Proposal for supporting education of 123
students in Tomorrow’s Foundation’s (TF)
Mother Project
Introduction:
Tomorrow's Foundation (TF) is a non-governmental development organization
committed to the all-round development of children. We support children from the most
underprivileged backgrounds to become self-reliant and enjoy their right to a dignified
life. All our children are supported until they complete their education (in some cases
courses like engineering and medical) and placed in a suitable job. Since 1991
Tomorrow's Foundation has brought smiles on hundreds of little faces through its various
programs by providing educational support, health care, psychological counseling and
rehabilitation of street children.
TF’s operational area is spread over different unprivileged areas of Kolkata inhabited by
poor people. We are working for the street and slum children of Kolkata since 1991.
From a humble beginning with 17 children at the rooftop of Mother Teresa’s Nirmal
Hriday, till now we are providing support to 8391 children.
TF’s Mother Project:
Considering the problems faced by students coming from Kalighat, Chetla, Chetla- LockGate, Masjidtala, Sarat Bose and Tollygunj area, TF started a collaborative intervention
in 1994 - 1995 with KMC. The strategic partnership was based on a 'win-win model'.
Under this, TF offered need-based manpower support, quality-enhancing teachers'
training, and free mid-day meal for the students and increased involvement of the
community to reduce drop-out rates. In return, TF sought permission for conducting
evening tutorial classes for students at Dharmadas Trust Model School (DTMS), a KMC
school in Kalighat. The experiment proved to be effective. In 1999 UNESCO declared
Tomorrow's Foundation as a model organization in West Bengal. In 1994 DTMS had
only 17 students, today it has 254 students, 85% of them regularly attending their classes.
Recently we have introduced activity based learning (ABL) methodologies in this project
and getting good results in respect to achievements of students. To make the project more
sustainable we have also submitted fresh proposals to Kolkata Municipal Corporation.
The proposals are aimed at improving the involvement of mothers in the teaching
learning process and training the KMC teachers in teaching learning methodologies.
Our present target is to create a macro-level impact on the education of underprivileged
children.
As a result of this comprehensive intervention following positive results have been
achieved:
1. Number of enrolment has increased 15 times.
2. Regularity of students has improved. Presently, 85% students attend school
regularly.
3. Drop out rate has been reduced to 5%
4. Students from most under privileged backgrounds (orphan children, working
children, children from pavements) have been enrolled and retained.
5. Upward linkages of the students who are graduating from this primary school
have been ensured by following them to the secondary schools and providing
them the similar facilities.
6. Hostel facilities have been arranged for the needy students.
Following are the uniqueness of TF Mother Project:
1. Subject wise and child wise planning is done by the teachers to define the present
situation of each child in each subject, regarding four major competencies:
reading, writing, numerical and life skills.
2. Active learning methods are implemented in the evening remedial classes. At TF
we are replacing the traditional methods of teaching by active ones. Our aim is
very simple - we want the children to be at the centre of our teaching learning
processes. We want the teaching learning environment to change from being
passive to active.
3. The first three competencies are linked to the last one (life skills). The children
have then been classified in three groups: weak, average and good.
4. The child is at the centre of teaching-learning processes.
5. We prefer using work sheets than books. The children practice the academic skills
to be achieved through worksheets.
Present Proposal:
We would like to request you to sponsor 123 students from the TF’s Mother Project.
Total students of Mother project – 254.Till now ASHA provides support for 42 students
of Mother Project & 27 students are supported by individual sponsors. Class IV & class
VIII are sponsored.
Further details on TF Mother Project:
Presently following services are provided in the TF Mother Project:
Need based manpower support: We have competent and dedicated teams for:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Conducting remedial classes in the evening
Conducting home visits – twice a day – every day.
Training and handholding with teachers
Conducting cultural classes on Saturdays so as to develop latent of the students.
Conducting football coaching class for both girls and boys on Saturday.
6. Conducting computer class for V onwards students for 6 days in a week.
7. Conducting trainings on life skill , adolescent reproductive and sexual health.
8. Providing tuition support for higher secondary and graduation level through
outsourcing.
9. Providing uniforms, education materials for all students.
10. Providing admission fees, exam fees for class V onwards students.
11. Managing administrative affairs.
Evening meal before starting remedial coaching: The students of the day schools and
the students who have graduated to secondary level and studying in different secondary
schools come to attend the remedial education in the evening. These students are
provided with a small evening meal.
Remedial teaching in the evening: There are around 254 children who are studying in
Remedial Coaching Center. Apart from the DTMS students the project also caters for 129
students who are studying in different secondary schools. All these children are supported
through remedial education and other necessary educational sponsorship facilities. The
remedial classes are running in the evening (5 Pm to 8 PM). The remedial classes follow
active learning methodologies. There are 23 staffs to provide remedial education and
conduct other activities described here. Greater focus on desired changes at the Primary
level.Competency based active learning is implemented in primary level. Child wise plan
is prepared in the beginning of the academic year and monitoring of progress is
monitored accordingly. Bridging techniques are used for children in the upper age group.
Exposure of teachers is done to innovative techniques and tools through visits, trainings
and workshops.
Community linkage for reducing drop-out rate: A team of teachers and support staff
go out in the community to meet the parents and children every day so that attendance in
the day school and remedial section remain stable. A list of absentee students is prepared
everyday and the ‘Home Visit’ team members make sure to make contacts with the
concerned students and parents within next 24 hours.
Medical treatment: In Kolkata, it was a felt need that many children were suffering
from drug abuse and adolescent health issues. To find out a sustainable solution TF
identified 140 adolescents and 140 mothers from 14 slum locations and started intensive
training to make them peer educators for all these slums. The groups are now ready to
start their own training programmes in the targeted slums. It is being ensured that these
groups are able to meet the needs of health care issues related to adolescents. Weekly
medical supports are provided through health clinics.
Providing shelter: Half way home is a temporary shelter for the children at the time of
need with a safe, healthy, child friendly, well supervised, learning environment. Students
appearing for class X, XII or other examinations and do not have proper environment at
home to study can avail this facility for a short period.
Co curricular activities: We want our children to excel in academics as well as in
creative activities. Thus, cultural and sport programs are organized. For example,
football, drawing, theater, music (singing and tabla) and yoga classes take place every
Saturday afternoon.