ARUNDHATY UPPER PRIMARY SCHOOL
(AUPS)
PROPOSAL DOCUMENT
Document Summary
Version No.
1.0
2.0
3.0
Date
24-Aug-2009
24-Aug-2009
23-June 2011
4.0
5.0
6.0
24-June 2011
26-June 2011
27-June 2011
Description
Initial Draft
Revised Draft
Modified with sections
5,6,8 added
Revised Document
Revised Document
Modified with sections
7, 9 added
Author
Sourav Sekhar
Suyash Chopra
Abhishek Saicharan
Priyanka Rao
Sailaja Kattubadi
Suyash Chopra
1. ABOUT AASHAYEIN FOUNDATION (AF)
Aashayein Foundation (AF) was registered as an NGO with the government of Karnataka on 19th
May 2007. It has 80G exemption from Income Tax department for any donation/contribution
made to the NGO. It has operations in 3 cities of India, with Bangalore as the Head quarters and
chapters at Hyderabad and Mysore. It has more than 1500 registered members, majority of who
are software professionals from the most prominent IT & ITES companies in the age group of
20-30 years including students.
Vision: To be a world-class and respectable NGO by 2025 which caters to the educational needs
of the society in a responsible and transparent way
Its mission is to empower children from economically weaker sections of society by providing
monetary and non-monetary support in the field of education.
Four major projects that is been undertaken by this organization are BMKS (Bacche Mann ke
Sacche), PA (Pustaka Abhiyana), SA (Shikshana Abhiyan) and SBA (Sunday Breakfast Activity).
2. SHIKSHANA ABHIYANA (SA) PROJECT
2.1.
Objective
To provide quality education to the students in various government and government aided
schools and thereby, bridging the knowledge gap between the students of public and private
schools.
2.2.
Scope
 Approach Government schools and work closely with AF Shikshana Abhiyana team.
 Weekend classes in the Government schools as an attempt to enhance the communication
skills of the kids and motivate them.
 Evaluations for these classes to keep a tab on how much the kid have grasped.
 Ensure all-round development of children with focus on scholastic as well as extracurricular activities.
 Appoint teachers in the school and pay their salaries
 Conduct computer classes in the school and provide infrastructure related with computer
education, like donating computers, appointing computer teachers, etc.
Arundhati Upper Primary School is one such school where SA project runs.
3. ABOUT AUPS
Arundhati Upper Primary School (AUPS) is located at Narayanguda. AUPS was started by a
social worker in remembrance of his wife in 1960s. Since then it has been catering to the needs
of poor and backward class children. Till July 2010, the school was under the supervision of a
local community and was a government aided school. But after 1st Aug, when all the teachers got
retired, government decided to close the school. Due to the intervention of Aashayein
Foundation, school continued to run by the support of Aashayein Foundation which appointed
teachers in the school and paid them salaries and adopted the school. Finally, government agreed
to run this school and converted into government school and appointed 2 government teachers on
1st Dec 2010. AUPS was then renamed as DBR Mill’s Government Primary School and is
currently run by the government of AP and Aashayein Foundation supports the school.
All the students in the school are children of nearby slum dwellers or low income group people
(auto rickshaw drivers, mechanics). The school comes under the government mid day meal
program which is a deciding factor for most of the poor people to send their kids to school.
4. LOCATION OF SCHOOL
It is located in Narayanguda as mentioned by the circled portion in the map below.
5. BRIEF BACKGROUND
It started in the month of January 2009 when one volunteer, who along with his grandfather,
requested the assistance of Aashayein Foundation in teaching at Arundhaty Upper Primary
School (AUPS), Narayanaguda. Since then, the school has seen a steady flow of volunteers
who come every weekend to assist school staff in teaching and cultural activities. Aashayein
Foundation volunteers also started participating in AUPS’s various celebrations.
