udaan india foundation
DESCRIPTION
Its a project on NGO on children rightsTRANSCRIPT
ANKITA SHETTY
ADM NO: HPGD/JA14/1766
SOCIAL CAUSE: EDUCATION FOR UNDERPRIVILEGED
NGO: UDAAN INDIA FOUNDATION
PRIN. L. N. WELINGKAR INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT DEVELOPMENT & RESEARCH. YEAR OF SUBMISSION: 2015
1
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INDEX
CHAPTERS TOPIC PAGE NO.
1 Executive Summary 4
2 Social Responsibility 5
3 Understanding Isr-Individual Social
Responsibility
6
4 What Is Isr? 7
5 What Is Ngo? 10
6 Indian Ngos Working Toward Education Equality 11
7 How It Began At Udaan India Foundation 19
8 Who Are They 21
a) Vision And Mission 21
b) History 22
c) Values 23
9 What They Do 24
a) Kindergarten 24
b) Learning Centre 26
c) Saturday Club 28
2
d) Hamaari Udaan Library 29
e) School Support 31
f) Alumni Support And Scholarships 32
g) Skills Enhancement 34
h) Impact-- Stories Of Change 36
10 How To Get Involve With Them 38
a)Volunteer 38
b)Corporate Partnerships 39
c)Donate 40
11 Team 42
12 Partners 46
13 Fundraiser supporting this ngo 47
14 Udaan News 49
15 Conclusion 54
16 Webliography 55
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
3
The project attempts to give an idea about the various Individual Social responsibilities (ISR) and awareness about the requirement of how we as individuals can perform our social responsibility.
The social cause on which I have worked on in this project is Education for Underprivileged‘.
A brief insight is given on NGO – UDAAN INDIA FOUNDATION, working on Education for Underprivileged. The aim of UDAAN INDIA FOUNDATION is to help Every child educated and equipped with equal opportunities to transform their lives. The same is the subject of the project.
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
4
Social responsibility is an ethical framework which suggests that an entity, be it an organization or individual, has an obligation to act for the benefit of society at large. Social responsibility is a duty every individual has to perform so as to maintain a balance between the economy and the ecosystems. A trade-off may[citation needed] exist between economic development, in the material sense, and the welfare of the society and environment. Social responsibility means sustaining the equilibrium between the two. It pertains not only to business organizations but also to everyone whose any action impacts the environment. This responsibility can be passive, by avoiding engaging in socially harmful acts, or active, by performing activities that directly advance social goals.
Businesses can use ethical decision making to secure their businesses by making decisions that allow for government agencies to minimize their involvement with the corporation.For instance if a company follows the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guidelines for emissions on dangerous pollutants and even goes an extra step to get involved in the community and address those concerns that the public might have; they would be less likely to have the EPA investigate them for environmental concerns."A significant element of current thinking about privacy, however, stresses "self-regulation" rather than market or government mechanisms for protecting personal information”.According to some experts, most rules and regulations are formed due to public outcry, which threatens profit maximization and therefore the well-being of the shareholder, and that if there is not outcry there often will be limited regulation.
5
Critics argue that corporate social responsibility (CSR) distracts from the fundamental economic role of businesses; others argue that it is nothing more than superficial window-dressing; others argue that it is an attempt to pre-empt the role of governments as a watchdog over powerful corporations though there is no systematic evidence to support these criticisms. A significant number of studies have shown no negative influence on shareholder results from CSR but rather a slightly negative correlation with improved shareholder returns.
UNDERSTANDING ISR-INDIVIDUAL SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) has been the buzz for a while. Several attempts have been made to define, practice and document CSR. But increasingly and from diverse and independent pockets in the world people are talking about a different and more basic social responsibility.
ISR-Individual Social Responsibility has all the takings of being a high impact change maker. This article tries to build understanding on the subject by studying these various points of view.
6
WHAT IS ISR?
Individual Social Responsibility (ISR) is about an individual becoming responsible in his/her actions that have affect on communities outside his/her immediate circle. The immediate circle being family and friends.There can be an argument about also including family and friends, but it would be rather pertinent to include them as part of Individual Personal Responsibility.
Workshop for Civic Initiatives Foundation (WCIF), Bulgaria, describes ISR in its position statement on Social Responsibility as,
"The individual social responsibility includes the engagement of each person towards the community where he lives, which can be expressed as an interest towards what’s happening in the community, as well as in the active participation in the solving of some of the local problems. Under community we understand the village, the small town or the residential complex in the big city, where lives every one of us. Each community lives its own life that undergoes a process of development all the time. And everyone of us could take part in that development in different ways, for example by taking part in cleaning of the street on which he lives, by taking part in organization of an event, connected with the history of the town or the village or by rendering social services to children without parents or elderly people. The individual social responsibility
7
also could be expressed in making donations for significant for the society causes – social, cultural or ecological. There are many ways of donating, as for example donating of goods or donating money through a bank account or online".
Is ISR only about philanthropy?
ISR is not only about:
1. Committing acts of charity
2. Working for the communities where you have material interest.
These only form part of ISR, which is a broader concept that can be manifested through action as below:
1. Philanthropic behaviour of an individual
2. The campaigner, volunteer and activist instinct in the individual that picks-up and supports issues affecting the society
3. The above two coupled with an individual being ethical (integrity, honesty)in his/her outward dealings
ISR vis-à-vis CSR
1. ISR is at the roots of CSR, because a corporate comprises of individuals and hence determines the social responsibility culture it follows.
2. As CSR is being increasingly viewed as a tool to push wares a greater need for ISR is expected [5]. The example of www.kiva.org in giving people the power to empower is a big indicator of the shift.
3. If ISR becomes way of life CSR may be an automatic end result.
4. “The social responsibility of business is to make a profit,” famously said Milton Friedman, the Nobel Prize winner. He explained that in making a profit a company creates thousands of jobs, both directly and indirectly through suppliers, distributors and retailers. It imparts valuable skills to its employees. It pays crores in taxes. It improves the lives of millions of satisfied customers with its products and services. This is an enormous service to society. If some shareholders get
8
rich on the way, so what? Companies should focus single-mindedly on their competence, providing goods and services better than their competitors, and not get distracted by extraneous activity. A company’s social responsibility is to make profits legally, not to harm nature, and uphold the highest standards of governance.It is then left for the promoters of the corporations to practice ISR from the profits received above to really answer Social Responsibility
Is ISR practical?Yes, it is. The successes of ventures like www.kiva.org that empower individuals to bring sustainable change are case in point. Furthermore, the advent of Web 2.0 and social networking has fuelled Individual activism, campaigning and giving. But there is still a long way to go. According to The Harris Poll ®#57, June 18, 2007, when it comes to individual social responsibility, two-thirds of U.S. adults have "Good Intentions" – they believe that social responsibility is a good idea, and they do what they can in terms of volunteering, but they do not sacrifice huge amounts of time or money. At the top end of the spectrum, 8 percent of U.S. adults "Practice What They Preach" and for this group, individual, as well as corporate, social responsibility is extremely important. One-quarter of U.S. adults, however, follow a
Philosophy of "To Thine Own Self Be True" and, for this group, social responsibility has little consequence in their lives.On the other hand the trends show that the biggest growth for big charitable organisations in the world is coming through individuals and not through corporations and governments. The aspects of ethics, honesty and integrity surely need further consultation.
9
WHAT IS NGO?
A non-governmental organization (NGO) is basically a legally constituted organization which is operated by legal persons who act independently from any government. In those cases where the NGOs are funded partially or completely by governments, the NGO barred the government representatives from any membership in the organization in order to sustain its non-governmental status. The term is used for those organizations which have wider social target with political aspects. However, any NGO cannot be blatantly political organizations. The term “non-governmental organization” has no agreed legal definition and these are termed as “civil society organizations” in many jurisdictions.Across the world, the number of internationally operating NGOs is around 40,000. The number of national NGO in countries is even higher with around 1-2 million NGOs in India and 277,000 NGOs in Russia. The remodelling processes of the welfare state have led to the rapid development of the non-governmental sector in western countries. With increasing globalization, the intensity of such processes has increased further. In the 20th century, the Globalization makes the people understand the importance of NGOs.There are many problems which could not be solved effectively within a country. The international bodies at a global level including international organizations like World Trade Organization were considered to be too centred to favour the interests of capitalist firms. The growth and rise of NGO is seen as an attempt to offset this trend, where NGO emphasize the core issue related to human cause like sustainable development, developmental aid and other humanitarian issues. One such remarkable example of organization for raising the cause of people is World Social Forum. This organisation is an opponent convention to the World Economic Forum. In some cases, it represents the popular movements of the poor and other ways, it is regarded as an aristocratic form of politics.
