By Jayshree Ganguli | Senior Executive - Corporate Communications
Our heartfelt thanks to all the donors for their support to our Born Learning Campaign!
In this quarter, we would like to stress on three important aspects besides the regular updates.
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We would like to share an excerpt from an article written by Mr. Manish Michael, Executive Director – United Way of Bengaluru(http://www.csrtimes.com/community-articles/a-case-to-shift-csr-focus-area-in-2015/416). The know-whys for our incessant effort to reach out to many children below the age group of 0-6 years through our Born Learning Campaign.
With the percentage of school enrolment staying at 96 percent or above for six years in a row as of 2014, it is encouraging to note that India is close to achieving universal enrolment for children in the age group of 6-14 years. While reaching universal enrolment is a significant milestone, the daunting reality is that there are immense unmet challenges.
The recent Annual Status of Education Report has found that, children who are enrolled in Standard V across India cannot read Standard II books. The children in our city are not better off too, a survey done by the municipal corporation of Bangalore (BBMP) found 3800 children being malnourished.
According to World Bank research, children in the age group of 3 – 6 years develop very critical skills which determine their overall development & performance for the rest of their lifecourse. These facts induce the urgent need to shift focus and work with children below 6 years in ensuring their holistic development
As such, United Way of Bengaluru is striving towards addressing the issue of Holistic Childhood Development for children under six years of age, since 2012.
The areas of intervention are
(i) Enhance early learning skills of children
(ii) Educating parents (esp. mothers) on early child care
(iii) Provide fresh, hot, wholesome nutritious food
(iv) Mainstream Born Learning Centers with Government Anganwadis
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Activites that were carried out this quarter:
Web preparation: It is a theme based teaching methodology adopted for the BLC centers. This being an interactive method, children enjoys and retains more knowledge. For this quarter, they learnt about the harvest festival called ‘Makar Sankranti’ which is celebrated across India.
Nutrition Mela: Nutrition Mela is an awareness building exercise conducted at different BLC centers. The parents are sensitized on the readily available nutrition rich ingredients and its importance in our daily lives.
They cooked all different local nutrition food such as Ragi roti, herbal rasam, Kosambari, etc, and shared with parents to create awareness.
Preparation of Education Play Materials: A workshop for preparation of play materials at one of the center was organised. They prepared early learning materials such as shapes made out of wood and paper, charts to teach the children alphabets, numbers, concepts of colour, shapes etc.
PTA Monthly Meetings: Quarterly parents and Teachers Association meeting was held in all 9 centers. The objective of the meeting was to share the progress and concerns of the children. To encourage the parents to enroll their children in primary schools under the Right To Education Act.
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Success story:
Raziya
Raziya is the second child born to Mr.Al-Bakash and Mrs.Reshma who live in Hosur Bande. They have four children one elder son, Rihan studying in 1st standad and a pair of twins ( two boys). Al-Bakash works as a driver and his wife is a home-maker. Due to family burden, they did not enroll Raziya to pre- nursery. When Raziya was noticed by one of the field workers, she was malnourished and lacked social skills. After routine sessions of counselling with the parents, Raziya was enrolled in a Born Learning Center.
Her intervention started soon after getting enrolled to the center. The teachers gave her special attention and was also referred to a Primary Health Center. Today, after 10 months she has an improved height and weight. Moreover, she interacts with her fellow mates and is physically active too.
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World10K, 2015 Marathon
United Way of Bengaluru is participating in World 10K, 2015 Marathon event – the largest fundraising platform for Non-Profits in South India. We would like to encourage our donors and supporters in Global Giving to help spread awareness on Born Learning by sharing it with friends and families. If you or your relatives & friends are in Bangalore, you can participate with us for W10K event. Or, help us raise funds for Born Learning Campaign!
To know more visit us on: http://icfn.in/tcsworld10k/UWB/
Links:
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