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JUNE 2017
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Asha Insights: Spring Summer Q1 2017
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About Asha Zurich
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Asha Zurich is a chapter of Asha for Education, a world- wide organization that works
dedicatedly to catalyze socio-economic change through the education of underprivileged children in India. We have no paid staff, no office rent and hence very low overheads, typically covered through contributions from volunteers. This is a key factor that distinguishes us from many other organizations. In 2017, Asha Zurich is sending more than 1,300 un-derprivileged children to school in seven projects with an annual budget of more than CHF 100,000. Write to us at info@asha-zurich.ch with any queries about our projects and activities.
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Asha Zurich is happy to present
to you our first newsletter for 2017.
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Events in Zurich
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In the first quarter of this year, we successfully organized a Bollywood
party and sent a team of 70 runners including 15 teams to the Zurich
Marathon. These events increased our visibility and raised over CHF 40’000
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to fund Asha Zurich’s projects. An article about our marathon fund-
raiser was also published in the online magazine Namaste Switzerland.
Please take a look at here.
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Palas
Project ‘Palas’, started in the year 2017, supports 831 students in 30 informal school classes. The project also supports boarding
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education of 30 students in Shirpur, Maharashtra. The total student population re-duced to 705 recently because par-ents migrate in search of livelihood in summer, which is an annual phenomenon. A study camp was organized for Palas students in March (51 students) and May (91 Students).The objective was to help academically weaker students, selected with feedback from their supervisors and teachers who monitor their performance. 6 students from Palas attended an English language camp on 17 March. Additionally, an educational movie ‘Wichitra Duniya’ was
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shown to the children to increasetheir exposure to the outside world.
Palas organized exams for students on 17 April in Maths, Marathi, and English. 5 students from Palas appeared in the 10th standard examination this year. ‘Mahila Din’ (Women’s day) was celebrated in Shirpur. It was attended by 462 women and 114 men (mainly parents of Palas students) to increase their awareness of women empowerment and importance of education for women.
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Sabuj Sangha
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Sabuj Sangha is a non-profit, non-government development organization established in Nandakumarpur village in South 24 Parganas, West Bengal. It is an area where child marriage is prevalent, because of various factors including low literacy
and poverty. To combat this, Sabuj Sangha initiated project ‘Nayantara’ to help those girls whose education
was interrupted to complete their education till class 12. The project also provides vocational courses and extra-curricular activities for youth older than 18 years. Progress reports of the children in this project are sent to us on a quarterly basis. The pilot project started on 15 February 2015 with 18 students living within a 3-4 kilometers distance.
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Additionally, the project also provides direct and indirect forms of support such as:
- English, science and mathematics tuitions at a coaching center run by experienced teachers.
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- Provision of educational material such as text books, stationery and school uniforms.
- Nutrition support provided in the morning before school starts.
- A hygiene kit, comprising of basic amenities such as toothbrush, soap, and a pack of disposable sanitary napkins, is regularly given to all the girls . The use of the sanitary napkins is encouraged to eradicate the age-old practice of using a cloth during menstruation.
- Physical Education including practice of ‘Bratachari’, a type of body movement synchronized with songs to improve heath and well being, is organized after school twice a week.
- After-school classes on Information and Communication technology.
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- Training in life skills, such as problem-solving ability, decision making capacity, creative thinking/lateral thinking, coping with
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stress, trauma and loss using role plays and discussions.
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- Extra-curricular activities such as art and craft classes, pottery, woodcraft, paper craft, applique and waste material recycling.
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“Nayantara” program highlights not only the educational growth of a child but also her overall development as exemplified in the case of Suchitra (Refer Box).
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Boys Town Society
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Overall, the activities of BTS and FM schools are progressing well. The school is currently closed for sum-
mer holidays and will be reopened on 1 June. Examinations for all students were conducted just before the schools closed for the summer. The answer papers are being corrected and we expect the children to have performed well. The admission in the Boys town for the upcoming academic year started recently. The school strength is expected to increase to 300 in the new academic year. The building work for the new school is almost complete. In fact, the children wrote their final examinations in the new building. BTS have applied for the matriculation school board so that they can offer 6th standard education. One of the chal-
lenges faced by the school is staff attrition because of factors such as pregnancy, marriage, and transfer of
husband. BTS are currently recruiting new staff and have received 40 ap-
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plications for 6 open positions. In order to increase loyalty and decrease staff turnover, BTS plans on offering
higher staff salary (a 10 to 15 percent increase), which should also help attract more experienced staff.
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Some special highlights:
• One boy appeared for the medical entrance examination.
• BTS organized a seminar on“Crimes against Children”, where 35 scholars and students presented papers. Representatives from the government, NGOs, police, Child Protection Units, and the social welfare board participated. The program was broadcasted live by All India Radio.
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Lok Biradari Prakalp
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Asha Zurich has been associated with this project since June 2011. Lok Biradari Prakalp (LBP) is a school for tribal children that offers a sanctuary of peace in a region inhabited by wild animals, venomous snakes, and Naxalites (ultra-left rebels). The project was started by Dr. Prakash and, his wife, Mandakini Amte in 1973 in the forests of Hemalkasa, a remote region located between Maharashtra and Chattisgarh. The school serves
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650 students from 600 neighboring villages and provides education up to 12th Standard with boarding, lodging, and medical facilities. It is aided by 14 teachers and 6 volunteers. Asha Zurich contributes towards boarding, lodging and educational expenses of 100 students, which in monetary terms amounts to Rs.16,56,000 (about 24,500 CHF) per year. LBP was selected in Global Asha’s Work an Hour campaign in 2017.
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Asha Zurich is proud to announce that 44 students out of 45 passed the 12th board examination this year, an achievement that also featured in the Times of India: here Dinesh Madkami topped with 77.69% (505/650), closely followed by Sunita Vachami with 75.38% (490/650). Shriniwas Alam bagged third position with 73.69% (479/650). Besides academics, the students are encouraged to participate in sports, school trips and various activities that range from paintings, robotics, and creative events. Programs are organized throughout the year on various themes including personality development, health-awareness, first-aid treatments, and the constitution of India.
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“Nayantara” Impact
“I want to be a teacher and I will definitely continue my education whatever the situation arises.”
- SUCHITRAJANA, AGE 15
Suchitra is now in class IX. She lost her father two years ago to cancer and her mother works as a domestic help. Suchitra is a keen and hard working student and would like to break this cycle of poverty by educating herself. To support her dreams,
she is being provided tuition support for two months by this project.
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