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| A Bl-ANNUAL NEWSLETTER |
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Volume 3, Issue I |
September 2008 |
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| Reflections... |
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| The quote on the little girl’s drawing gives a very strong message. It says, “Shikshit Balika, Desh ki Sanchalika.,” meaning, an educated girl can steer the nation. At ISF, we believe in the same philosophy and feel that an educated girl is a brick added to the foundation of a healthy and progressive nation. This newsletter is an attempt to share with you, our efforts towards educating the Indian Girl Child. We welcome any suggestions and support that can enable us to improve and increase the impact of our efforts. The ISF Team |
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Charity Concert in support of the Girl Child, April 2008 |
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Fusion Rock Band, Mrigya performed at the Sathya Sai International Center on 8th April 2008 in support of ISF’s cause of the Girl Child. April saw us abuzz with preparations for this annual fundraiser. |
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| During the event, coordinators were felicitated, who had gone beyond the call of duty and made a huge impact. Sabita Sinha, Vineeta Jha and Kanchan Gera , coordinators from our NGO partners, were honoured on this day, along with ISF’s own Pallavi Upadhyaya, who has made a phenomenal contribution to ISF ’s initiative on the` girl child. |
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| Children from the community were also present at the event and shared stories of their hardships and how the centers have made a difference to their lives. |
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A BIG THANK YOU TO OUR DONORS
You give Wings to our Dreams |
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CORPORATE DONORS
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- DeVats India Pvt. Ltd. |
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- Apoorva Bagri |
- HCL |
- Ripples Engineering Pvt. Ltd.
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- Adrian Ballentine |
- Genpact India
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- Spot Design Pvt. Ltd.
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- Gautam Mahajan |
- William Grant, UK |
- EWDPL India Pvt Ltd
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- Saurabh Srivastava |
- Steria (India) Limited
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- Haryali
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- Sujata Kohli |
- Infinity Technologies Investments Pvt. Ltd. |
INSTITUTIONAL DONORS |
- Padamja Ruparel |
- Ernst & Young
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- Children’s Hope, USA
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- Meena Sobti |
- Sasken |
- Leaders’ Quest Foundation, UK
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- Amita Kumar |
- Hexaware Technologies
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- Zensar Foundation
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- Gagan Verma |
- Client Associates |
- Krishan Chand Memorial Trust
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- Satish Tyagi |
- Satyam Computers Services Ltd.
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- The Suren & Raj Goyal Trust |
- Payal Jain |
- Hughes Communication India Ltd. |
INDIVIDUAL DONORS |
- Vidya Mahajan |
- SABOO Coatings
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- Ashok & Anjana Trivedi |
- Mallika Sanghi |
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ISF SHARES ITS FINDINGS AND STRATEGIES ON GIRLS’ EDUCATION |
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| NUEPA invites ISF to a Workshop on sharing strategies for Promoting Girls’ Education: ISF and its partner NGOs participated in a 3 day workshop organized by the National University of Educational Planning and Administration on February 26th to 28th, 2008. The workshop entailed sharing of strategies by participants from across the country for promoting girls’ education. ISF made a presentation at this forum on its survey findings and strategies being followed under its ‘Girls Going to School’ initiative. |
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| Report contributed to the Child Rights Convention Review: ISF has contributed a report on the status of education of children in Delhi’s slums as a part of the NGO review and report for a comprehensive CRC (Child Rights Convention) report to be submitted to the UN Committee since India is a signatory to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. |
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Training/Orientation workshop for MCD school program staff
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On the Quality Education Wagon - Supported by Leaders' Quest |
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Field training at Shakurpur  |
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Over the past year ISF has expanded its focus from enrolment & retention to include quality of learning as a key focus area. Investment in teacher’s training; tools of assessment & evaluation of students at our RECs and development & introduction of reporting systems have been some key instruments in our efforts to bring about this change. |
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As a part of the new intervention at MCD schools in South Delhi, a 5 day teacher training/ workshop was organized at ISF. The workshop covered training on the effective use of Teaching Learning Materials, strategies to be used for working with slow learners and helping bridge the learning gaps and other areas that go into creating an ideal learning ambience for children. |
Training and capacity building is a constant exercise at ISF and all its NGO partners |
Around 1411 girls have benefited from the program till March 2008 with visible changes in their performance levels. |
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| NGO Partners |
8 |
| Teachers |
54 |
| Coordinators |
12 |
| Trainers |
5 |
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Status of children enrolled in
Remedial Education Centers (RECs) - July 2008 |
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S. No. |
