Education for 300 Indigenous Children in India

ARV distributed school supplies to the children in Gudavalli Village on 18th June 2015 which is located in Vijayawada Rural. In this village the parents of the children are very poor and all are daily laborers. They requested ARV to supply the school supplies to children as they are very poor. ARV distributed school supplies to 130 children studying in Government school. Some of the local leaders attended the program. They are very much excited and felt very happy that ARV is conducting a very good program and they will give their support and see that no children will drop out from school and monitor the children to attend school regularly.

ARV distributed school supplies to the children in Kandrika on 25th June 2015 which is located in Vijayawada Rural. In this village the parents of the children are very poor and all are daily laborers.  ARV distributed school supplies to 74 children in our Children education center. Some of the local leaders attended the program. They are very much excited and felt very happy that ARV is conducting a very good program and they will give their support and see that no children will drop out from school and monitor the children to attend school regularly.

Shahina, one of the old students who studied in our children education center shared her experience with the teacher and about the education in our center. Now she completed her Intermediate and going for graduate courses. She said that the children to come regularly and study well, the teacher will clarify doubts very clearly and I passed my 10^th class with good marks due to this education center. Before coming to the center I am very dull in my studies but after coming here it helped me to gain more knowledge and helped me to finish my school education. Thank you to ARV for conducting these types of centers and helping the poor students like us in education.

On 29th June 2015, ARV distributed school supplies to 70 children in Machilipatnam in our children education center. All the children felt happy and expressed their happiness. On 15th June ARV distributed school supplies in Chevuru village for 61 children in our children education center. Previous students who passed 10th grade also attended and motivated the children to study well and thanked ARV for their good grade in 10th class and only because of this child education center they are able to join in college and learned the importance of education.

On 4^th June 2015, ARV distributed school  supplies in Narayanapuram colony, Machilipatnam. All the children are yanadi children.  Lowest literacy is found among Yanadis even when compared with other sub-tribes in Andhra Pradesh.   As much as 92 % of the Yanadis are uneducated, while 95.5 % of women never went to school in their life. Consequently, 95 % of the children dropout of school by the time they reach 5th class. As many as 200 children are working as rag-pickers and child laborers to eke out their livelihood. It is a common sight to see the Yanadi children picking up the plastic carry bags and waste paper strewn on the roads and dumping yards. Hence ARV selected the Yanadi colonies to improve the educational levels among these children and created awareness and explained the importance of education.

 ARV supported for school fees and books for Jedithya Paul Venkataratnam who is studying 8th class in Government school and his sister Sankeerthana studying 7th class in the same school as their mother approached ARV and requested for support as she is doing missionary service voluntarily and very tough leading their lives and want to stop the children education because she is unable to afford for them if ARV supports then the education will be continued.  

ARV supported to9 students for their school fees, college fees, technical education, and fees to join in a job for our old students.

ARV took initiation in joining a student named Ch. Rohit in hostel who is a semi orphan and his mother Sandhya is not able to look after him and requested ARV to support her in joining in hostel.

We thank all the donors who are supporting through global giving. We also extend our special thanks to Prue Keenan, Christine Kai Ru and Michelle for their kind support towards children education. Their contribution also included in this report.

The print media impressed with the work of ARV and published in newspapers.

Painting competition on “How to protect environment”

ARV organized painting competition for the children on protection of Environment in our surroundings at Children education center, Chilakalapudi Post, Machilipatnam, Krishna District. Vijay Sagar, Mrs.  Latha Kumari and 55 children actively participated. ARV distributed the painting kits and charts to the children. The children painted well with different views by the drawings. The team verified all the drawings and selected 3 paintings and given prizes. 

Awareness program in school

ARV organized awareness program on Health and sanitation at Kandrika Colony, Vijayawada Urban, Krishna District and explained how to keep surroundings clean and Green. Mr B. Vijay Sagar, R. Prem Kumar, Mrs. Jagadeeswari and 74 children actively participated. Children understood the importance of cleanliness and how to keep our surrounding clean and green for our good health.

ARV conducted survey of all the students about their progress and complete history of the student. From this survey we understood the children background, their lifestyle and also their capacities in reading and Arithmetic levels. 60% our students done the reading level and arthimatic level well and 40% are average. ARVis taking special care for the dull students by paying more attention on them. Attachingthe survey format.

