Salil Phadnis and Snetu Karania 1 ABHAS 6-monthly report August 2009- Jan 2010 Primary Stewards: Salil Phadnis and Snetu Karania

Project Description 2 Location: Kacchi Colony near Tughlakabad, Delhi Area (urban/rural): Urban Primary Focus: girls who have little or no access to formal education channels (age group: 14-18) Project Type: Integrates girls with formal education system through NIOS and vocational training in beauty, tailoring and computer skills Amount Requested (US$): $4000 from Asha Stanford $3000 from Asha SV Purpose of Funding Request: Ongoing expenses for NIOS and vocational training courses # of Beneficiaries: 42 students in NIOS and 42+ girls for vocational training (10-12 in tailoring and 30+ in beauty culture)

3 Project Goals Current Condition of Beneficiaries: Girls belong to very poor worker families Short-Term Objectives: Providing basic life skills, access to education and vocational training 5-Year Vision : to develop an innovative education model for adolescent underprivileged girls to provide them with education, vocational training as well as life skills to sustain themselves and become self-reliant. Over the past few months they were able to secure funding to expand the current model to 3 other projects in Delhi and Noida areas Community Involvement : Families very supportive to education of girls . Girls go on to train others in their families and communities after receiving training

4 Recent Updates NIOS: Two instructors Ms. Noorus Saba and Ms. Mamta were appointed as Instructors to teach girls of classes 8, 10 ,12 and classes 3 and 5 respectively. The instructors not only teach at the Girls Interest Center but also, regularly follow up their attendance, visit the girls’ families incase of drop in the attendance, etc. NIOS class-wise details for 2009-2010:

5 Recent Updates Computer Lab Program : Mr. Manoranjan Tiwari ( 21 yrs old, currently in final year of his degree) was appointed in Jan 2010. He has done a one year computer course. Multiple batches taught per week in-order to accommodate all the NIOS students and few students from the community as well. Total no. of students receiving this training = 80

What kind of curriculum/teaching methodology is used What kind of curriculum/teaching methodology is used? Is the curriculum government recognized? 6 Recent Updates Vocational training: Ms.Nirmala and Ms. Priyanka – 2 new teachers were appointed for dress-designing and beauty culture respectively The numbers were 5 + 5 in the dress-designing/tailoring and beauty culture in Feb 2010 After their community visits and small groups meetings with the community members, the numbers rose to 10-12 students in dress-designing and 30+ students in beauty-culture, as of April 2010

Financial report for the 1st funding cycle Aug 2009-Jan 2010 Provide a summary breakup of how the funds will be used, for example, teacher salaries, food, etc. Bring handouts of detailed budget if required. 7 Financial report for the 1st funding cycle Aug 2009-Jan 2010

8 Other Funding Sources New funding source: Tata Foundation granted a total sum of Rs.99,00,000 for the next 3 years, to be spent on 3 new projects at 3 different localities in Delhi and Noida areas. The new projects will follow the same model like the present T.E.A.C.H project run by ABHAS. Although, the new funding source will not cover the current project expenses because the funds were specifically allocated for the new projects

9 Moving forward… The project seems to be doing very well Feb 2010 onwards. After the previous funds reached them and they were able to pay the pending teachers salaries, the vocational training seems to have kicked off pretty well. The Program Director provides counseling to the girls in a timely manner, allowing them to vent out their problems , which a big moral support to the girls. The community around seems to be benefitting quite a bit because of this project Next year onwards, they would be able to cover up all other costs like teachers’ salaries, ets from the Tata foundation funds and the only help they might require is for the building rent for the Girls Interest Center

Steward Recommendation The project seems to be going great and improving over the years Recommend t continue funding it may be for one more year, with simultaneously helping them to find other avenues for funding/ becoming self-sustained