10
INDIAN NGOS WORKING TOWARD EDUCATION EQUALITYMany NGOs in India are doing a great job in helping out the underprivileged kids with education and to bring about a social change. Foradian being a company which is dedicated to evaluate the face of education, celebrates these organisations which are working day in and out to provide every child a chance to get education. Read on to know as we talk about 5 such Indian NGOs which are doing their best in providing education equality:
1. Teach For India: ‘One day all children will attain an excellent education’- a vision that defines Teach For India, a Teach To Lead project that encourages young college graduates and professionals to take up two years of full-time teaching sessions in under resourced schools. In an effort to provide quality education to all, Teach For India currently works in 5 main cities of India- Mumbai, Delhi, Pune, Hyderabad and Chennai and is well equipped with some 700 Fellows who are working towards eradicating the high inequality present in Indian education system.
2. Make A Difference (MAD): Along with education partner, Cambridge University Press, Make A Difference or MAD has initiated a unique project ‘The English Project’ to educate children from poor homes, orphanages and street shelters with English. Currently, some 1200 volunteers are working hard to teach 4000 children in some of the major cities of India including Mangalore, Chennai, Bangalore, Mysore, Delhi, Dehradun, Kolkata, Vellore, etc. A winner of the prestigious Ashoka Staples Youth Social Entrepreneur Competition in the year 2008 and also a Noble Laureate of the Karamveer Purashkar awarded by ICongo, global fellow of YouthActionNet and Cordes Fellow 2010, MAD also runs a Placements project running that aims to place underprivileged children on the same platform with the children from regular homes.
11
3. Pratham: Established in the year 1994, Pratham is dedicated to provide education to children belonging to the slums of Mumbai. Team Pratham comprises of civil servants, PhDs, social workers, educationists and many other educated personnel who are working for a common dream of developing the future of children of the country. With an aim to offer every child their fundamental right to education, Pratham has slowly grown into a larger organisation covering 19 states of India.
4. Barefoot College-India: An entire campus that runs on solar power. Yes, that’s Barefoot College that was originally started by two friends Meghraj and Sanjit ‘Bunker’ Roy and who wanted to establish college for the rural population of India and was established in 1972. Today, the organisation trains local community people into teachers, specialized professionals in other fields and has initiated many educational efforts for children. The organisation has also been ranked as the second best educational NGO in the year 2013 by The Global Journal.
5. Cry: ‘Child rights and you’ or CRY is an NGO in India working for children and their rights. CRY has undertaken a lot of initiatives to improve the condition of underprivileged children and one of them is the ‘Chotte Kadam-Pragati ki Aur’, a literacy drive that has reached out to more than 35000 children in 10 states of India. ‘Mission Education’ is another very popular campaign from CRY to make sure that ‘education is every child’s right’ and that proper education reaches to more children in every new academic year.
12
6. Akanksha Foundation : The Akanksha Foundation is a non-profit organisation with a mission to provide children from low-income communities with a high-quality education, enabling them to maximize their potential and transform their lives. Akanksha works in the field of education, initiating school reform through The School Project, and providing a supplemental education through the Akanksha centers.
Currently, Akanksha reaches out to over 4600 children through two models: the after-school or center model and the School Project. Akanksha has 15 centers and 15 schools in Mumbai and Pune.
7. The Candle Project: To serve as a catalyst and drive social change through the medium of education and provide opportunities to children from underprivileged communities
The candle project is a movement to empower children from underprivileged communities through holistic learning and quality education for self sustainable and independent living. The organization works to remodel the education space by integrating learning with arts through partnership programs with god infrastructure schools
Vision: To provide every child with opportunities to make their dreams believable and goals reachable.
13
8. Door Step School : Door Step School provides education and support to the often-forgotten children of pavement dwellers, slum dwellers, construction site families and
many other underprivileged families. Many of these children are not enrolled in school and have limited access to books and a place to study. Additionally, many children drop out of school to work or care for younger children. With neither support nor resources at home some children also suffer from very low learning levels. We are trying to bridge this gap by bringing education to the “Door Step” of these underprivileged children.
Door Step School was established in Mumbai, India in 1988 and later expanded to Pune in 1993. It has impacted the lives of over 50,000 children since its inception.
Vision To be an instrumental force that brings development to children.
Mission All children deserve an education. An alarming number of India’s urban poor still remain without an opportunity to receive formal education. Our mission at Doorstep School is to bridge this divide using innovative programs that will bring education to these children and help them make the transition to literacy and a brighter future.
Goal Primary education for all children up to 14 years of age.
9. Yuva Parivartan: It is a collective effort of transformers, visionaries, corporates, and the benefactors. An NGO which was cradled in the Kherwadi region of Bandra, is now brimming with endless energy and has spread across the entire nation. In 15 years of its existence, Yuva Parivartan has shown a tremendous growth. The parent centre has now branched out to over 300 centres across 18 states of India, which includes 50 Livelihood Development Centres, more than 200 Partnership Centres, 5 jail Centres and over 2000 mobile rural camp
14
centres. As one of the largest NGOs in the livelihood space in India that works for the “out of school” youth, we strongly believe that the nation’s strength and future lies in the hands of its youth. Unlike the developed countries where 90% youth opt for some or the other sort of vocational training, less than 5% undergo vocational training in our country despite the fact that India is a country with the largest youth population.
From 100 students to 4,00,000 students, from 1 centre to more than 300 centres, from the violence affected tribal areas of Maharashtra to the hostile snow-clad terrain of Kashmir, Yuva Parivartan has expanded its horizons to become a national movement.
10. Eoto India : Vision: We aim to enrich the lives of children in the urban slums and rural India, by strengthening their intellectual and emotional capabilities.
Mission: Provide the underprivileged children with an opportunity to discover their inbuilt potential, enabling them to take up responsibilities and challenges in life.
15
11. Aseema: Aseema Charitable Trust is a Mumbai based non-governmental organization with a mission to equip children from marginalized communities with high quality, value based education enabling development of their limitless potential. Over the past 17 years, Aseema has worked extensively with children living in slum communities in Mumbai and remote tribal communities in Igatpuri.
In Mumbai, Aseema works in partnership with the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai(MCGM) to create centres of excellence within the public education system. We have adopted the English medium sections of the Pali Chimbai Municipal School, Santacruz (W)
Municipal School and Kherwadi Municipal School. In each of these schools, Aseema supports the MCGM by providing teachers who are oriented to Aseema’s child friendly approach, making the learning environment stimulating and safe and creating a culture that respects the child and promotes learning.
In Igatpuri (Maharashtra), we have set up an Education Centre for Tribal Children in the remote village of Awalkheda. The Centre currently has a Pre Primary Section and reaches out to children from the village and eight neighbouring hamlets.
Over the past few years, Aseema has been invited to offer training and support to other organizations working in the field of education. Through these and other initiatives, Aseema reaches out to over 4000 children annually.
12. Umang Foundation : Umang Foundation is a registered Public Charitable Trust, It was started by three IT Professionals in July 2008, who believe “there’s more to life” beyond office and home.Umang Foundation consists of more than 450+ dynamic professionals spanning across various sectors which also includes doctors, elite senior citizens, students, house wives who are enthusiastic to work for uplifting the society.Umang Foundation focuses on the upliftment of society in every possible way, to achieve this goal Team Umang have organized many philanthropic events and activities including
16
distribution of stationery kits, clothes to villagers, Blood Donation drives, celebration of festivals with people in old age home, celebration of special days with children and children suffering from cancer.Umang Foundation has a strong focus on providing education material to underprivileged children. Team Umang has provided educational material to these children starting from Kindergarten to the high school and have provided educational material to 9200+ less fortunate children since its inception. In year 2011, Team Umang has provided education material to 5500 children. Team Umang aims to increase this number to a whopping 10,000 children by April 2012.Apart from education, a complete creative growth is facilitated by the foundation through clay modeling workshops, Warli painting, paper collage and paper-bag making workshops for orphans, magic shows and dance competitions.
