Education India Project #18694

After School Programme for Underserved Children

by Maitri India

After School Programme for Underserved Children

Project Report | Oct 15, 2015
Transforming futures wasn't easy to begin with

By Anna Marie Lopes | Communications Officer

Volunteer support at our tutorial centre

“A child getting an education learns more than reading and arithmetic. They learn that they are important. They stand for their rights. They go after their dreams. And this kind of change happens fast.” - Inspired by Girl Rising

Maitri started its after-school programme in the year 2007. Based out of New Delhi India, our team observed the widespread poverty in our local community and therefore, the need for literacy and vocational support.

After discussions with women from within the community, we first set up a vocational training centre in the slums of RK Puram sector 6, in the south of Delhi. The programme aimed to provide skill building and training for the economically challenged women living in those slums. Specifically, we started with a tailoring facility where women and girls were given skills to design, cut and sew garments. The duration of this course ranged from 6 months to 1 year and finally upon completion, students were given a diploma. This in turn enabled them to secure some kind of employment, which they may not have been able to pursue otherwise. Furthermore, this also gave them a possibility to obtain loans to set up their own tailoring units. Maitri dove right in to the community with the objective of empowering women. However, we were soon met with challenges. The male and older members of the slum community in which we had set up our centre was unwelcoming of the programme, often harassed our staff and at times engaged in violence. This posed as an immense threat to our work and more importantly to our team and beneficiaries, and we were compelled to abruptly shut down our programme.

With a heart to continue our work within the underserved community, we started a new centre in another slum cluster of RK Puram in the year 2008. The tutorial centre was created to provide mentorship and supportive educational environment to students aged 4 to 17 in subjects such as English and Mathematics as desired by the parents and children in that community. We began with the help of volunteers and tried to sustain the centre through a volunteer driven set of teachers. This initiative too failed gradually as the volunteers would be inconsistent in coming to the centre and hence, the children were left unengaged and we were not able to see the results as expected. Lack of commitment led to children’s academics suffering and this was deterrent to the overall objective that we wanted to achieve for underprivileged children in New Delhi.

Though our team led a wonderful start-up for the programme, our efforts faltered and failed because we did not accurately calculate the amount of support that would be available, and the alliances and partnerships from within the community that were needed to buttress our humble beginning. More over, we were insular to the external factors and environment because we were so focused on the immediate needs around us. We did not expect the hostility towards the empowerment programmes from within the community.

Seeing our failure within the beginning phase of our initiative, we began to measure every possible statistic related to our fundraising, human resources and context to guide re-planning, analyse our management and redirect our underperforming programme. Maitri subsequently went back to the slums of RK Puram, did a baseline survey, and interacted with the wider community including the men. This helped us get acquainted with the community members and gave us a chance to have a common understanding how to make a difference in their lives. Further more, we also raised funds to hire educators for each activity in our programme, which contributed, to the consistent and smooth running, and efficiency of our initiative.

In 2010 Maitri progressed in its endeavour providing training and support to 25 young women and 70 disadvantaged children

Thanks to the support of partners, sponsors, donors (like YOU), staff and volunteers here’s where we are today since 2007:

457 number of women successfully finished & certified a tailoring course

550 number of children part of our tutorial Centre

30,543 nutritious snacks distributed to students

50 women and youth facilitated with a job opportunity

7 young girls engaged in a culinary course with future job prospects

7 boys engaged in an events management course

11 students helped with their English speaking skills in collaboration with Teach India

60 scholarships provided to deserving students

Growing up in the slums of Delhi with her parents, two brothers and her sister, English has never played a big role in Sanju’s (22) life. While her father is working for as a mechanic and her mother is taking care of the children at home, she was able to finish school and a bachelor degree.

Driven by the desire to help her family she decided to take the next step towards working by herself. Taking part in our programme Maitrigram, she passed a three months course Spoken English. With the support of Teach India, an initiative set up by the Times Group, she was able to find a job immediately. Three months ago, she started working at a very well known international café chain and is already applying to advance to the next level.

While the English programme entitled her to apply for this job, she realised that this was only the first step. Every day, she is learning new words and sentences that enable her to communicate in a much wider range of situations. More over, her confidence is increasing as well. She is happy that Maitri as well as her supervisors are really nice to her and support her in every way possible which enables her to support her family.

Taking both the programme at Maitri and her real life experiences, she is grateful for every opportunity that was offered to her and she says, “communication is everything – only by communicating with people you can really practice a foreign language."

Learning to write in English

Students at their master class with Michelin chefs

Having fun at Maitri's art workshop after school

Links:

Kitchen charity with soul

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Aug 27, 2015
Unemployed underserved youth venture into promising careers

By Tara Rana & Anna Marie Lopes | Communications & Fundraising Officers

Maitri's students during their culinary class

Maitri friends,

Since we last connected with you, students part of Maitri's afterschool programme from Delhi’s three slum communities have had many opportunities to learn and have fun.

About 50 children participated in a fifteen days summer camp and approximately 17 older children completed an English Speaking course. Further more, on 15^th of August, children celebrated India’s Independence Day in all three centres by participating in essay writing and drawing competition on the theme of "India." The celebration ended with distribution of prizes and snacks and juice for all children. In addition to these events, children have been regularly learning at the after school tuition classes and keeping up with their academics.

