Educate school dropout children in rural India

Light of Life Trust (LOLT) initiated Project Anando in 2005. Enlisted by GlobalGiving.org in November 2013 LOLT has been regularly receiving donations from generous donors believing in our cause and joining hands with us towards our efforts at meeting our vision. The funds mobilized through GlobalGiving.org was for the beneficiaries of Project Anando in Jalna District (Marathwada Region), Maharashtra State, India.

In the months of January to March 2015, the following programmes/ activities were successfully conducted with the beneficiaries under Project Anando, Jalna District.

1. In all 48 weekend empowerment workshops on varied topics were conducted in all the Anando centers in Jalna District. In this quarter the topics/issues covered through the workshops were gender equality, self – confidence & stress management.  Keeping the approaching annual examination in mind workshops sessions in the month of March focused on methods for effective studies and the importance of reading in one’s life.
2. In this given period 251 home visits were made to the homes of the beneficiaries to intercat with the parents & children jointly, discuss areas of concern and arrive at mutually suitable solutions in order to ensure the develomnet of the beneficiary.
3. Group work sessions were organized with Std X (SSC Exam) students to motivate them to concentrate more on the upcoming crucial exams and to study in a planned and systematic manner for better results.  
4. Parent Meetings : in this period 12 parent meetings were organized in Jalna District with the aim to increase the positive and constructive contribution of parents in the developmental process of their children.
5. Bal Kala Mahotsav: The annual talent competition for Anando beneficiaries was conducted for Jalna District on 14^th February 2015 were 75% of the beneficiaries participated with great enthusiasm. This programme provides a platform to the beneficiaries to show case their talents in art, drama, dance, elocution etc. This years a total of six competitions were planned – rangoli making, solo dancing, group dancing, drama, solo singing, essay writing. Parents were present in large numbers to see their children perform and win prizes. In one of our parents words – ‘ the Bal Kala Mahotsav has not changed our children alone, it has changed our perception too, because of LOLT we could see our children on such a big stage, I experience great pride when I see my daughter performing on this stage today, I am proud that I have a daughter’.   This enthusiasm of parents seen today is far different from the beginning days when the same parents were totally against their daughters dancing on stage, their daughters working with boys together, travelling from one place to another like this, etc. This visible shift in parents thought process is a huge achievement for the LOLT Team in Jalna District.The Bal Kala Mahotsav has also helped strengthened networking with school headmasters, teachers, local community members, etc.
6. Sphurti Programme: This programme was organized for Std X (SSC) student beneficiaries to cope with difficulties in various subjects in the month of February 2015. The students were given guidance by expert teachers in the following subjects - Science, Maths & Social Studies. Simple methods for better understanding were shared with the students during this programme. Sessions on surmounting fear of exams and planning of studies were also taken for the students to help them prepare for the exams more effectively.

 All the beneficiaries enrolled under Project Anando for the academic year 2014-15 in Jalna District continue to get the help as envisaged under the project to enable them to complete their secondary school education for 1 to 3 years, depending upon the class/grade in which they are currently studying.

Details about our events are posted on our website - www.lightoflifetrustindia.org