling but that requires a bigger outlay5. Projector: The one bought by Asha is defunct.6. The skeleton and dummy body they use to teach anatomy is broken. They dummy

body needs to be replaces. Again both were bought with funds from Asha Stanford

7. The girls when I asked them the challenges they faced, were shy. Srini did tell them to speak freely and that they would step out but they said they were happy to be away from the village learning and doing new things. One girl said this is an opportunity she would have never had otherwise. Her hope is to earn money so that her father need not feel the pressure alone.

8. They induct 40-45 students and after the induction program, usually 10 drop out.9. Mr. Sundnaram mentioned they are reaching out to sub inspectors, panchayats to

develop trust.in 8 years 3 girls ran away or hooked up with boys and the parents threatened SVT. Panchayat and local NGOs have helped them handle the backlash.

My observation and recommendations:-

1. This is a well-run sincere program. Due to the philosophical connection with RK Mutt , the members are inspired to do more and help girls become engaged citizens and parents

2. I would connect them with Bhaskar and Rajaram   (of Asha Chennai so that site visits can be done regularly or on a need to basis.( Lakshmi of Chennai chapter passed away recently and she would have been a great source of inspiration for the change SVT is trying to bring in) . I would also connect them with Vibha. I have offered to do so but can provide the contacts of the projects team to the steward. I did mention AfE often partners with Vibha, AID and jointly fund organizations

3. They do not have the bandwidth to apply for grants, If someone at chapter or Wide projects team can help them to apply for grants( if eligible), it would be a good boost to the program.

4. There is escalating need for trained nursing assistance in homes in Chennai and India as parents get older. With children being away reliable care is missing and that is a niche SVT is well placed to serve.

5. They are short of funds now and have requested for the release of funds.6. I came away with a feeling that the founders have the right intentions; the

children charged to become more and that SVT should be supported by Stanford.

7. I did not have time to verify the budget with actual expenses incurred but the audited reports suffice I trust.