Location |
No. of Centres |
No. of Students Enrolled |
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Sangam Vihar |
South Delhi |
3 |
120 |
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Parparganj (India Camp Slum) |
East Delhi |
5 |
150 |
3 |
Palam (Manglapuri & Naseempur Slums) |
West Delhi |
2 |
42 |
4 |
Shakurpur |
West Delhi |
10 |
154 |
5 |
Jhilmil Colony |
East Delhi |
2 |
60 |
6 |
Meera Bagh |
West Delhi |
3 |
79 |
7 |
Kalyanpuri |
East Delhi |
2 |
81 |
8 |
Munirka Slum |
South Delhi |
9 |
279 |
9 |
Government MCD schools |
West DelhI |
5 |
150 |
10 |
Government MCD schools |
South Delhi |
5 |
150 |
Total |
46 |
1365 |
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Donor Visits -- giving visitor’s a peek into our world… |
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ISF welcomes and encourages donor visits as it is the most effective way of showcasing the impact of their donations. |
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‘I was truly moved and humbled by what you are doing with the Remedial Education Centers.Your efforts are extremely well placedand valuable. as the father of four children, three of whomare girls, I am grateful for the |
efforts you make” Royal Cole, USA
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| "You are so intelligent in how you are going about what you do in mobilizing resources to serve these girls. And your "use of technology to manage the programs was also an eye opener”. As one of the participants said. |
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on the Rickshaw! |
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"ISF is amazing in that it has a long term perspective, and what it is doing now is not only benefiting the girl, but also herfamilywhen she grows up. I would agree that the combination of your heart for the work and the methods you are using is truly inspiring. Thank you for including us in your lives for this day...and beyond”. Gene Early, |
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Saral Shiksha Project, Munirka Supported by Children’s Hope |
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The ongoing SARAL SHIKSHA PROJECT in Munirka, is being implemented in partnership with VIDYA and supported by Children’s Hope, USA . It is a programme dealing with remedial and non-formal education. It runs in two shifts and covers classes from preschool to standard 8th. We currently have 279 children attending the remedial centers regularly. |
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Physiotherapy Center at Deeg, Rajasthan |
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| ISF is supporting a physiotherapy center for the differently-abled in Deeg, Rajasthan being run by partner NGO, Society for All Round Development |
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Success at Center: The Ripple Effect... Pappan, a 14 year old boy was suffering from Post Polio Relief Paralysis for many years. Regular visits to the center for exercises and support soon led to a speedy improvement and visible changes in his way of walking. In Pappan’s village, there was another boy named Rinku suffering from Cerebral palsy. The child’s parents were not giving him any medical support but were relying on the local ‘black magic’ expert. Pappan spoke to the boy’s parents about the physiotherapy center and how he had benefited from it and succeeded in motivating them to bring their child to the center for support. |
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| Summer saw a range of activities being conducted at the NGO partners. While at some places the activities revolved around the children, others saw the teachers being trained in fun filled workshops. |
SUMMER ACTIVITIES AT NGO PARTNERS |
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SNIPPETS INTO THE SUMMER |
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Older girls at the centers were trained in activities like Mehandi classes, tailoring and embroidery etc.
Some of the NGOs sent the children to Bal Bhawan for participation in summer workshops, while at some others trainers from Bal Bhawan conducted the training in the communities. Exposure visits to places like India gate etc. were also organized for the children.
Annual teacher training workshops were conducted in some places. It was a very fun filled summer for the kids, the teachers and the rest of us! |
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| “We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean, but the ocean would be less because of that missing drop. We can do no great things, only small things with great love.” Mother Teresa |
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| “It was a very enriching experience for me. Entering into this, my motive was just to be able to do my bit for the society and help in whichever way I can. But now, at the end of one month, I have realised that it has been a learning experience for me too. It made me realise that little kids accept you so quickly, something I feel we all need to learn from them. I have also learnt to be more patient. This has really been an unforgettable experience for me.” Akriti Kapoor (Volunteer at partner NGO, Kalyanam) |
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| “This Experience has definitely made us more sensitive and compassionate human beings. We all in our own little ways have stopped thinking only about ourselves and feel a part of this society and in larger terms as responsible citizens of India.” Chhavi Mongia; Chandrika Misra; Vrinda Aggarwal; Prithivi Raj Malhotra. (Volunteers at partner NGO Bhartiya Navdeep Samiti from Modern School, Barakhamba Road) |
“It is one of the most beautiful compensations of this life that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping oneself. “
Ralph Waldo Emerson
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Model Remedial Education Centers opened at 5 new government
MCD schools in Okhla |
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5 Model RECs were set up in MCD schools in South Delhi. These are run in partnership with the MCD schools and our implementing partner, Sakshi - Center for Information, Education and Communication. Through this initiative, ISF hopes to assist the MCD schools in helping bridge the learning gaps of children through innovative teaching techniques.
