Concerns Universe Foundation

CONCERNS UNIVERSE FOUNDATION Our Philosophy Our philosophy is to empower and transform individuals in working towards sustainable development in society. Belief Concerns Universe Foundation believes that every individual has the potential to improve their own life and become both economically independent and socially dignified. Our Vision Concerns Universe Foundation envision a community where all achieve their educational, economic and social goals. Our Mission To realise this vision, Concerns works with urban poor and provides opportunities for education through vocational training to enhance employability, improve economic status and promote the adoption of a healthy lifestyle. Origin o... read more CONCERNS UNIVERSE FOUNDATION Our Philosophy Our philosophy is to empower and transform individuals in working towards sustainable development in society. Belief Concerns Universe Foundation believes that every individual has the potential to improve their own life and become both economically independent and socially dignified. Our Vision Concerns Universe Foundation envision a community where all achieve their educational, economic and social goals. Our Mission To realise this vision, Concerns works with urban poor and provides opportunities for education through vocational training to enhance employability, improve economic status and promote the adoption of a healthy lifestyle. Origin of CUF Concerns Universe Foundation is a secular community development project that encourages sustainable change through education and healthcare. It was registered as a non-profit organization in 2001. We are based in the centre of Bangalore in central south India. The city is massive, wealthy and sophisticated in many ways, but many depend on insecure and poorly paid occupations to survive. Poor opportunities, often due to lack of education, result in many not reaching their full potential. We work towards educating and developing self-sufficient communities within deprived areas. At Concerns, we apply a needs-based approach to deliver programmes and use the community members themselves as agents of change. Over time, we have developed a strong rapport with the communities that we work with, providing us with a direct way of helping children, families and young women make positive and lasting changes in their lives. Concerns Universe Foundation was established by Gnana Chitra, Executive Director, as a response to the challenges that underprivileged people face. It works to provide opportunities for people to realise their potential and has been striving continuously to serve more and more members of the communities of Bangalore. Initially, the organisation felt a real need for childcare provision in the community, and so began an early childcare centre in a local slum. It now runs five preschools as well as tuition centres and education sponsorship programs for school-aged children. Concerns provides skills training through the Community College and vocational training centres. It also focuses on community health care, distributing information on healthy living and the prevention of diseases. Local women are trained to become preschool facilitators, tuition teachers and community workers. This enables them to serve and develop their own community at large. An average of 70 students are enrolled in the Community College courses and 200 children in the childcare centers. About 300 children are supported academically either through tuition or sponsorship. Childcare Centres We are now running 5 childcare centres in East Bangalore. Around 200 children aged 2-5 years attend the centres. Most of them come from troubled and under-privileged backgrounds. We recognise the importance of providing the children with valuable opportunities and experiences in these crucial formative years and aim to prepare to instil in them a positive attitude towards holistic education. The childcare centres support working mothers by providing a safe place for their children during the day. Work with school-aged children To identify children who have dropped out of school and facilitate their return to education. To provide after-school tuition for homework support and financial support. To give support to enable and encourage adolescents to continue education. CUF team conducted different activities like summer camp, Summer computer class, annual sports' meet, health awareness sessions including pre-teen health awareness sessions. The tuition children were given opportunity to learn basic computer skills etc. Tuition Centres There are currently four tuition centres at Concerns. These centres provide homework support for vulnerable children, who face challenges associated with poverty and receive little or no support with their studies from home. As well as offering academic help, teachers at the centres promote good health and hygiene practices, and all the children are provided with basic computing skills. The children are also given an opportunity to exhibit their talents through cultural activities. The tuition centres help reduce the school dropout rate by supporting children in their studies and providing them with skills to cope with school life. Computer Literacy We run computer classes in the Child care Community Centres near the community we work with in Bangalore. With the support of Dell and SSGA (State Street Global Advisor), hundreds of the children, youth were trained in computer skills. Summer Camps The CUF team runs a number of clubs and activities over the summer months during the school holidays. The aim is to improve children's social responsibility and for them to gain a better understanding of the environment in which they live. The children learn the importance of leading healthy and hygienic lives and take part in activities aimed at improving their local community. Basic computer skills are also taught. The summer camps provide a point of contact with local children and are useful for encouraging children to discuss any issues they may have. This can also lead to identifying and supporting potential school dropouts. The children have fun and become actively involved in their community, spreading healthy practices through rally campaigns and other activities. Sponsored Children for Education: Children who cannot offered to pay fees to continue v education are identified and we sponsor the fees especially to girl child to continue their studies. This effort has prevented school dropouts. CONCERNS COMMUNITY COLLEGE Concerns Community College reaches out to young people who have been deprived of educational opportunities through their life circumstances. It strives to motivate its students and to provide them with the skills necessary to develop their potential and to find employment, thus becoming economically self-reliant and socially dignified. CCC is affiliated to ICRDCE, Chennai (Indian Centre for Research and Development of Community Education). In addition to classes at the college, our students are made aware of and attend governmental certification courses Courses run for 10 months and include pre-primary teaching, office management, computer application, accounting, hotel management and beauty culture and haircare. Functional English, basic computer skills, life coping skills and personal development are also taught. Diplomas are awarded to those who successfully complete SSLC or Higher Secondary Courses. Others receive a graduating certificate to document their achievements. Over the years, the college has empowered over 300 young women. Concerns Community College, Kolkata (KCCC) With the help of partial local support, we are facilitating a community college in Kolkatta, which provides courses for women in early childcare, beauty and wellness and functional English. KCCC has also established a childcare centre. CONCERNS VOCATIONAL TRAINING: Step Twine E Learning Program through Smile Foundation - Hutchins Road Generating employment for slum dwellers in Bangalore. This project aims towards the upliftment of the socio-economically backward population in the slums by providing them training for formal employment. Its main focus is to empower the underprivileged by inculcating the requisite skills and generating employment opportunities. This project is designed to motivate these deprived people and provide them a fair chance at white-collar jobs through formal training in soft skills, basic management and sales, computers and English proficiency. Industry visits, live interactions with experts from different professional sectors and placement assistance further helps them choose their own career and work towards a better, brighter and more dignified future. The project also ensures their overall personality development through counselling sessions. Smile Foundation has partnered with the Society for Human & Environmental Development (SHED) for implementing this STeP project Computer course in Baiyappanahalli, Janakiram layout and Ulsoor Enhancing Employability through Vocational and Skill Development Training among Women, Adolescent Girls and school dropouts supported, by DELL/CIF Vocational skills training was provided for children and unemployed youth through computer application training. The aim is to qualify them to be gainfully employed and to earn an income, thus to emerge economically independent and socially dignified. Totally 191 Students trained in MS office (MS Word, MS Excel & MS Power Point); Touch typing; Internet; Photoshop Stitch Craft Instruction Concerns also runs courses in sewing and tailoring for unemployed women and adolescent girls from deprived backgrounds. The aim is to empower women by providing the opportunity of economic independence and social dignity. This project has been running since April 2014. COMMUNITY HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT The Concerns team makes regular visits to develop rapport with members of the community. They deliver health programs, and raise awareness about existing government facilities and services available for the disadvantaged, caring for patients with tuberculosis (TB), women's health care and antenatal and postnatal care facilities. Most community members interact well with CUF team. Members of the community have found appropriate ways to handle issues, share information and help each other, to choose and utilize the resources and facilities in the locality appropriately, and the intake of nutritious food has improved as have health and hygienic habits, enabling health issues in a better manner. Women use home remedies for minor health problems and young people develop skills, improving