Bricks to Books

Signature Campaign

 A signature campaign was organized at Chennai, the southern part of the country. The thought behind this initiative was to teach the adults to sign instead of putting thumbprints. Students of the nodal school and team from Dell Chennai facility visited the neighboring communities, identified illiterates' and taught them to write their names in the regional language.  The move greatly helped the people to understand the importance of education and they took an oath to send their children to schools.

An interview was conducted with the parents to find out the reason for frequent migration and not sending their children to school. Talks were initiated to get these children into the mainstream schools. The first round of discussions was done with the Government authorities to provide admission and hostel facility too. Most students are likely to join the normal stream by the next academic session.

To help them get ready for the formal schooling literacy classes are held every day. The children are taught the 3 R's - Reading, Writing & Arithmetic skills. Along with it they are also empowered with basic discipline, need for hygiene, good manners etc. These sessions will work as a foundation to cope with other students when they get into main stream schools.

Volunteers from Dell, Gurgaon facility too participated in providing basic literacy classes and the children thoroughly enjoyed the sessions. They were also taught to operate the laptops and one could find the joy gleaming in their eyes.

Success Story:

Syeda Firdous and Syeda Farha are two sisters who dropped from school due to poor economic condition. A counseling session with the students by the nodal school principal at Hyderabad resulted in admitting the two girls in the mainstream school and giving relaxation in school fees.

 We hope to see more and more children get back to school in the coming months and make a difference in many a lives.

• Signature Campaign (PDF)