AF started working with AUPS on
Jan 2009
Govt. planned to close
31st July, 2010, when govt. appointed teachers
retired
AF actively has undertaken things
1st Aug, 2010, when it appointed 3 teachers to
run the school
Things came under control on
1st Dec, 2010, when government appointed
teachers and converted it into govt. school
Name of the school
DBR Mill’s Government Primary School,
Previously known as Arundhati Upper
Primary School (AUPS)
Category of school
Government School
No. of students studying in AUPS
72
No. of teachers in 2009
4
(2 permanent teachers, 2 temporary teachers)
No. of teachers in 2011
Total 5
(2 teachers appointed by govt, 3 appointed
and paid by Aashayein Foundation)
Classes
From class 1st to 5th
As time progressed, the recognition of the school as a govt-aided school lapsed and the teachers
in the school retired from their teaching position leaving the school susceptible to closure by the
government. This would have left the 56 students without a school in their neighborhood as the
neighborhood schools were already understaffed and overcrowded.
The families of these students are daily wage laborers and could not afford the luxury of
enrolling their offspring in a private school which demands a fee. There was also a high chance
that a closed school building would attract land-grabbers. Aashayein Foundation volunteers
realized that the only way that the children can remain as students is by not letting the school
shut down. Come what may, the school had to stay and run.
Aashayein Foundation continued running operations in the school by appointing temporary
teachers and volunteers taking time off their regular work schedule while pursuing with
government officials to re-instate AUPS’s recognition so as to prevent these students add to the
already existing school drop-outs in Andhra Pradesh. Volunteers ensured that students were
oblivious to the problems of the school, lest they panic and discontinue attending the school.
As the months progressed, volunteers stepped up their efforts at the government offices and they
were gradually noticed by the authorities for their hard work and determination to get AUPS
going. The then newly appointed Inspector of Schools (IOS), sensing the potential work being
done for the school, decided to re-open the school’s files and grant the necessary permissions to
let the school stay. After the necessary inspections, it was decided that AUPS should continue to
provide academic shelter to the neighborhood and be converted from a government-aided school
to a government school. The school’s name was changed to DBR Mill’s Government Primary
School, which previously catered to the children in a slum near lower tank-bund until the
community moved out reducing school enrollment to zero.
Necessary procedures were immediately initiated and two government teachers were deployed
and the school’s registration was re-instated. This was a big win for the team at AUPS which
persisted relentlessly against all odds. The aided-school, whose recognition the government did
not feel fit to revive, is now a government school and modern facilities are being setup. To
compensate for the lack of sufficient government provided staff, Aashayein Foundation is still
supporting the school with three teachers and a care-taker. Our volunteers maintain a cordial
relationship with the government officials so as to work with them more efficiently.
6. THE PROGRESS SO FAR
When the volunteers first entered the premises, the first thing they noticed was that the students
were unapologetic in engaging in constant fights and unruly behavior in the classroom. Very few
students had an academic potential that is worthy of the class (grade) they were in. Almost no
one understood when someone spoke in English. Their confidence levels, in matters of
academics, were well below that of a student of the same age studying in a private school.
However, they portrayed sufficient intelligence, confidence and capabilities in matters that were
non-academic. The challenge for the volunteers was to convert this potential and imply this in
the academic front.
Through careful intervention and planning, volunteers worked hard for over 12 months in
channelizing students’ energies towards a productive path. These children, unlike other children
of their age, come from families that fail to nurture a learning atmosphere at home making it
even more difficult from them to retain what was taught in class for more than a week. Although
it took volunteers quite a while to gain trust and understand the learning dynamics of these
children, the results looked promising. Nevertheless constant motivation and mentoring from
volunteers did wonders in improving their academic skills.
One of the notable programs which we plan to replicate again is the experimental Spoken
English Class for 6th and 7th grade students which the volunteers have organized in
collaboration with teachers from Matrusri E&L school. The idea was to understand how the
students, who come from a background where English is an alien language, would be able to
pickup English language skills when the medium of teaching is English. While the program did
result in a success rate of only around 60% (only 8 of the 14 students managed to show results),
the program gave the volunteers a direction to work in. Subsequent programs, such as quiz and
elocution competitions, which used the above program as a learning base showed a tremendous
success rate. But currently, government has decided to continue with only till class 5th in the
school.
