Help Educate Poor Slum Children In India

Education emerging stronger than ever before COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in at least one positive thing: a much greater appreciation for the importance of Education. We believe it is also valuable to look beyond these immediate concerns to what may be possible for education on the other side of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is hard to imagine there will be another moment in history when the central role of education in the economic, social, and political prosperity and stability of nations is so obvious and well understood by the general population. Now is the time to chart a vision for how education can emerge stronger from this global crisis than ever before and propose a path for capitalizing on education’s newfound support in virtually every community across the globe. COVID or not, RISE will continue to be the backbone of all the students & teacher. While COVID-19 has created an unprecedented situation, in India, over 320 million learners have been affected by the pandemic. To overcome the situation, RISE-AROH recommended the use of distance learning programmes and platforms that RISE and teachers can use to reach their students remotely and limit the disruption of education. While they have thankfully been largely spared from the direct health effects of COVID-19 - at least to date –the pandemic is having profound effects on children’s mental well-being, their social development & their safety.

Children and families living in Sangam Vihar & Mundka or other crowded conditions are especially vulnerable. Education in COVID-19 is encouraging students to become advocates for disease prevention and control at home and in their communities by talking to others about how to prevent the spread of viruses. RISE is continuously supporting access to quality education which includes Project-Based Learning Methodology (PBL), now referred as an innovative approach Blended Learning Module (BLM). Earlier PBL was used to teach these children, but due to COVID & children being quarantine we shifted to BLM (Blended Learning Module) in a more innovative way. This new pattern of the curriculum is helping children a lot as it includes various activities to do and videos to be shown. Through the introduction of BLM, major improvement like quality learning opportunities is being observed in children. Also, in RISE art and craft, game activities, dancing, singing & group sessions are also being introduced every Saturday to increase their confidence level. By this, they are developing mentally & physically.

COVID-19 is helping children to be patient, understanding & stress-free. In past months children have understood the basic concepts of disease prevention and control. Focusing on good health behaviours, encouraging others to express and communicate their feelings being at home through innovative & creative activities. The key insights from past months: students are continuing their studies more effectively and are more concerned about COVID-19; students are improving & spreading hygiene measures through their home only.

In the past few days Ms Liza, a student who enrolled in RISE centre in Sangam Vihar, area of Delhi, has been a star kid helping her classmates study more efficiently. She has been very active, creative, practical and reachable to all by completing herwork on his own without any complaints. She keeps the spirit of learning alive by circulating worksheets, solutions of word problems and mathematics on the digital platform. Now she has been under RISE project and got admitted to a government school in the community.

We thank all the donors for Ms Liza and all other 1000 children who are able to access quality education because of your contribution.