13. Udaan India foundation : Udaan India Foundation (Udaan) is a Mumbai based not-for-profit organization working with children from low-income communities in the field of education. Our primary aim is to ensure that every child of school going age is gaining a strong and holistic educational foundation to become a responsible, compassionate and confident citizen of tomorrow.
UDAAN
17
EMPOWERING THROUGH EDUCATIONOur Vision
Every child educated and equipped with equal opportunities to transform their lives.
18
HOW IT BEGAN AT UDAAN INDIA FOUNDATIONMamta Rangan is the founder and chairperson of Udaan India Foundation. Her foray into the social sector started as a result of her desire to give back to society. Taking a sabbatical from the corporate sector, she moved base to Mumbai when her husband’s job brought the whole family here. They moved into the then upcoming suburb of Powai. Powai was still developing then and Mamta recalls, there was construction happening everywhere! With construction, come workers, and in most cases, their families too. Mamta was thus brought face to face with the stark inequities that we so often fail to notice in our busy lives – children out of school, bare clothed, just running around on the streets, living in houses that were nothing more than shanties.
“What do you want to be when you grow up?” question. She recalls Santoshi replying, “Main bartanwalli banna chahti hoon.” (I want to become a dishwashing lady). Unlike Santoshi who had a response, most of the other children kept mum. That’s when Mamta realized that these children either had no dreams or very unambitious ones. And that didn’t go down too well with Mamta.
As she was anyway on a sabbatical, she decided to help these children – a simple desire to help them have somewhat of a childhood. So she, and even some of her friends and neighbours from time to time, started spending time with the children in parks, quiet street corners etc. From singing and dancing with them to teaching them numbers and the alphabets, many a afternoon were spent giving these children some memories of a “child”hood. They would also help these children revise what they had learnt at school in the mornings. So, without really intending to, they became a regular after-school programme.
It was only after a year or so that the thought of formalizing the same came to her mind. And it was a couple of small incidents that happened at the time that made her realize why continuing her venture was so important. One was when a little girl called Santoshi gave an atypical response to the obvious “What do you want to be when you grow up?” question. She recalls Santoshi replying, “Main bartanwalli banna chahti hoon.” (I want to become a dishwashing lady). Unlike Santoshi who had a response, most of the other children kept mum. That’s when Mamta realized that these children either had no dreams or very unambitious ones. And that didn’t go down too well with Mamta.
19
Thus, was born Udaan in 2004 based on the belief that “education is the key to change”. Continuing as an afterschool programme, Udaan’s aim is to give children access to quality education. They started with 26 children, some of whom were already in school, some who had dropped out and the rest who had never been to school.
Today, it has over 425 students under its wings, who are taught by 14 full time teachers and over 20 volunteers.
Classes are conducted between 3.15 and 6 15 pm daily, at a private school in Powai, after regular school hours, in accordance with the SSC curriculum.
Udaan India Foundation is a Mumbai based not for profit organisation working with children from low income communities in the field of education. Our mission is to enable brighter futures for children from low-income communities by providing them with the desired knowledge, skills, values and support to achieve their true potential.
Udaan has under its wings a range of teaching - learning spaces that meet the needs of the children who have limited access to quality education. A child's journey at Udaan starts at foundation level and continues till they are employable. Today, over 800 children benefit from our initiatives that include
20
Kindergarten, Learning centre, Saturday club, School Support programme, Library, Alumni support and Scholarships and Skills enhancement programme.
At Udaan, we believe in making education a continuous, joyous and voluntary experience for children, which inspires them to believe in themselves and take on the future with confidence. Through our work we strive to see perceptible changes by way of
Decrease in school dropout rates Enhanced academic performance Better job opportunities for the less privileged
WHO ARE THEY
VISION AND MISSIONUdaan India Foundation (Udaan) is a Mumbai based not-for-profit organization working with children from low-income communities in the field of education. Our primary aim is to ensure that every child of school going age is gaining a strong and holistic educational foundation to become a responsible, compassionate and confident citizen of tomorrow. Most Udaan children are from families where there has been little or no formal education, where education is not a priority and it is a common place for children to drop out of school in order to contribute to the family income. Believing in the power of education to change lives, a child’s journey at Udaan starts at the Kindergarten level, continues through school years and supports them until they become employable. The focus is always in making learning a continuous, joyous and voluntary experience that will help the children discover and achieve their true potential and take on the future with confidence.Through our work we strive to see the following perceptible changes: Short term
Enhanced academic performance Decrease in drop-out rate
Intermediate term Increased enrolment in higher education Enhanced employability skills
Long term Meaningful employment Self-sufficiency Responsible citizens
21
Udaan strongly believes that education has the power to transform lives. We want to ensure that every child, regardless of their social and economic background has access to quality education, enjoys learning and makes progress towards discovering and realizing their true potential. Through a holistic approach to education that integrates academic achievement with non-academic learning we provide knowledge, skills and values that prepare our children for a future full of opportunities. VisionEvery child educated and equipped with equal opportunities to transform their lives. MissionTo enable a brighter future for children from low-income communities by providing them with the desired knowledge, skills, values and support to achieve their true potential.
HISTORYThe groundwork for what is Udaan India Foundation today was laid in August 2004, when a few like-minded people came together for a common cause – a cause to educate underprivileged children in their neighbourhood. With no formal system or infrastructure in place, all that was there was a purpose to get together as many children as we could from the bastis nearby, and teach them how to read and write.
We started with 26 children, some of whom were already in municipal school, some who had dropped out and the rest who had never been to school. Classes were conducted on an informal basis for a few hours a week in the classrooms of a private school in the Powai neighbourhood, after regular school working hours. As we worked with the children, we realized that the lack of learning in school and absence of academic support at home created a huge challenge – igniting and maintaining the interest of children towards education. These were children who were at a risk of dropping out.
To support these children to cope with the academic curriculum and to maintain their interest in education and learning, a need was felt to start an after-school programme. This laid the foundation for our Learning Centre. Starting in 2005, the Learning Centre became a space of remedial teaching to bridge the learning gaps and stress the importance of education to both, children and their families. Over the years the Learning Centre became more than a mere remediation programme and grew into an after-school centre of quality education with a structured learning programme. We also introduced extra curricular activities such as art, dance and sports to expose the children to learning opportunities that would go beyond the regular academic curriculum.
22
The overwhelming progress shown by our students gave us confidence that the project was heading in the right direction. In 2009, this informal project was officially registered as a non-profit trust under the name of Udaan India Foundation with the following objectives:
To stress the importance of education to children and families and to be facilitators in ensuring that every child attends school.
To provide holistic learning to the underprivileged in order to maximize their potential.
To instill confidence and self-esteem through exposure to art, dance, sports and other activities.
To be a stepping-stone for children and young adults towards a better employment and a better quality of life.
Over the years we have grown to meet the educational needs of children and youth in low-income communities. Today we reach out to over 800 beneficiaries. All our programmes are directed towards providing access to quality education and opportunities enabling a brighter future for our beneficiaries.
VALUESAt Udaan, we are committed to the cause for which we exist and our values are core to our existence. We, at Udaan, uphold these values in everything we do. They are our guiding principles of building an effective organization, which diligently works towards achieving our mission and taking us closer to our vision.