On 23^rd March 2015, ARV visited Kandrika, Machilipatnam and Chevuru and distributed the examination supplies like writing pad, geometry boxes to the students who are appearing for the examinations.The children of our Children Education Centers studied hard and wrote their annual exams well. Our10th grade students got good grade in the public examinations.

On 23^rd March 2015, ARV visited Kandrika, Machilipatnam and Chevuru and distributed the examination supplies like writing pad, geometry boxes to the students who are appearing for the examinations.

In our Machilipatnam, Kandrika and Chevuru centers our 10^th class students got good grade in their public examinations. 8 students from this center appeared for exams and all got good grades. Himasha got 540 marks out of 600 with
Cumulative Grade Point Average – CGPA (educational ranking/evaluation method) 9.0 out of 10. The list of our students with grades in 10^th public examinations:

Name of the student                  CGPA

Machilipatnam center

 Himasha                                        9.0

Sesha Sai                                       8.3

 Lakshmi                                         7.3

 Shankar                                         7.2

Rani                                               5.3

Naga Rani                                       5.3

Raju                                               4.8

Gopal                                            4.5

Chevuru Village

Sagar                                             6.8

Akhil                                               6.5

Vijay Babu                                       4.3

 Manohar                                         7.2

 Durga Rao                                      6.2

Kandrika

Jayalakshmi                                    7.5

Raja                                                5.2

On May 13th 2015 ARV team visited Yanadi colonies in Machilipatnam and interacted with the children, motivated the children to study well and taught lessons to the children. The yanadis are very poor and the children are not having any facilities for the education.

ARV supported financial support for a girl named for her BSC Nursing course to pay the college fees. ARV supported for a Bsc Nursing student named C. Sowmya, to pay the fees for her college as her father is unable to afford the fee and requested ARV to help his daughter for her education. This is 3^rd year she got support from ARV and she will be eligible to apply for jobs after completion.

ARV admitted a boy child named Rohit, 6^th class into a hostel in Machilipatnam as he is not having father and his mother was unable to meet the expenses. 

The overall children in all the Children Education Centers are progressing and studying hard as it is closing their academic year. Completed their syllabus and writing pre-final examinations to get good rank for their final exams.

 On 18th Feb 2015, ARV Team visited Kandrika children education center, verified all the records and spent time with children to understand how the teacher is clarifying their doubts. We asked the children questions related on their subjects (Telugu, English, Science, and Social) for all the classes. Children gave answers nicely. We counseled the children to write their examinations with proper care and to understand the question and write the correct answer and don’t get confused, because with confusion they write wrong answer even though they know the right one.

Children and volunteers from Taiwan worked on Community Center for repairs and renovation. The community school now helping to study children after school hours. It was so good that community leaders, volunteers and children contributed their time effectively.

Volunteers spent 7 days with the children and organized games and explained the importance of education. Explained moral values by keeping mind humanity to respect each other, care each other and love each other. Around 60 children got benefit and learned communication skills. The children participated in the campaign of clean and green. The children minds were opened and shared their excitement.

Mr. Christopher, father of John Prakash (III Class) said that, “Before starting the child education center our children used to attend school irregularly, roaming in the village after school hours, school dropouts in the village. But now the entire situation has been changed and children are improving their skills and we also understood the importance of children education. This is a very good change to our children for their education.

 Rajya Lakshmi, student of VII class said that, this child education center helped me a lot in clarifying my doubts. Before, I used to have lot of doubts and asked my friends only. But now I am clarifying it with our teacher explaining it well and I am able to do my sums in Maths well. I will study well and wanted to become a teacher and will teach the children in rural villages.”

Present Situation:

It was planned to work for 740 children but due to shortage of funds the children are reduced up to 300 at present. There is a lot of need in many villages but we are not able to provide education for all the children. What we can do? Many of the volunteers are helping, we are really thankful to each one of them. But asking help repeatedly giving a sense of embarrass in minds. Sometimes, the team feel that what is wrong to ask repeatedly for a good cause. Mobilizing resource for children education is a big challenge for ARV. Hope we can do better and able to mobilze adequate resources to run Children education program in AndhraPradesh, India. Hope everyone join hands with us for noble cause.