7. OTHER CONTRIBUTIONS OF AASHAYEIN FOUDATION
 Aashayein Foundation has been conducting teaching activities in the school since Feb
2009 till July 2010 on weekends. This has given us an insight into the school conditions
and requirement.
 Appointed 3 teachers since Aug 2010 and have been paying them salaries of total Rs.
13,500 per month. Appointed a caretaker for the school paying her salary of Rs. 1,000 per
month.
 Saved the school from closure in Aug 2010 from getting closed down
 Provide school uniforms, notebooks, stationery items to all students
 Organized Deloitte’s Impact Day in June 2010 and took the students to IMAX theatre to
watch 3D movie and then to zoo park
 Organized a trip to Birla Planetarium for the students
 Organized Children’s Day, Republic Day, Independence Day in 2010
 Organized summer camp for a month in the year 2009, 2010, 2011
 Students participated in the event Spark 2010 organized by Infosys, Hyderabad where
students visited Infosys campus for a day
 To motivate the students, Aashayein Foundation celebrated Independence Day with the
school kids and organized a painting event in 2009. This was done in collaboration with
Aurora Degree School Students, who would in future start the teaching activity in the
school.
 We have identified few kids who can be helped monetarily as their economic background
is much backward than others and have enrolled them into Bacche Mann Ke Sachche
project of Aashayein Foundation to provide free education after they pass out of primary
classes of AUPS.
 We have a long term plan for this school for which we would require support. We would
make sure that whatever support we get; we will monitor all those changes so that it
makes an impact on the students.
 Foundation has maintained very cordial relationships with various government officials
like Mr. Aditya Vardhan Raju, Deputy Inspector of Schools, Mr. Susheender, the District
Education Officer and Mr. Gulzaar, IAS, who provided their constant support andwithout
whose help, the school would not have attained the status it has today.
7.1.
Financial Contribution by AF for 2010-11
Description
Total amount spent on salary
of teachers and caretaker/maid
Total Amount Spent on AUPS
Amount (2010-11)
Rs. 81,600
Rs. 97, 532
8. THE ROAD AHEAD
As of June 22nd 2011, the school has 72 students enrolled and has 5 teachers (2 government
teachers and 3 Aashayein Foundation sponsored teachers). While the model of volunteer
intervention during weekends was the model first adopted, we quickly realized that what the
students need, besides weekend interventions, was trained teachers who can involve themselves
with the school on an everyday basis and guide the young minds towards a brighter future.
Aashayein Foundation sponsored teachers played a key role in connecting with parents and
community members who are the key stake holders of children’s education. Volunteers are also
actively scouting the area for failing schools so as to help them and uplift the educational
standards of the community as a whole.
The foundation presently incurs an expenditure of Rs.1,72,000 per year which is used for the
salary of teachers and the caretaker. Additionally, the foundation also takes care of expenses
incurred in organizing events such as summer camps, excursions, etc.
9. HOW CAN YOU HELP AUPS?
Sponsor the salary of teachers, either in full or part, for 2011-12
Staff Appointed by AF
Teacher 1
Teacher 2
Teacher 3
Caretaker/Maid
Total
Monthly Salary
Rs. 3500
Rs. 4000
Rs. 5000
Rs. 1000
Rs. 13,500 pm
Annual Salary
Rs. 42,000
Rs. 48,000
Rs. 60,000
Rs. 12,000
Rs. 1,72,000 pa
You can pledge to fund these salary either in full or part.
10. AASHAYEIN’S COMMITMENT
 We would make sure that all the facilities provided by you are properly utilized and are
not neglected and misused.
 Continuous monitor and review of all such facilities would be taken by us.
 We would send you the progress report of the school and the children at regular intervals
and whenever requested for.
 To make sure that the students get better facilities and quality education.
11. CONTACT DETAILS
Name
Suyash
Chopra
Contact No.
+919948440643
Email ID
Suyash.chopra@aashayeinfoundation.org
Abhishek
Saicharan
+919704188840
Saicharan.abhishek@gmail.com
Details
Co-Founder,
President of
Hyderabad Chapter
AF School Anchor,
Shikshana Abhiyana
Project
COME, EMPOWER THE FUTURE OF INDIA!!!