23
Child at the coreAll our thoughts and actions are directed towards understanding and delivering what is in the best interest of the child. Learning is growingWe facilitate the growth of our children and that of our team by nurturing a happy learning environment. Together we achieve moreCollaboration is critical to achieving our vision. We believe that a vibrant team spirit, effective teamwork and durable, mutually beneficial partnerships with like-minded individuals and organisations enable us to have a greater impact. Excellence is keyWe are committed to achieving excellence in everything we do. We continuously review our performance, set higher benchmarks and seek to enhance ourselves to deliver a qualitatively superior experience to all our stakeholders, internal and external. Building trustWe believe that by being open and transparent in all our communication and actions we foster an environment of mutual trust and respect for all stakeholders
WHAT THEY DO1)KINDERGARTEN
Research across several educational communities upholds that children learn most in the development years of 0-5. However, learning in these crucial years is a remote luxury to most children in low-income communities. If school readiness is a crucial beginning to formal learning, then we believe that all must have it, irrespective of their economic standing. The Udaan Kindergarten provides pre-school learning to children from low-income communities, equipping them with a strong educational foundation to take on the rigour of
24
formal schooling with confidence. Classes of happy children experience the joy of learning under the gentle care of trained teachers in a safe, loving and vibrant environment. Kindergarten is the year of basics. Thus, the curriculum focuses on the essentials of all: languages, numerical literacy, development of fine and gross motor skills, awareness of self and environment, social skills and respecting of routine and discipline. The teaching methodology adopted to achieve the learning objectives is a combination of drill and reinforcement learning which facilitates memorizing and acquiring of habitual skills of writing and reciting and a play-way approach which allows for learning through doing, exploring and discovering. Teacher observations, student talk, classwork and orals help teacher assess the progress of the student on a continuous basis. Formal assessments are conducted twice in an academic year in a child-friendly manner. A thorough record of observations of each child enables teachers to give constructive feedback to the parents and suggest reasonable tasks to support the child’s learning at home.At the end of the Kindergarten year, our children are ready, both on an academic and social level, to enter Grade 1 of a formal school. AN INSIGHT At 9.30 am toddlers between the age of 4 and 6 step out of their homes, sometimes with their parent, sometimes alone, and sprint into the colourful and vibrant space of the Udaan Kindergarten located in a construction workers’ basti in Powai, Hiranandani. After a greeting to the teacher and a short prayer followed by a healthy snack, the children are ready for the day. Giggling, laughing, crying, and sulking, the little ones get lost in the world of flashcards, worksheets, games, puzzles, playdough, crayons and toys and all too soon it is time to go home. When their teachers bid them goodbye, they walk home with a smile on their face taking back home the joy of a safe and happy childhood - one of the most significant objectives for Udaan.
AT A GLANCE Number of beneficiaries - 56 Age group from 4 to 6 years 1 year pre-school programme Preparation for formal schooling Combining traditional and play way learning Safe and Happy Learning environment
Response from one of the Mother"After completing his Kindergarten at Udaan my son settled well in the first grade of school. Udaan ensures that a child learns well but they also ensure that the child is happy and healthy. Now my daughter attends the Udaan Kindergarten and I am happy to see my little one settled and happy".Poonam DingyaMother of Udaan student
25
2) LEARNING CENTRE
A regressive sequence of lack of quality education leading to school dropouts creates a mass of uneducated and unskilled youth, which is responsible for the vicious cycle of illiteracy and poverty in low-income communities. The Udaan Learning Centre is an after-school programme, which aims to provide a solid and holistic educational foundation to children from low-income communities to bridge the learning gaps and ensure the children stay in school. Following the principle of empowering through education our teaching does not focus only on academic education but also on non-academic learning to mould and nurture confidence, self-esteem and self-awareness amongst our students. The Learning Centre follows a structured curriculum for English, Math, Hindi, Science and Social Sciences from Grade 1 till Grade 10. A vertical progression of learning objectives for each subject ensures a steady and logical unfolding of learning at each level. Upholding the principle of holistic learning, the curriculum is implemented through a dual approach of ensuring conceptual understanding through lecture, demonstrations and experiments as well as experiential learning through celebrations, events, field trips and workshops. From moments of sheer joy at riding the fire brigade truck at the fire station to learning opportunities of understanding the vast universe at the Nehru Centre, from wearing new, festive clothes during Diwali to understanding constitutional rights through special assemblies, every exposure is about providing opportunities. Assessments are conducted on a regular basis with the purpose of adapting the curriculum to meet the students’ needs. This allows us to record students’ performances on monthly intervals on an assessment matrix. An analysis of the student’s performance indicates the gaps in the teaching-learning spaces and the cycle of curriculum management is revisited so to teach students the way they learn best. It is such analysis that enables us to identify students with remedial needs; students with learning disabilities and students who need a teacher’s stern eye and create solutions within the environment of the Learning Centre such that each student achieves their true potential. The Udaan Learning Centre is an effort towards instilling the faith, belief and culture of “empowerment through education” in the minds of children from low income communities to
26
ensure that they pursue the path of knowledge, skills and values needed in order to break the restraints of Illiteracy.
AN INSIGHTChildren in their crisp green-checkered uniforms, proudly wearing their Udaan ID cards and carrying their school bags wait at 2.30 pm every day for the Udaan bus to arrive and take them to the Udaan Learning Centre at Gopal Sharma School, Powai Vihar. Learning moments start with an assembly where all the children pray together and teachers share the news of the day. This is followed by a healthy and nutritious snack to ensure the children get energized to take on the lessons. After the assembly, teachers and volunteers armed with lesson planners and worksheets lead the students to their classroom. For the next two and a half hours students and teachers are seen pouring over books and concentrating, sharpening pencils and writing, discussing and debating. At 6 pm, the tired but happy children are dropped back to their homes, where hopeful parents park their dreams of breaking the cycle of poverty through their child’s journey of empowerment.
AT A GLANCE Number of beneficiaries- 387 After-school programme
Supplementary education for grades 1 to 10 Conceptual understanding and experiential learning Regular assessments Includes Health and Nutrition
Reponse from one of the student" I learn a lot at Udaan and I also have a lot of fun. I enjoy the field trips the most. Recently we went to the Nehru Vigyan Kendra where I learnt about how many planets are there, that stars are uncountable, the shape of earth and which vehicle did scientists first use on the surface of the moon. I was so fascinated to learn all these facts."
Salim Shaikh, Grade 5AUdaan Learning Centre student
27
3) SATURDAY CLUB
The famous quote from Confucius, "I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand." is the heart of learning. Learning is a continuous journey of multi-sensory experiences and joyous discoveries. It is the ‘learning by doing’ that allows opportunities of questioning, discussing, discovering, analyzing, synthesizing, creating, thus stimulating the mind to develop academic thought with deep logical considerations. The Saturday Club is a realization of this theory of learning. The Saturday Club programme is an extension of the Learning Centre that aims to concertize academic concepts through experiential learning integrated into co-curricular activities. This is a joyous space where through art and origami, tabla and songs, dance and drama, chess and pictionary, books and movies, windmills and Egyptian pyramids, children imbibe aesthetics, rhythm, diction, expression, historical, environmental and cultural sensitivity and a volume of intangible life skills which mould what we call the ‘character’ of a child. The different clubs such as the Science Club, Around the World Club, Book Club, Dance Club, Music Club, Sports Club, Environment Club, and India Club are led and conducted by volunteers and subject experts who are provided with clear objectives, curriculum and logistic plans for each of the clubs. With a period of 13 Saturdays in every term, each class is assigned different clubs in a term, one being academicthe other being co–curricular. After 12 joyful Saturdays, each club presents its learning through an interesting mode of presentation, with the help of their Didis and Bhaiyas. AN INSIGHTEach Saturday children are brought to Gopal Sharma School, where they immerse into the different clubs from 3 pm to 5.30 pm. A week before the commencement of the Saturday Clubs, there are animated discussions amongst the students about which new club will be introduced this year. When the clubs are assigned to each class, you can hear squeals from some classes and protests from others.In the first few weeks the children learn about the content of their club through concepts, stories, demonstrations, movies and audio-visuals. After that it is time for learning by doing: Cardboard, chart-papers, colours and clay are provided and every group disappears behind closed doors to translate their learnings into models or presentations. Children and volunteers passionately put together their miniature wonders of the world or solar system or a demonstration of folk dance and classical music. On the final day of presentations, some children transform into well-informed presenters explaining the mysteries of the Egyptian mummies while others present the
28
grace and beauty of Bharatnatyam Danseuse or sing ‘Akla Chalo Re’ in a sonorous voice. The volunteers in the background watch their students with pride and satisfaction.
AT A GLANCE
Number of Children - 197 Co-scholastic learning Led by subject experts and volunteers Experiential learning Runs for 13 Saturdays in each term Student presentations at the end of term
Reponse from one of the student
"I enjoy the Science Club the most. Through activities and experiments we are taught concepts
of science which otherwise I find difficult to understand. We learnt about pressure by doing an
activity of creating a fountain and also about magnets and force through experiments."
