Education

Education is the cornerstone of development and the first step in combating discrimination. Therefore, the Foundation's education program began in 1978 with a campaign to raise public awareness of the importance of schooling.

Since then supplementary schools, bridge schools, and summer schools have been built; and a cultural program, along with one for scholarships, have been set up and are already bearing fruit.

• Our projects
• Objectives
• Results

OUR PROJECTS

Primary and secondary education

In Anantapur (Andhra Pradesh), children from the poorest communities found themselves with a problem; the lack of prior preparation in comparison with children of higher castes. This fact caused difficulties in adaptation and academic failure.

The Foundation decided to establish a network of supplementary schools, where students receive the grounding and support needed in order to reinforce their studies in government schools. This promotes social integration. In addition, the organization runs training workshops for members of the Community Development Committees of each village, with the eventual outcome being that they independently manage the schools or Tuition Schools.

All children in schools receive annual school supplies, uniforms and 800 rupees for passbook savings.

So far, the Foundation has built more than 1,100 schools and classrooms in Anantapur and has managed to get almost 100% of the Dalit children in the district enrolled in primary school. In middle school, the percentage is similar.

The Foundation also operates additional training camps for boys and girls who wish to get into state residential schools, which include the provision of required reading materials. And, in addition, summer training camps to ensure the continuity of pupils in the schools and to improve their skills in Telugu, English, mathematics and Hindi.

Art festivals and cultural activities are also organised in which the children can develop their creative skills.

University studies

Since 2004, the Foundation has given scholarships to more than 1,092 students to help them get into university.

The process starts with a pre-selection of merit students, taking into account the results they have achieved in the public examinations. It provides support and the means to participate in the selection process of the faculties. The pupils benefiting from the Special Education program (scholarships) receive 100% financial support to complete their high school studies in private colleges. And special incentives are provided for students in higher / professional / technical courses.

In the past these students had not been able to study. Now they are receiving an education that will transform them into spokespeople and defenders of the rights of their community.

Equalising gender literacy rates

With this goal, in 1999 a specific project was created to help girls who left school for family reasons: bridge schools. These residential facilities house only girls. There they prepare to rejoin formal education in the corresponding grade.

For these students the bicycle project was also launched. Through this program, girls are given a bicycle so that they can get to school, which is often too far away from their homes to walk.

OBJECTIVES

• Improve school infrastructure and provide continuity for the elementary students.
• Reach a point where male and female literacy rates are equal.
• Increase access of Dalit, tribal and backward caste students to university.

RESULTS

Cumulative results up to 2009