Week 3 : Project Jaagriti

This week our efforts were bolstered by support from a group of students of NSIT (an Engineering College in Dwarka). They are a group of four students who will be joining our project for the next 2 months and will take classes on Wednesday and Friday. They will work on this project as a part of their internship in the college. This will definitely help us in gaining some continuity and pace in our program. Going forward it will even help us to take up other activities during the weekend so that we can instill confidence, trust, and team play in the children.

We decided to divide the class into three levels based on the amount of prior knowledge they have so that our efforts could be channelized in a right way. This will really help us in making a roadmap for all the children and we will become far more focused in our approach.

Volunteers for week 3: Kunal and Abhishek

Level 1 and Level 2

1. Revision of first four alphabets.
2. Practicing different types of lines.
3. Reviewing the drawing exercise.
4. A general introduction on hygiene.

Level 3 (Dhananjay)

1. Small English alphabets.
2. Single digit addition.
3. Single digit subtractions.

Worksheets were also given for practice.

We came with a new idea of rewarding the most neat child of the day. This will encourage all the children to stay neat and clean always.

Thanks

Class Timings !!

Due to change in weather, we will be having classes from 4 PM every Saturday and Sunday.

Class Duration: 2 hours.

Thanks

Project Updates: Week 2

The week was very exciting as we not only increased our interaction with the children but also understood their lives, needs and way of living.

And frankly speaking a lot needs to be taught to the children in terms of health care, hygiene, discipline, cleanliness etc. The journey is not going to be easy but we are determined to create an impact and provide these children not only the right education but also teach them the values of life which are very essential for a living.

Volunteers for Week 2: Anchit and Abhishek

Activities:

1. A revision of the numbers exercise which was done in week1.
2. Started with teaching of english alphabets.
3. Drawing worksheets along with crayons were given to the children.
4. Had interaction with the labour Incharge and requested him to insure proper hygiene conditions near their homes.

This week we did not go ahead with the possibility of establishing a full-time set up as the place would be a long distance from their homes and it will not be possible for the children to come there. This activity is being currently postponed.

Our focus right now is to insure proper hygiene conditions around their home, teach the children how to keep themselves clean and healthy and also develop an interest in learning and getting educated which is lacking in few of them.

Planned Activities for Week 3:

1. Completion of english alphabets exercise.
2. Assignments/worksheets to be given for english alphabets.
3. Children to be taught about good health and hygiene conditions.
4. A review of the work done in the drawing worksheets given to the children.

Thanks

Children Profiles

The children are in age group of 6-10 years old. Their names are:

1. Dhananjay
2. Laxmi Prasad
3. Ajay
4. Suruchi
5. Aseyan
6. Aakash
7. Kavita
8. Parvati
9. Kavita-2
10. Seema
11. Hari
12. Celena
13. Pitika
14. Dhool Singh
15. Mantosh
16. Rajrana

Thanks

PROJECT Updates: Week 1

Following are the updates for the work done in Week 1 and the plan for the current Week 2:

WEEK 1:

1. Launched PROJECT JAAGRITI along with the children and volunteers.
2. Children were taught how to write, colour and counting from 1-10 was also taught.

Volunteers: Anchit, Kunal, Swati, Nikil, Abhishek.


WEEK 2: (Planned)

1. Worksheets along with stationary and crayons to be given to children on Wednesday for 1-10 numbers practice and colouring. Review of the same over the weekend.
2. Over the weekend work out the possibility for full time setup for the project.
3. Start with teaching of english alphabets.
4. Children to be taught singing by a Volunteer (Arvind).
4. Visit nearby Government School for admission of children who have been to school earlier but are not going now.

Since many children are first time learners, the project needs considerable effort in terms of developing writing and learning skills in the children and the progress so far has been really encouraging and children are picking up well.

Thanks

Is India really Shining ?????

India Shining, this slogan was adopted by BJP in 2004 during their election campaign and still continues to be their agenda. But its not at all a true reflection of the state of the country apart from just being a mere publicity slogan.