Vivek Singh, Grade 8 Udaan Learning Centre Student
4) HAMAARI UDAAN LIBRARY
It has been said, “Whenever you read a good book, somewhere in the world a door opens to allow in more light”. Then, imagine the darkness that awaits a population of children who have no access to any books other than the school textbooks made available at the beginning of an academic year and to be returned at the end of the year. The Hamaari Udaan Library aims to provide easy access to books for children in low-income communities. It is a platform for reading and informal learning through a range of English, Hindi and bilingual books. The library follows the GROWBY model of Hippocampus Reading Foundation. Each child and book is assigned with a GROWBY (Green, Red, Orange, White, Blue and Yellow) colour which represents a specific reading level. Trained librarians and volunteers provide support to students in their reading and observe their progress as they graduate to higher reading levels. Books open the window to a whole new world and take children on a flight to spheres of countries, history, science, human behaviours and fantasy that
29
otherwise would be unknown to them. The immense potential of the library as a tool of informal learning is harnessed by supplementing it with language games and grammar lessons. Book based activities and worksheets reinforce the incidental learning that occurs when children immerse in the universe of stories and incidentally walk the path of knowledge as they discover the joy of reading. Afterall, reading is the gateway to knowledge. AN INSIGHT Sometimes after school and often on weekends, children eagerly walk into the Hamaari Udaan Library to travel into the cosmos of fascinating people, friendly animals, mysterious happenings and exotic lands. Falling over each other to reach out to the coveted Amar Chitra Katha or to grab the beautiful looking book of the girl with the long golden hair, children settle down into their assigned groups having satisfied themselves with their trophy of the desired book. The little ones wait with teacher didi for her to choose a book. Volunteers and teachers in each group start with an interesting story - someday taking children to visit Arabia on the magic carpet and sometimes getting them to believe how good always conquers evil as in fairy tales, thus training young minds to always hope and believe in goodness. Their minds stimulated towards imagination, children now are eager to meet the characters of their own book and thus follows the time of silent, individual reading, which is the time when one can see the child getting into the role of a brave prince or beautiful princess - a world that he/she often dreams about at night.
AT A GLANCE Easy access to a variety of books GROWBY model by Hippocampus Reading Foundation Book based activities and worksheets Led by trained librarians Helps improve language skills Inculcate reading habits
Reponse from one of the student
"There are many good books in the library. I like to read them all. I also like the circle time when we all sit together and read books. That is so much fun. My favourite tale is ' Ekki dukki'. I like it because it is a tale of two sisters and I have a sister too." Bhumika Tiwari, Grade 4Learning Centre student
30
5) SCHOOL SUPPORT
20th century India has seen a promising trend in primary school enrolment owing to efforts of governments and non-profits. However, despite the apparent positive data on government-run public school registers, a bitter reality confronts us in a staggering volume of millions of children dropping out of school. The reason for this situation is that we chased the numbers and neglected the core – the quality of education. Udaan's School Support Programme is an initiative to strengthen the aim and efforts of the government to proceed from quantity to quality. In 2012, Udaan partnered with two Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai schools to provide a strong educational foundation to children by establishing an Udaan Kindergarten and providing remedial support to primary sections in an after-school programme. A baseline assessment of language and math competency enabled the Udaan teachers to understand the academic needs of the students. Adopting appropriate teaching strategies and aids to bridge the learning gaps of the students, children slowly mastered the conventions of languages, concepts of math and fascinating facts of general knowledge. Going beyond academic focus, Udaan also brought about attitudinal and behavioral changes in the students by integrating value education into day-to-day student–teacher interactions. The progress of the students was continuously monitored through teacher observations and oral and written examinations. Meetings with the school teachers and parents reinforced our impact. At the end of the year, the performance graph of these students was like a rising star. A successful first year of collaboration built trust and confidence, and the Udaan School Support programme has now expanded to include a government-aided school. Besides providing after-school remedial teaching, Udaan also took up the responsibility of creating an environment conducive to learning by changing the face of the school with pleasant, soothing newly painted walls, solid desks, black boards and vibrant notice boards. The aims of the school support have evolved and hence today the school support has gone beyond the remedial classes, to provide a library programme, aid computer literacy and introduce co-scholastic experiences. All efforts are directed towards delivering quality learning experiences to ignite and maintain the interest of the children in education.
31
AN INSIGHT Children who could have been potential dropouts are now willing to come to the Udaan Support Programme before school and stay after school sometimes coaxed by their parents and other times egged on by their friend. They enjoy sitting in a classroom for 2 hours to learn phonetics, grammar, vocabulary, division, subtraction and much more - all that children usually want to escape from even during regular school hours. Now, as this child has progressed from not knowing the sounds of the alphabets to being able to read the stories of ‘The Clever Crow’, he has experienced the power of learning and so, even if it means sometimes to be forced to treat a corner of an assembly hall as a class, both teacher and students are lost in their world of learning. For the teacher it is the satisfaction of making a difference, for the student it is simply the joy of learning.
AT A GLANCEAfter school support in government run and government supported schoolsBridge learning gapsReduce number of dropoutsRegular monitoring and evaluationProgress from quantity to quality education
6) ALUMNI SUPPORT AND SCHOLARSHIPS
Teenage years are years of building on knowledge and skills to prepare for a higher-level course of study, of goal setting and aspirations and of exploring spaces to identify possible career paths. It is a vulnerable and precarious age and in the absence of any support for children in the communities, it is an age when many drop out to support the family income or simply stay at home due to the inability of parents to support them for further education. The Alumni and Scholarship Programme is an anchor for each Udaan child, post Grade 10, to turn to for emotional, moral, academic and financial support to tide over the trying period of doubts ad decisions. The Alumni Programme begins with sessions of aptitude testing and career counseling to understand one’s strengths and challenges in order to choose an appropriate course
32
of study. A one-on-one counseling session helps students make an informed choice towards the path of higher level education. The Scholarship Programme, then, provides financial aid towards the child’s junior and senior graduation years, be it for mainstream college or open school, a vocational or professional course or coaching classes. The performance of each child is monitored in regular alumni meetings to erase hurdles of any nature which could set the child back in his strides towards progress. Visits to industries, professional college fests and guest lectures ensure that the child is introduced to the real world of business and commerce, stimulating him to work on himself to be a part of this world in the future. A unique feature of the Udaan Alumni Programme is the recruitment of Udaan alumni, as paid assistants in its existing programmes without impinging on their academic responsibilities, to provide a small stipend to meet their daily needs. The aim of the programme is to be a mentor and guide for students to help them stay focused on their goal as they begin their second phase of learning journey. AN INSIGHT After the euphoria of passing Grade 10 dies down, a child starts getting lost in the whirlwind of online admissions, choice of college, which stream, which subjects, amount to be paid, how to get the money, earning while studying. All these question marks are gently erased, one-by-one, when the child is guided through each challenge through aptitude tests and career counseling which help draw up a realistic path for the student. Admissions done, scholarships secured, the child looks forward to new learning. But suddenly, a parent decides that the child needs to earn and stop studying. A search for an appropriate temporary job begins in or beyond Udaan. All throughout the child’s confusion, immaturity, sparks of responsibility and teenage abandonment, Udaan handholds the teenager, ensuring that he stays focused on his goal.
