evening study centers for 400 Tribal children

REPORT OF EVENING STUDY CENTERS

Name of the project:

-          Organization of 20 Evening Study Centers in Jawadhi Hills for 100 tribal children in the 9 - 13 age group studying 5^th to 8^th standards

Reporting period

-          March 2016 To October 2016

Objective of the project

-          To organize Evening Study Centers to improve the performance of the children through academic guidance for children, nutritious meal for children, health monitoring, opportunities for exhibiting innate skills continuous motivation of parents to provide for higher education of children that includes girl children

Progress upto the reporting period

-          Only one center is functioning and this is in Kilaiyur village in Jawadhi Hills

-          Number of children          receiving the services -           20 children

-          Classes in which the children study                      -           6^th to 8^th standard

Activities undertaken in the center:

-          Academic guidance for children – rendered by – Mr. R. Palani, MSc. B.Edn.

-          Nutritious meal for children – biscuit, plantain, nuts etc

-          Health monitoring – 2 visits by doctor – Dr. Sivanesan , Primary Health Center 

-          Opportunities for exhibiting innate skills – singing, dancing, acting, drawing, sports, play materials – caroms, chess

-          Continuous motivation of parents to provide for higher education of children that includes girl children – 2 programs conducted

CASE STUDY OF A BOY IN THE EVENING STUDY CENTER AT KILAIYUR

Basic information

Name of the boy              -              V. Mohan

Education                            -              Studying 8^th standard in Government High school at Kilaiyur

Family                                   -              Father                  -              Mr. Venkatesan

                                                                Mother                -              Mrs. Chitra

                                                                Siblings                 -              1 younger brother aged 9 years and studying 3^rd

                                                                                                                Standard

                                                                                                                1 younger sister aged 4 years

The family of Mohan lives in Pambathoor at about 1 kilometer from Kilaiyur where the tuition center is situated. The parents of Mohan have no regular occupation. When there is rainfall and farming activity they work as agricultural labourers. They don’t have any other skill that would keep them employed throughout the year. As rainfall is not a boom for this area agricultural activities are very rare. With no other occupation that they could maintain the family the parents indulge in illegal woodcutting and face all the consequences of their action. From informal discussions with the family members it is found that the parents are quite keen in educating their children. Being the first one in the family Mohan is provided all possible support by his parents. Unfortunately the family is simply unable to meet the educational needs of Mohan.

When SPHEED opened the free tuition center, Mohan’s parents admitted him without any hesitation. They seem to be a motivated lot. The boy is also found to be well motivated. Even though his village is at some distance from the village where the center is situated, the boy never fails to come to the center. One of his parents come and waits at the center to pick him up when the center closes in the evenings. The organizers of SPHEED believe that investing in the education of the boys would be a rewarding experience.

 CASES STUDY OF R. MANJU

R. Manju is a child from Kilaiyur village. She is studying 7^th standard. Her parents Mr. Raja and Mrs. Poomalli are woodcutters and maintain the family with whatever money they could earn from this activity. The family has just on child. Mr. Raja also goes into the hills in search of beehives in the rocks and trees in the nearby forest. When he is fortunate he collects honey and sells it for families in the villages and small towns in the plains. When he does this the family gets more money. The wife is very frugal in spending. She has become a member in the self-help group organized in the village with the initiative and motivation provided by SPHEED and saves whatever is possible for her. The parents are resolute to provide higher education to their son. They had received education only up to the primary level. They could sign their names and don’t know beyond this. But, they would not want their son to confine with primary education.

The only hurdle for the parents would be providing guidance to the boy at home in academic studies. When SPHEED started the Evening Study Center in their village, the parents felt that their felt and real need was fulfilled by SPHEED. They felt not only their wishes but the wishes of many more parents have been fulfilled.   Their son also is well motivated boy. All of them believe that with the establishment of the Evening Study Center in their village it has now become possible for the tribal children to excel academically. They have promised to extend all possible cooperation and support to SPHEED in implementation of the project.