Help 1100 Students affected by Flood in Kerala

Dear Friends, 

We are pleased to share a success story- a story of a school this time.

A Story from the field

Government Upper Primary School in Thottuvathala ( GUPS- Thottuvathala) is located in  Alleppy district in Kerala. When we first visited the school soon after the flood , the school was in a pathetic condition. Other than three classrooms which are located at a high area , all classrooms were still under water . All the study material , benches & desks, library books, equipment in office room , water storage & drinking water facilities were completely damaged . The school had to work from scratch to make it look like a’ school’.

Firstly we have provided all the basic requirement to resume teaching- learning .  As the drinking water facilities in the school was completely damaged, the local authority ( Panchayat ) was supplying water twice a week in a boat.  The school was storing water this water for drinking and cooking mid-day meals for children in whatever vessels available . Soon a few children were affected due to un safe and unhygienic drinking water . Fortunately the school’s Head Mistress ( HM ) and the teachers are very active and they had full support of  the School Management Committee ( SMC).

The HM after many meetings with the SMC, requested IDEA for the best solution to end their drinking water problem. The SMC came forward with cleaning the existing water tank which was filled with mud and supervising the plumbing work .The masonry work and labour work was done by some of the SMC members.  Due to the effort of the HM and the SMC, Eureka Forbes donated a water purifier . The local authorities also came to know the efforts of the SMC and the School and came forward to support the school with digital class room. 

After restoring water facilities and all the required teaching-learning material, then came the need to support some extremely poor families with some a livelihood option. Again the HM and the SMC conducted many rounds of meetings to identify eligible families and worked with them to prepare a plan which is best suited- for some it was goat rearing , fish farming or poultry depending upon their past experience .

IDEA raised some funds for family assistance . In the first stage 20 most needy families were identified for giving goats . The SMC & the HM contacted the veterinary department for  free medical care and insurance for the goats. They too readily agreed . The Sub collector of the district  appreciated  all the efforts of the HM, teachers & the SMC at the time of  goat distribution event .

An update on the work with other schools

Schools have reopened after summer vacation in this month . Many schools have requested us to support poor children for their educational expenses . We have selected 100 students already and supplied school bag, note books, geometry box, umbrella and water bottle .

The work still continues …..with more family assistance for livelihood and sponsorship support for children.  

Thanks a lot for your support so far and we look forward for more support to reach out to many more needy children and families  .