AT A GLANCE Number of Beneficiaries - 71 Post Grade 10 mentoring and guidance Aptitude and Career counseling Financial aid Significant feature get-give principle
"When I failed in class 10, I was completely demotivated in life. I thought I could do nothing in life. But Udaan didis really supported me, lifted my spirits and told me to be positive in life. I realized that positive thoughts leads to positive things in life. And negative thoughts lead to negativity in life. At Udaan I was encouraged to think positively and I did. Today, I am an assistant teacher at Udaan and I am very happy. I always try to think positively these days." Laxmi YadavUdaan Alumni
33
7) SKILLS ENHANCEMENT
Much has been written and spoken about the problem that is plaguing our ‘developing’ nation: the volume of educated, unskilled, unemployed youth losing faith in the significance of education. Every citizen, bureaucrat and politician is aware that the future of the country lies in creating a “skilled workforce” for the problem facing our country, which is not that of unemployment but of unemployability. The Udaan Skills Enhancement Programme (SEP) aims to equip the youth with theoretical knowledge, practical skills and a positive attitude to seek meaningful employment and take them towards self-sufficiency. Thus, the emphasis of the SEP is on enhancing the employability level through 4 segments:
Computer literacy Spoken English Vocational training Soft Skills
Any youth is eligible to apply for the SEP and enrol for all the segments or for just one or some of them. At the Udaan Computer Centre we run a NIIT accredited programme, where students are introduced to the basics of computer literacy that build a foundation to take on higher level computer skills at a later stage in their professional lives. The focus of the curriculum is on learning practical computer skills along with a theoretical foundation of computer science. The course that covers Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Internet is divided into two stages: the preparatory stage and NIIT first level, to ensure a gradual and thorough assimilation of studied material. At the end of the programme, a NIIT evaluation certifies successful candidates. The Udaan Spoken English course aims to impart basic English language skills to support the youth in achieving their higher educational goals, equip them to do well in their future jobs and confidently converse in social situations. The course follows the Yuva English curriculum designed by the Centre for
34
Learning Resources specifically for learners in the age group of 16 – 25 years who have completed their secondary education in a vernacular medium. Yuva English is an interactive course with a bilingual and learner centric approach that focuses on learning the application of language tenets rather than assimilation of mere language concepts. Language games, conversations, discussions, drill, functional writing exercises, mock interviews – all aim at shaping a confident youth empowered to accomplish basic social and business communication. The Vocational training programme imparts working know-how and practical skills for a specialized discipline of knowledge to take up careers in fields such as Retail, Automobile, and Hospitality. Udaan collaborates with different agencies of vocational training who implement the actual training sessions after a thorough audit of the curriculum, implementation and monitoring systems. Udaan has collaborated with such agencies as Rustomjee Academy of Global Careers (RAGC), Youth Career Initiative and Skills Academy. Sessions on Soft Skills conducted by corporate volunteers prepare the participants to confront the professional work place with the desired set of values, attitudes and behaviour. Sessions on grooming, goal setting and time management focus on getting them ready to take on the future with confidence. The ultimate goal for SEP is to yield self-sufficient, compassionate and responsible youth, who are meaningfully employed.
AN INSIGHTSelf–motivated youth walk into the SEP sessions with great hope and dreams for the future. After the initial formality of screening and admissions, gradually each student is gently encouraged to share their dreams. Udaan teachers, the educational partners and the volunteers, discreetly note down these aspirations and start guiding the youth through the chosen path. While the training on specialized skills enhance their expertise, the sessions on personal grooming, time management and goal setting shape their personality. In a span of 3-4 months, the participants starts expressing their concrete plans for the future. Thus, armed with content, capability, confidence and faith, each youth is ready to walk the journey of self-sufficiency and end the cycle of poverty for himself and his family.
AT A GLANCE Enhance employability skills Theoretical knowledge and practical skills Computer literacy programme Spoken English programme Vocational training programme Soft skills training sessions
35
"General Mills India has an unwavering commitment towards our mission of nourishing lives. Udaan’s Skills Enhancement Programme provides us with a unique opportunity to make a differential impact to the lives of 30 aspiring youth to embark on their own forward looking journey of nourishing life. The partnership with Udaan also allows us to live our core championship value of “Grow and Inspire” and thus help us create a leader in every chair at General Mills." Cheryl Bethune, Director Human ResourcesGeneral Mills India Private Limited-GBS
8) IMPACT
Stories of Change
1 ) Santoshi Maitri, 19 years
“If Udaan was not there, I would have never been able to go to school.”
19 year old, Santoshi Maitri lives with her parents in the construction workers' basti at Hiranandani Gardens in Powai. She had never been to school when she joined the Udaan project 10 years ago. A keen learner, Santoshi was enrolled at Tirandaz Municipal School and through her hard work, dedication and the support provided by teachers at Udaan, Santoshi soon blossomed into an all - round student. She excelled in academics and was always appreciated for her dancing skills when she performed regularly at our Annual Day functions. In 2014, Santoshi passed her XIIth grade examination with 57% and has now received a scholarship to pursue a diploma in Education at Mahatma Gandhi Teacher Training College. One day Santoshi hopes to be a teacher and help many like her. An outstanding example of how education can change lives!
36
2) Vinay Giri, 20 years
“Udaan is helping me to realize my dream of becoming a computer engineer."
Vinay Giri is the eldest son of Mr. & Mrs. Shambhu Giri who migrated from Bihar 15 years ago and reside in the slums of Phule Nagar. Vinay joined Udaan when he was in class VII at Tirandaz Village
Municipality School. With the constant motivation, encouragement and guidance provided by teachers at Udaan, Vinay became a top student with big dreams. He scored 93% in the 2010 SSC board exams and, with the help of mentors from Udaan, completed his diploma in Computer Engineering from K J Somaiya College and is now pursuing a degree in Computer Engineering at Vivekanand Engineering College, Mumbai. The scholarship received from Udaan has given him an opportunity to realise his dream. He volunteers at the Computer Centre over the weekends and believes that Udaan has really developed his skills and personality and it is because of Udaan that today he can have a long conversation in English. In Vinay’s words, ”If I had to describe Udaan in one word, I would say that it means life to me”
3) Malkawa Bomidi, 25 years
“Udaan nurtured me and gave me an identity of which I am very proud."
Malkawa today represents Udaan’s journey. She and her 5 siblings belong to our very first batch of 2004. Struggling with her academics, she failed to pass her grade X in 2006. Very demotivated, she wanted to drop -out, but the teachers at Udaan, ignited her fighting spirit and with concentrated efforts and mentoring she managed to clear her grade Xth in the second
37
attempt. While she wanted to continue her education, there was pressure to supplement household income. Udaan helped her get a part - time job while she continued her education. Her experience and growth with Udaan convinced her that education is key to change for everyone and inspired her to enrol for a professional teaching course post grade XII. While pursuing her diploma in Education, she was supported and mentored by teachers at Udaan that helped her pass with distinction. She is now herself a teacher at Udaan and giving back what she got from Udaan. But more than an Udaan teacher, she is a role model for all in the community who aspire to be like her.
HOW TO GET INVOLVE WITH THEM
1) Volunteer
One of our core values is collaboration because we believe that together we can achieve much more! We believe we are able to make a huge difference in our children’s lives through the dedicated efforts of our staff and volunteers. Volunteers are an essential part of Udaan and we would not be where we are today without their unconditional support! Volunteer opportunities with Udaan are available in different areas, from teaching a class, leading an extracurricular activity, accompanying the children on field trips to supporting our office team in administrative tasks.
38
2) Corporate Partnerships
Today, corporate organisations across the globe are doing their bit in making the world a better place for all. For corporate organisations it is increasingly about doing responsible business, where profits must benefit not only their own stakeholders. Udaan is an opportunity for corporates to positively impact the communities we live in. Accredited by Give India, as one of the 200+ highly transparent and accountable
NGO's in India, Udaan offers a range of initiatives for corporate involvement that are aligned with the objectives of doing social good. With engagement being an important component of our partnerships with corporates, Udaan offers hands on volunteering opportunities for employees, within a range of Udaan projects, that meet the needs and match the values of the organization. With mutually meaningful employee engagement, the program not only creates a sense of social commitment and responsibility but also develops a cohesive corporate culture by providing excellent opportunity for team building and leadership development of employees. Partners Feedback"With dynamic leadership and a successful track record of increasing school enrolments, decreasing dropouts and focusing on better employment opportunities, Udaan was the best partner of choice for JLT." Balamurugan V, CEO - Jardine LLoyd Thompson
39
3) Donate
Education is the best gift one can give to a child. Support us through a donation and enable a brighter future for the children we work with. Your contributions could not only take an Udaan child closer to realising his/her dream, but also help us reach out to many more children in need of quality education. Be a part of a child's journey by sponsoring one or more of the following donation options:
Scholarship for a child beyond grade 10Rs 10000Allows meritorious and deserving students to continue their education in junior/degree college or enrol for vocational courses to enhance their employability.
Sponsor a child for a year Rs 8500Includes after school academic support, school supplies, uniform, supplementary nutrition, Diwali clothes and educational trips for a child at the Learning Centre.
Sponsor a teacher for a monthRs 4800Covers monthly salary of a teacher at the Learning Centre. Each teacher receives training from Udaan to ensure that they deliver quality education in the classroom.
Healthy snack for a class for a month Rs 3000Provides supplementary nutrition and covers nutritious snacks like energy bar, seasonal fruit, chikki for 30 children at the Learning Centre.