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Changing the World: One girl at a time... |
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A 12 year girl, Rukhsar secures 3rd position in standard II of MCD School, Shakurpur, New Delhi. Her success story is not only an eye opener but inspiring tool! Rukhsar is the daughter of a balloon seller and a diabetic, bedridden mother and is the fourth of six siblings, three older brothers and two younger sisters. |
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Though she herself is a TB patient, it has fallen upon her to shoulder the responsibility of her ailing mother. The entire family lives in such pathetic conditions that thinking beyond ‘survival’ is a ‘luxury’ and sending the children to school, a distant dream. |
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Through the admission drives and after a lot of persuasion by workers at Bhartiya Navdeep Samiti, the reluctant family allowed her to be admitted to school. Her attendance at the RECs, hard work, sincerity and punctuality in the class made her pace of learning praise-worthy. Rukhsar who was unable to recognize even alphabets earlier, now has an exceptional performance at school as indicated by her securing the 3rd place in class. |
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This has changed her parents’ attitudes and they have started sending Rukhsar’s younger siblings to BNS centers as well and want her educated at least up to XIIth class. Rukhsar’s achievements have also made a lasting impact upon her neighbors! |
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The partner NGO, BNS is trying to mobilize resources for her treatment and some sort of support. |
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A rising star! |
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| Tarannum is a bright 11 year old studying in the IVth standard in MCD school. She was born in Delhi to Mahboob and Afroz. She has two brothers and a sister. Her father works in a meat shop and one of the two older brothers runs a shop in the house itself, while the second works as a helper in a nearby shop. Tarannum’s mother is mentally challenged and cannot take good care of the house. |
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| Unfortunately, her younger brother too suffers from a mental ailment. Tarannum has been coming to ISF-Bhartiya Navdeep Samiti Remedial Education Center for the last one year as a regular student. |
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| Initially enrolled in class I, within four months she was promoted to class II in the MCD Shakurpur school. This year in March 2008 she passed the final exam with 96.6 percent and has been given a double promotion by the principal to class IV for her extraordinary performance and for triumphing against all odds. |
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Community library set up at an NGO partner: Bhartiya Navdeep Samiti |
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The project is being done in partnership with Association of Writers and Illustrators for Children (AWIC). Through this library we hope to inculcate the reading habit in the girls at the center and also to encourage some of the neo literate mothers to read more. |
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Right to Education: Actions Now-ISF was invited to participate in a seminar on Right to Education - Actions Now, organized by the Aspen Institute, CII & Shiksha. ISF presented a paper on “Issues related to Primary Education” which was circulated amongst the participants. |
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Admission Drive in Meera Bagh slum, July 2008 |
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Donation Information |
ISF is a not-for-profit organization and any donations are exempted under the 80-G section of the Income Tax Exemption Act of 1961.
All foreign contribution shall be accepted under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) registration no. 231660414 dated 28th November 2003
Cheques and drafts can be drawn out in favour of “The India Sponsor Foundation”
Donation Form
The ISF Team
Amita Kumar
Anuradha Gupta
Lekha Srivastava
Geeta Mathur
Kanika Pandit
K Govindan Ram
Sabina Shafi
Shivani
Jogender Bansal
Contact us at:
The India Sponsor Foundation
301 - 302, Delhi Blue Apartments,
Near Safdarjang Hospital, Ring Road,
New Delhi - 110 029
Tel : +91-11-40755514/26/27
Fax: +91-11-41628863
Website: www.indiasponsor.org
Email: lekha@indiasponsor.org
isfamita@yahoo.com
jogendra@indiasponsor.org
sabina@indiasponsor.org
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ISF is looking for donation of old but usable laptops to be used by facilitators at our Model Resource Centers in Schools. |
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* Have an extra printer or a digital camera not being used?? We can use it! |
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Support an exposure visit for children at one center and be the source of joy in their lives for a day. Approximate cost of transportation, tickets and refreshment for about 60 children is Rs. 5400/- |
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Looking for sponsors for ISF’s film on the ‘Girl Child’, cost around Rs.1.2 Lac. |
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| We need to work with school authorities in making this possible. We need to expand our base and have a much wider reach. |
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| We want to ensure that the girls are guaranteed proper learning and are not just statistics in enrolment and retention. What we are aiming for is an empowered girl with knowledge of her rights and her ability to use these to influence changes in her life and that of those associated with her. We hope to see these girls pursue secondary education having acquired a solid base in primary school. |
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| Your support will make difference
in our campaign for educating the girl children. |
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Cost of supporting a Girl Child:
Rs. 4,500/- p.a (includes awareness, education
and health) |
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| To know more about the campaign visit www.indiasponsor.org |
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