In all the child education centers the teachers have clarifying the doubts of the students and the students are able to cope up with their studies. ARV staff and Board members visit very often to monitor the child chance centers, and interacting with the local communities and teaching moral values.

Machilipatnam

On 19^th November 2014, ARV team visited the children education center in Machilipatnam. David of 7th class from Machilipatnam education center participated in the drawing competition and got the first prize. ARV appreciated him and he said that “because of my teacher I did this, she gave lot of support to me. ARV appointed another volunteer for the education center exclusively for maths subject. With this the children are becoming more active in Maths subject and scoring very good marks. Nagoor Himasha, Sesha Sai and Bhavani Shankar have come 1st in their respective classes in Quarterly examinations. Distributed pens and pencils for the encouragement of the children.

Perikeedu

On 9^th October, Ravi Kumar, Uma, Sagar, and Shanthi visited the Perikeedu center. Uma and sagar taught the elementary school children at the center. Shanthi taught social subject to the children. We asked questions on the subjects and the children answered well with competition to answer 1st in the class. On 3^rd November ARV team visited chevuru children education center, we organized a counseling program for the parents and explained them about the importance of education.

Kandrika

In Kandrika, Government organized children’s day on November 14^th and our child chance children Nagamalleswar Rao and team participated in the Volleyball tournament held at Vijayawada, Krishna District and we are very happy to say that they won the 3^rd prize. Girls also participated and got 3^rd prize. The children Sidhu, Anand kumar and Prasanna kumar also participated in the quiz competition held by the district school authorities and Anand kumar got 2^nd prize. One of the girl Geetha Gayathri from 7^th class expressed that “it is an opportunity for us to improve our education and our teacher is good in clearing our doubts.” Another boy Nagamalleswar Rao from IX class said that “before I am an average student but now with the help of this education center I am able to improve myself and now I am getting very good marks in the exams”.

School Supplies in Hudhud affected areas

Cyclone Hudhud pounded the coastal districts (Visakhapatnam, Srikakulam, Vijayanagaram and East Godavari) of Andhra Pradesh with heavy rain and winds of almost 200 kmph leaving its people homeless, starving, suffer with darkness, cut off from their near and dear ones with the blockage of roads and communication. The trees are uprooted, electric poles are uplifted, roads are washed away and walls are collapsed during the devastation. About 600,000 people have taken shelter in relief camps set up by authorities in the three districts and adjoining East Godavari. Due to the cyclone the children lost all the books for their school, on 17th, 18th and 19th of October ARV visited in the villages in Visakhapatnam district and interacted with the most vulnerable communities in the villages. All the books of the children are spoiled because of water and there are no books to them to go to school.

On 11^th November 2014 ARV distributed books, pens, pencils, erasers and sharpeners’ to the children in Ambedkar nagar, Savithri nagar and Gandhinagar of Visakhapatnam district.

Kandrika

On July 15th, the ARV team, along with the summer intern Jonathan Slakey, visited the slums of Kandrika on the  outskirts of Vijayawada for the yearly distribution of school supplies. All 70 students were very excited to have so many visitors. Ravi Kumar quizzed the students on Social Sciences and Jonathan tested their English. Ravi also reminded the students of the importance of continued education, and helped the students develop a top ten list of good habits for  becoming a successful student. All the children are preparing to appear quarterly examination which will help us to assess the children progress in all the subjects. 

Perikeedu

On July 16th, Ravi Kumar, Uma Mahaswari, and ARV intern Jonathan visited the Perikeedu  center. Uma and Jonathan  taught the elementary school children at the center American songs and games, and gave all the children American  removable tattoos. All 48 students were very happy to learn about American children’s activities like the Penguin Song or  the game Telephone. The children had great fun and given assuarance that they would do hardwork to get good ranks for thier next examinations.  