40
School supplies and uniform for a childRs 1000Includes everything from books, notebooks, stationery, uniform, T-Shirt to sandals and socks for a child at the Learning Centre.
Contribute to our general corpus Any amountHelp us build a healthy corpus for a secure future.
Contribute In-kindWe welcome any form of in-kind donation. Support us by providing healthy snacks, donating new clothes, footwear, stationery, dictionaries, and notebooks for our children or infrastructure and IT equipment for our centres. Celebrate Your Special Occasion with UsBring a smile to our children’s faces by sharing your special occasions with us. Celebrate your loved ones’ birthdays/anniversaries or even festivals such as Diwali and Christmas with us. You can do so by sponsoring a meal or distributing sweets or gifts on these occasions.
41
TEAM1) Mamta Rangan
Founder and Chairperson
Mamta is a graduate of Science from Delhi University with 12 years of experience in the corporate sector. Her love for children and desire to do something for the society led her to start Udaan as a small informal project in 2004 to support the education of children of construction workers. Her belief that every child must have an equal opportunity and access to quality education made her to register Udaan as a not-for-profit organisation in 2009. Mamta has been instrumental in developing the educational programs over the years and led Udaan to what it is today, a journey from Kindergarten to Employability.
2) Padma Vaswani
Trustee
Padma Vaswani is an alumna of Elphinstone College, Bombay University. She began her career in education at a school in Kolkata. While in Kolkata, she was associated with the East India Charitable Trust and was also the Chairperson of the Cheshire Homes. On her return to Mumbai, she was associated with the Hiranandani Foundation School for 17 years from where she retired as Principal in 2007. Subsequently, she was a consultant to a few schools and was the Consulting Editor with Madhuban Educational Books for their History series. She is currently on
42
the panel of Raj Mohindra Education Consultants. Padma has been a believer in the philosophy of Udaan since its inception.
3) N Rangarajan
Trustee
Rangarajan has 29 years of experience in corporate sector and is currently the Head of Operations at Nomura Services India. Rangarajan is a Commerce graduate from Delhi University and is a member of the Institute of Chartered and Cost Accountants of India. His involvement with Udaan stems from his deep -rooted desire to help less privileged children and his commitment to education
4) Ashlesha Chitnavis
CEO
Ashlesha Chitnavis is an educationist with a Master's degree in English Literature and a Bachelor's degree in Education from Mumbai University. She has been associated with R.N Podar School and Billabong High International School and her inclination towards structuring an educational ecosystem comes from her work experience with Kangaroo Kids Education Limited. Believing strongly that a sound education system, a healthy childhood and a happy home is key
43
to a self sufficient & dignified adulthood, Ashlesha is committed to the task of imparting quality education to children irrespective of any disadvantages in their environment.
5) Sushree Mishra
Education Officer
Sushree is an educationist, author and a reading specialist with a passion for storytelling. She has 8 years of experience in the field of curriculum development, teacher training, community development, as well as hands-on teaching. She has worked with Pratham, Dr. Reddy’s Foundation, and the Pasadena Unified School District in California, USA. She has also been a consultant with Oxford University Press India. She strongly believes that every child has a right to education in a happy and nurturing environment. Her role at Udaan enables her to translate this belief to action.
6) Karthik Ramanathan
Programme Officer
Karthik is a post-graduate in Ancient Indian History, Culture and Archaeology from Deccan College. He started his career with Cell for Human Values, IIT- Bombay. It is his love for children and his inclination towards teaching that drew him to Udaan in 2011. He believes that education is the medium through which one can create proud citizens with a sense of
44
responsibility towards the nation. Working with the Udaan children gives him hope that this goal can be achieved.
7) Shradha Pevekar
Admin Co-ordinator
Shradha is a post graduate in Commerce from Mumbai University. She has 8 years of experience in the retail, facility management and telecom sector. Her strong belief that a good education is essential for every child, motivated her to join Udaan
Their TeamSitting (left to right): Mamta Rangan, Komal Torne, Laxmi Yadav, Divya Dubey, Malkawa bomidi,Sushma Vishwakrama, Shradha Pevekar . Standing (left to right): Suseela Venugopal, Pinky Gupta, Jyoti Francis, Indu Singh, Preeti Gupta, Neelam Shrivastava, Savitri Pal, Mrunalini Shrivastava, Varsha Gaikwad, Vedanti Desai, Kavita Saroj, Sunita Khamkar, Ashlesha Chitnavis, Vedika Dhuri, Sushree Mishra . Standing behind (left to right) : Karthik Ramanathan, Ajit Vishwakarma
45
PARTNERSOne of our core values is collaboration because we believe that together we can achieve much more! We, at Udaan, believe that mutually beneficial partnerships with like-minded individuals and organisations enable us to have a greater impact and move closer to our vision. We are privileged to have corporate partners, educational partners, dedicated staff and volunteers who come together to share knowledge, skills, and resources.
From providing space to run our Learning Centre to funding projects, our partners have been our pillars of strength in doing their bit in reducing the educational inequities in our country.
Corporate Partners
Accreditation & Funding Partner
Infrastructure Support Gopal Sharma School for the Learning Centre Hiranandani Group for the Library Transocean for the Computer Centre
46
Partner Organizations Atma Children’s Movement for Civic Awareness Magic Bus MCGM Education Department Shobhadevi School Skills Academy
Other Support Kherwadi Association KOOH Sports Mahesh Tutorial Rajan Chakravarthy and Associates Saicare Travels United Way Victory Arts Foundation
FUNDRAISER SUPPORTING THIS NGO:Amit Chilka
Support My Campaign
Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world. `Nelson Mandela
I personally believe that education is everyone's right. It pains when I see children who want to learn are not able to go to schools because of the financial problems in the family.
K.C. Mahindra Education Trust has been doing great work through their project 'Nanhi Kali' in
47
providing high quality learning outcomes guaranteed education interventions to underprivileged girls studying in government schools across India. Their primary objective thorough this project is to reduce the high rate of dropout among girl children from socially economically marginalized families.
Udaan India Foundation too, works towards empowering low income community children through education. Their primary aim is to ensure that every child of school going age is gaining a strong and holistic educational foundation to become a responsible, compassionate and confident youth of tomorrow.
Hence I sincerely request all of you visiting this page to generously donate towards the above noble causes help these underprivileged children use education as a powerful weapon to change their world.
About Him
I started running a couple of years back and it changed my world. It has now become a part of my everyday life and am passionate about it. To take it to the next level I want to start running for a cause.
I intend to run 21k thrice a week for the next 8 weeks so as to gear up for SCMM i.e. going to be 21 x 3 x 8 = 504k and for every km I run I intend to raise INR 100 which makes it INR 50400!
I need help and support from all of you! :)
Fund Usage:
The Mumbai Marathon is an opportunity for beneficiaries and well wishers to come together and pledge their support for a common cause. The funds raised during the marathon will help us reduce education inequities for less privileged children, sustain and scale up existing programs and to provide scholarships to children who would otherwise be unable or are unlikely to pursue further education post 10th std. We look forward to your support in helping us realize our children’s dreams.
48
UDAAN NEWS
1 ) Powaites enjoy a cool, bright, sunny afternoon ‘Taare Zameen Par’, a drawing and crafts competition organized by Rotary Club of Bombay Powai By Vivek V Govilkar
The annual signature event of Rotary Club of Bombay Powai was held on Sunday, 16th Feb 2014. With a light drizzle on Saturday, there was a concern whether the event could be held as planned on the lawns of the Heritage Park. Luckily, the skies cleared and the lawns dried up just in time. The sunlight enhanced the bright colours of the flowers and cool breeze made the afternoon very pleasant. More than 250 kids participated in this event along with their parents and grandparents. We even saw come enthusiastic grandparents try their hand at painting. Children from NGOs like Mobile Crèche and Udan as well as our local municipal schools participated and won some prizes. Topics for painting were given on the spot. Children let their imagination run wild to illustrate My favourite sport, My vacation with the family, Fun at summer camp, India in 2025 or Save water save earth. The younger kids were given stencils and they were required only to add colours to the printed pictures. This year we included a new category in crafts. Participants were asked to use only dry, household waste creatively to make some useful objects. The artwork produced by the kids was truly amazing. Saloni and Kala were the winners in the crafts competition in the ‘up to 12th Std.’ and ‘above 12th Std.’ categories respectively. In the painting competition, Aryan Bajaj bagged the first prize in the KG category whereas Kamalini Ramesh was the winner in the ‘1st to 3rd Std.’ Category. Vedant Bandarkar
49
(4th to 6th Std.), Bhakti Dalal (7th to Tues, May 27, 2014Tues, May 27, 2014 12:01:20 PM about us contact us advertise here how to get copy NEWS Archive 10th Std.) Yogesh Kirpana (Jr. College to 35 years), Mona Kothari (35 to 60 years) and Mandakini Panchdhari (above 60 years) were the other deserving winners. All the participants were given a drawing kit donated by Pidilite in addition to some yummy snacks. While the judges (Kalpana Gandhi, Bandhe Nawaz, Rohit Soni and Sudipta) were busy looking at the artwork, the kids were kept engaged by local amateur dancers. Later the kids and some parents also joined the dance floor. This has become an annual event that Powai kids look forward to. So see you next year, same time, same place.