If one wants to really analyze if India is shining or not, he should actually visit the rural villages located in different parts of the country and meet the children there. Many of them don't even know how to hold a pencil forget about reading and writing. They are just passing on their lives being totally unaware and ignorant of whats happening in this world. And such a state also exist in some part of cities like Delhi where the rural population migrates to. Then one can imagine what would be the condition in states like Rajasthan, Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh etc. It's really sad to see such a state of the country even after so many years of independence. But apart from just lamenting on this situation and complaining, How many us have actually been proactive enough to be a change in the lives of these poor kids? How many of us have had to courage to rise us and teach these children? I am sorry to say but very few of us.

It's high time now and we should realize that the best resource which India has got is it's people and if the entire population gets awakened to the modern world, imagine what new heights our country will touch. But the only way it can do this is by providing the right amount and quality of education to it's children who are the future of this country. It requires a national change which could only be brought about by a change in the attitude of each one of us. If each one of us decides to educate at least 1 underprivileged poor kid then just in a matter of a year we will be a 100% literate country.

PROJECT JAAGRITI has been one such step in this direction aiming to bring about a change and influence the lives of as many needy children as possible and contributing towards India's Growth story. I hope more and more people will join this campaign and come together to awaken these poor children and make them realize their dreams.

Thanks

Day 1 at JAAGRITI

What should I write...Don't know how to express it.. Just one line can sum it up all >>>>>>>>>
"It was not only the first day of JAAGRITI but also my first experience with these poor kids and believe me it was a very challenging task where just in 1 day I got to learn more than these poor kids, kids who don't even know how to hold a pencil but are full of fun, smiles, dreams and wishes."

Pictures:
Children getting introduced to each other......









Learning how to hold pencils and write their names......










Colouring their first piece of art work.......










Some one has truly said:
"A smile is the biggest gift, you can give to anyone in this world"
I am sure she must have taken your heart away with her sweet, innocent smile....











Mr. Junior ARTIST

ABOUT PROJECT JAAGRITI

Goal of the Project:
To impart basic education to the underprivileged children of construction workers at different construction sites in Dwarka, New Delhi so that they can become successful citizens of this country.

Objectives of the Project:
1. To provide elementary pre-school education to the underprivileged children of all age groups.
2. To instill a passion for education and learning in the children.
3. To provide skill based training to children through regular drawing, writing, singing, dancing etc. classes.
4. To establish a bond of love, affection and trust between the children, their parents and the volunteers.
5. To get best performing children admitted in good schools and also sponsor the education of these children.
6. To conduct regular health check ups, nutrition classes, picnics and movie screenings for the children leading to the overall enhancement of their skills and talents.

Activities for the next 3 months:
1. Conduct regular English, Hindi and Maths classes to impart elementary education to the children on weekends.
2. To regularly monitor the progress of the children through exams.
3. Conduct regular skill based classes for drawing, singing, writing and dancing on alternate weekends.
4. To take the children for a picnic in the month of Feb-March.
5. Conduct a health check up of the children with help from near by doctors in month of March.
6. Regular interaction with the parents and children on alternate weekdays to keep them motivated.
7. Consider the possibility of establishment of a full time center for the project.
8. Get more and more volunteers associated with the project.
9. Conduct fund raising drives for the successful running of the project and for sponsor of school fees of the best performing children.

Project Location:

A dream comes true......

It was in class 11th when I saw a presentation by Mobile Creches on what work they are doing for the welfare of poor children at various construction sites in Delhi, children who are otherwise left unattended and there is no one to take care of them. Their work was really inspiring and influenced many lives. It was then when i decided that whatever I achieve in my life I will always make sure to give back to my society and will work for the welfare of small poor children whenever i get the opportunity to do so. I had a dream to set up a small school for these children. A school where they are not only provided basic education but are also taught the values of life and how to face the difficult challenges which life throws at them. But I never thought that this dream will come true so soon and here I am going to set up a small virtual school this weekend for the education of poor children at a construction site in Dwarka. And all this has been possible because of the strong urge which I always had within me (and it kept on getting stronger day by day) to do some thing good for these poor kids and be counted and also because of the support of all my fellow volunteers at AID-Delhi - Selva, Puneet, Arun, Anirban, Anuj, Shruti and many others who always kept on appreciating my work and kept on motivating me to continue the good work which I am doing.

Thanks to all and thanks to god for making this dream a reality !! :)