Machilipatnam

On July 24th, Jonathan and ARV Program Coordinator Vijaya Sagar visited the Machilipatnum Center for a yearly  distribution of school supplies. Many of the children live in thatch huts, and their families struggle even to purchase  school supplies for their children. Jonathan taught the students an American children’s song and a new game. All 65  students were very excited to play games with an American, and to receive supplies. The event was featured in four  local newspapers. This year, the following student was recognized by their school for academic achievement:

•  Himasha a 10th grader at St. Francis Telugu Medium School  scored the highest marks in his class, winning a 500 rupee prize.15 year old Shaik Nagoor Himasha was from a minority community in Aadarsh Nagar Colony in Machilipatnam, a student of our children education center in Machilipatnam .His mother was widowed 5 years ago, forced to take up whatever work was available in the village to  keep her children fed. As Nagoor grew older, he also helped support his family by repairing Bicycles, labor work and in summer sells the curry as he is having holidays in the summer season. Nagoor is a clever, strong student. He is having very much interest in education. He will go to school, after school do some works and also regularly attends the tuition center. He was First in his class at his 9th class. His school teachers awarded him cash  prize from his school and asked how did you achieved the first class. He said about ARV and gave the phone  number of the teacher of our Machilipatnam center. The school Head mistress called our tutor and appreciated  the work ARV is doing and also said that they will visit our center along with their teachers.The school teachers asked. ARV to teach for 4 more children from their school who are very much interested and not able to go to tuitions.  

Direct Financial Assistance Program for education

•  ARV supported a Bsc (Bachelor of Science) Nursing student name Sowmya, Rs.7000/ to pay college fees as her  father is unable to afford the fee and requested ARV to help his  daughter’s education.
• ARV supported Rs. 7000/- a student named  Jessica D/O kumar is a private car driver and is unable to pay the  admission fee. So he requested ARV to support his daughter’s admission fees.
• ARV supported Rs. 10,000/- for students named  Pranalika and Pradeepa  D/O  Vijaya  is a private employee with meager wages  and is unable to pay the school fee. So, he requested ARV to  kindly  support his daughter’s admission.
• Vinay is a 14 year boy who is in 10th Class at Chaitanya School, Hanuman Junction. He is desperately poor and his father is working as a car driver earning very meager wages. It is very tough for the family to make ends  meet, but Vinay is a very good student with a passion for education. He is very much interested to study but his father is not in a position to pay even the school fees with his wages. His father requested ARV to support him  this year so that he can finish his 10th grade. ARV supported Rs. 12,000/- for his school fees, books, and uniform for his  academic education.
• Jhansi is a 12 year girl who is studying 8th Grade from a government school in Yanamalakuduru. She  is desperately poor and her father is a drunkard who did not support his family. She has a sister and brother who are younger than her. His mother Rani is leading the family by doing housemaid work in nearby houses.  Her  father almost always drunk and used to beat the children and her mother. The income earned by her mother is  not even sufficient for them to feed themselves. Sometimes neighbors are helping them. Their house is too small and when their father comes home the children have to stay outside or in neighbors’ houses. The two girls want  to study but they are unable to pay the school/hostel fees. Her mother requested ARV to support the 2 girls for  their education so they can stay at hostel (dormitory). At these hostels, the girls will be able to study well and  have access to good food and shelter without any problems. ARV supported Rs. 7500/-  for their school & hostel fees,  including room and board, as well as books and uniforms for their education. 
• 22 year old Ganesh  was raised a Dalit in the village of Mandanapalle. His mother was widowed  years ago, forced to take up whatever work was available in the village to keep her children fed. As Ganesh grew older, he also helped support his family by delivering newspapers and milk, and by working at a local general  store. Ganesh has always been a clever, strong student. He was third in his class at the end of his mandatory  schooling (which ends at 10th class in India), but because of his family’s financial situation could only attend a  government run academy for college. These schools are of much lower quality, but the fees are greatly reduced. Despite being ranked 2nd in his college, Ganesh has found it financially difficult to complete his Business  Communications degree. He came to ARV seeking assistance because he was no longer able to support his  family as a fulltime student. ARV agreed to support Ganesh by paying for the remaining year’s school fees,  which amounts toaround $150. Ganesh is an ambitious and socially conscious youth; even in his spare time, he reads magazines covering Indian politics. After graduating in 2015, he hopes to become a civil servant in the Indian National  Government. 

 Publication in Media:

The news papers (4 news papres) have published in the local paper about the ARV’s work in the villages.