2) Udaan India Foundation (UIF), a Powai based non profit organisation celebrates its Annual day.“Hum honge kamyaab ek din…” the hall resounded with these words as well healed adults clapped and sang along with bright eyed children as part of the curtain call.. The venue : Gopal Sharma Memorial School Auditorium, The day: the evening of 20thFebruary, 2011, The occasion : the Annual Day of the children of Udaan India Foundation (UIF), a Powai based non profit organisation working towards educating less privileged children.The evening of dance and drama put together by the Udaan children and team centred around the theme of “One Earth , Save it” .The concert began with a welcome speech by Mrs.Padma Vaswani, a renowned educationist, which beautifully captured the essence of the evening – an acknowledgement of our responsibility towards the environment and making small efforts to save our planet as there is only “ One Earth “. While seeking the support of the residents of Powai, she had a message from the children of Udaan: “ Do not walk in front of me, I may not follow, Do not walk behind me, I may not lead, Walk beside me and be my friend.”This was followed by the auspicious lighting of the lamp by dignitaries from the corporate world- the CEO of Transocean, the MD of Nomura, the Head of Barclays Offshore business and the trustees of Udaan .The programme began with a Ganesh Vandana and a relook at Vande Mataram as a song celebrating bountiful Mother Nature. It looked like Lord Ganesh was benignly smiling at the people assembled there that evening because the programme that followed was a ‘thing of beauty’ enjoyed by both, the audience and the performers if one were to go by the smiles on either side of the curtain!Popular Bollywood numbers like “All is well” and “Aashayein” were danced to with as much gusto as numbers like Michael Jackson’s “Earth Song”, and nursery rhymes like “Roly Poly” making it a delightful ‘bhel puri’ for the senses. The children of grade 4,5,7 and 8 in their musical “Izz all well?“ expressed how human greed is instrumental in destroying our natural resources and the need to act responsibly towards the environment.Ms Anuradha Murthi took the audience through the evening with some very touching compering.
50
“The Annual Day is an opportunity for the children of UIF to showcase their talent and reinforce Udaan’s commitment in providing the children holistic learning with focus on extracurricular activities like dance,
art and drama to help them grow up into confident individuals,” says Mamta Rangan, the chairperson of Udaan; and if one were to go by the evening of the 20th of February, one would say the little fledglings of Udaan have really come into their own – bringing the audience to their feet for a standing ovation at the end of the programme.The outstanding students for the academic year 2010-11 were felicitated by guests for the evening. “It was a fantastic show , so well coordinated and more importantly each child had a smile. I was very moved by the entire program” said an impressed Deepa Ramani while the awestruck mother of Manisha Rathod, DOR [Drop Out Remedial] student of Udaan mused, “I never dreamt of my child going to school , leave alone performing on stage . I was so proud to see my daughter dancing on stage today. I will now support whatever she wants to do now.”
3) Empower through EducationUdaan India Foundation believes in providing equal opportunity through education to children from disadvantaged backgrounds. N Madhavan and Aditya Govindaraj write about how the Foundation is making a differenceDid you know that 37% of global illiterates live in India? According to latest Global Monitoring Report, a whopping 2.3 million Indian children have never been to school. The future of the Indian economy hinges on our young population; most of them are poor and unskilled. They do not get what they deserve—their fundamental right to education; access to quality education remains a dream. Our country has the dubious distinction of having one of the highest school dropout rates and child labour levels in the world! Mumbai is no exception. Mamta Rangan, founder and trustee, Udaan India Foundation (UIF), followed her belief that ‘education is key to change’ and set up Udaan in 2004 to help children of construction workers to enrol in mainstream schools.
Udaan, a project that started as an informal initiative, is now a registered trust with 800 students, 15 full-time teachers and over 25 volunteers under its wings. Most children who come to Udaan are from families with little or no formal education. Education is not a priority in such families; it is commonplace for children to drop out of school to contribute to the family income. Udaan is sensitive to the fact that the girl child is usually the worst victim of poverty and, often, forced to drop out of school. Hence, UIF pays special attention to the girl child—evident from the girl:boy ratio at their centres.A child’s journey at UIF begins with the Kindergarten programme and continues through the learning years, steadily taking her/him towards employability and a better life. Udaan’s learning
51
centre lays the foundation of a child’s holistic development and imparts learning that ranges from the scholastic to the co-scholastic. Beyond this, children are guided, mentored and provided financial support on an equal opportunity basis, to meet his/her true potential. To open the world of books for children and supplement their language skills, UIF runs a community library that implements the ‘GROWBY’ reading programme of the Hippocampus Reading Foundation.
Children are taken through a structured programme to become confident and eager readers. Under the guidance of qualified staff, the library brings relevant and meaningful literature within the reach of children who cannot afford to buy books. Udaan also has a computer centre that provides computer literacy to children. Through a defined curriculum, students from the eighth grade onwards undergo training in basic computer skills and learn the use of Internet which will equip them for skilled jobs. Udaan, through its work, hopes to see a perceptible change by way of increased enrolments in schools, decrease in school dropout rates and better job opportunities for the underprivileged. But, beyond that, Udaan aims to groom children to become confident young adults equipped to tackle various challenges in life. Udaan welcomes volunteers to engage in a range of activities that include teaching, assisting the Saturday Club activities (such as art, music, drama and sports), managing events (like Annual Day, Sports Day), reading at the community library, organising health camps, field trips and fund raising. You can also be a part of a child’s journey by donating to Udaan. Your contributions wouenrld help Udaan-supported children realise their dream and help it reach out to many more children in need of quality education
52
Please come and join hands with UDAAN
53
CONCLUSIONThe first responsibility to society is to operate at a profit, and only slightly less important is the necessity for growth. The business is the wealth-creating and wealth-producing organ of the society. Management must maintain its wealth-producing resource intact by making adequate profits to offset the risk of economic activity. And it must beside increase the wealth-producing capacity of these resources and with them the wealth of society.Ethics play an importance role in social responsibility. The business organizations must have ethical responsibility as they are doing business, including production, management, and services and so on. Without ethics, it would be danger to the human. Ethics is simply the rules that say what is right and wrong, as defined by a particular reference group or individual.The social responsibility is very importance to both society and business organizations. Although there are some arguments for and against social responsibility, even more of the organizations would take action on social responsibility. Many of the advantages being social responsibility was created, some of that was already discuss on previous pages. Believed that, the best interest of business organizations is social responsibilities, that would be benefit in the long run of company, can be earn more profit, and benefit to the human and the environment.Why they Do it?In India today, 4% of our children never start school. 58% do not complete primary school. 90% do not complete secondary school. And only 10% complete college.
Udaan aims at changing these statistics by providing children from low-income communities the academic and non-academic support that will enable them to stay and
succeed in school and realize their true potential through continuous learning.
54
WEBILOGRAPHY
www.udaanindiafoundation.org
ngos.giveindia.org/ngos/udaan-india-foundation
http://www.isrworld.org/2008_06_01_archive.html
powai.info/.../udaan-india-foundation-a-powai-based-ngo-celebrates-in
http://www.slideshare.net/anuptiwari/isr-individual-social-responsibility
www.ngo.in
http://www.unitedwaymumbai.org/ngo22_udaan.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_NGOs_in_Mumbai
http://ngos.giveindia.org/ngos/udaan-india-foundation/
55