In a country such as India, we believe that the effort has to be on three fronts: Infrastructure, Teaching Aids and Teachers Training.
Our club Rotary Club of Dabolim Goa has been spending a lot of time and energy on Education projects. Excellent work done by all presidents till date – Dinesh, Avez, Shubhangi, Amit and Charuta. Our entire club leadership and all presidents till date have supported this wholeheartedly, and this continuity has helped us achieve results.
Infrastructure:
Our club partnered with Rotary Club of West Hampton as the host and Primary International partners. Thanks also to Rotary Club of Southold andEasthampton Rotary Club, District 7260, USA to built toilet blocks at a school where the girls were dropping out. There was no toilet for students. The boys used an open field, and girls went back home during classes. We also partnered with clubs to donate benches.
Teaching Aids:
Our club has donated many many books to dozens of schools. I am delighted with the excitement and response of the teachers and students I have met at almost all (but not all) the schools. The positives far outweigh the negatives. When children, who do not have literate families and for that matter highly motivated teachers see colourful books on different subjects, some of them do pick up copies. Ideally, in schools where adoption is poor, this should be coupled with hand holiding – someone motivated enough maybe from a nearby corporate as a part of a CSR project who can take charge of the school library and motivate children and teachers to read every week, and help parents (usually illiterate in such schools) understand the importance of reading.
We have donated LCD projector and Laptop to schools too, but only once. This is easy to do for someone who cannot have a high level of engagement with the schools.
We have now donated science kits after our third science exhibition. You must see http://www.lalitsaraswat.com/toys-from-trash-science-exhibition/ – its easily one of our best projects. We are now working to scale it up. A school allows us to use their hall free. Except publicity and refreshments, the project costs practically nothing. Do give me your feedback on this project, and contact me if you want it replicated anywhere.
Teachers Training:
We did one round of teachers training with the help of one of the local schools.
Inviting your comments.
