School Dropouts To Our Future
Problem statement
- India has the largest number of out of school children in the world with approximately 5.55 crore of whom (i.e. 36%) drop out between the age group 11-18 years, of which, 4.65 crore are from rural India.
- The no. of dropouts increases as they grow older due to various reasons like – looking after their younger siblings and their homes as parents are daily wage earners, earning an extra income for the family, no access to secondary schools, etc.
- Secondary education is given less importance today, in terms of no special programs dedicated to it like the Sarva Siksha Abhiyan (SSA). It is a link between elementary and higher education, also it is an important step towards vocational education and empowerment
Our Program Objectives
- Help the child complete secondary education
- To ensure children are suitably equipped for employability
- Ensure Involvement of parents, community and Teachers in child’s growth and development
Background of the Children
Orphan children, children with single parents, Children from Tribal communities
Process
One social worker and two teachers are assigned to one centre typically comprising of 60 – 70 students from 6/7 neighboring villages.
Educate
- Distribution of education material like textbooks, Notebooks, uniforms and bags
- Student friendly supplementary education addressing needs in English and Maths
Empower
- Weekend empowerment workshops for personality development
- Parent & Community awareness meetings & trainings
- Teachers and Peer-group meetings
- Home visit and counselling parents & children
Equip for Employability
- Supporting Children as part of extension of this program to explore avenues for career choices, higher education and vocational guidance courses
Outcomes
- Holistic development through project will help students adjust to varied environment.
- They have the guidance to choose careers best suited to them.
- These children will be able to break the vicious circle of poverty and illiteracy
- A major leap in the employment opportunities available to the children from unskilled labor to either gets skills required for employment or entrepreneurship.
- By intervention with the parents, guardian and community they will understand the value
of education and have awareness about various social issues related to their community.
Thus, developing more aware and better communities
Locations
- Raigad, Jalna, Washim, Nadurbar districts of Maharashtra
- Seoni- MP
- Bijolia, Bundi -Rajasthan
- Odisha
Impact so far
- 93% of beneficiaries’ parents earn a monthly income below Rs. 5500/- in comparison 51 % of employed beneficiaries are earning monthly income from Rs. 5500/- to Rs. 22,000/-
- Average marriage age of female beneficiaries of program is 20.5 years as against the average age of 17 years in the said area.
- 57% of this project’s female beneficiaries are pursuing higher education, in comparison 16 % of female students pursue higher education in Maharashtra