Summer Camp

Students had a wonderful time at the summer camp held for them. Activities included learning songs including "We Shall Overcome" and "We Are The Word." Songs taught reflected important values such as the importance of equality of every individual regardless of his or her social or economical background. The children also learnt various sports and games during their three weeks with us. We also showed the children the famous cartoon show ‘Tom and Jerry’ which they thoroughly enjoyed. In the wake of increasing incidences of sexual harassment, we also conducted a one-hour session on good and bad touch with all the children. It is our desire to see each and every one of them have a safe and happy childhood.

English Speaking classes

About seventeen children attended English Speaking classes facilitated by Maitri interns. We are making efforts to augment the confidence of underserved children to see English as a language and not mere text. The aim of this class was to help children overcome the fear and hesitation to use simple English in their daily conversation.

Vocational Training

It has been a great joy and highlight of the last quarter for Maitri India, to see unemployed youth, from the same slum communities where we run our afterschool programme, graduate from vocational training in Culinary and Events Management.

In partnership with Creative Services Support Group, Maitri could enroll seven unemployed boys for a two-month training on Event Management. These young boys, after completing their high school (class 12) couldn’t afford to pursue higher education because of their poor economic background. Unskilled and young, they lacked good employment opportunity and earning ability.

“When I got the opportunity through Maitri to attend the training in a well known Institute of Hotel Management, I was thrilled”, says Abdul. The boys successfully completed the training in August. “It was great fun and learning. We were introduced to all kinds of cutlery and their proper use, setting up table for the events etc.”, says Randeep. Of the seven boys, four boys have already landed well paying jobs.

Similarly, seven underprivileged girls attended two-month course on cooking. The girls successfully completed the course on 14^th of August. “I learnt how to make delicious snacks like rolls, samosa and dhoklas”, said Reena. After completing the course, two girls have landed interview with professional chef. Once selected, they will intern with the chef for a year. One of the girls has decided to join the six-month training where she will be able to learn much more while the rest of the girls are looking for jobs.

Summer camp fun

Working on a masterpiece

Links:

Junior kids singing at summer camp

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Jun 2, 2015
Every child's potential deserves to be fulfilled

By Anna Marie Lopes, Sona Jani, Brok Dixon | Communications Officer, Maitri Interns

Mahima

Nine tenths of education is encouragement.” - Anatole France

Dear friends of Maitri,

Through the generosity of your donations in the last quarter, Maitri has made great progress in encouraging young minds to learn and grow, even in the face of adversity.

With your invaluable support, Maitri has continued its efforts to mobilize young people to shape their future. Volunteers from TeachIndia, a corporate social responsibility initiative of Times of India, have given a 3 month spoken English course for youth ages 18+. The course culminated in a job fair organised by TeachIndia, which gave the youth the opportunity to apply for work positions with various corporations. The success of the English classes gave the youth valuable spoken skills, and several youth were selected for positions at the job fair. The next TeachIndia 3-month spoken English course will begin next month.

Starting June 2, Maitri is also holding 1-month long English literacy classes in three groups, for all ages of children and also for young women who wish to learn the language to improve their position. Also, on June 1, Project Maitrigram began a 15-day summer camp with 50 slum children enrolled. During the programme, 6 Maitri volunteers are teaching the children English vocabulary, phrases, and greetings. The children will learn to sing songs and recite poems in English and in Hindi. In addition, the programme will give children the chance to create arts and crafts.

Beginning 15th of June, Maitri is collaborating with CSSG (Creative Services Support Group) to provide 10 girls aged 18+ with the opportunity to attend 2 months of cooking and baking classes organized by the Institute of Hotel Management. At the end of 2 months, girls who do well during the course may be hired by the Institute of Hotel Management followed by an overseas opportunity for a deserving student with Chefs from Michelin Starred Restaurants.

Mahima has grown up in the slums of New Delhi, where children face many challenges. But she is committed to becoming better educated for her future. She often comes to the office to receive help from our staff and Maitri interns when she has questions with her upcoming reports or reading assignments.

Mahima is 14 years old, and she has her whole life ahead of her. When asked what her favorite subject was she replied, “English, because it is easy for me to learn.” Her favorite English word is “Mother,” she says, “because my mother is very sweet.” She says her favorite things about Maitrigram are studying and playing, because she is learning. Mahima says her favorite book is “English Grammar” as it has helped her learn to read, write and speak English.

While Nahima has strong work ethic, she is also very humble. When she is older, Mahima dreams of becoming a doctor so that she can help her patients overcome their sickness and diseases. She likes working with others and helping with their troubles.

Today's young people are a powerful force, both individually and collectively. But hundreds of them have been failed by the world, lack of access to basic rights, and dont have a genuine chance to reach their potential life. Thanks to you, underprivileged children like Mahima the chance to gain a future of economic mobility and personal fulfillment through education and English programmes.

Kids at summer camp!

Fun and games outside

Links:

Maitri's junior students singing "We will overcome"

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