A Million Dreams Pledge Drive

India and Education

Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world
- Nelson Mandela

Today's children are the torchbearers of the world we wish to see tomorrow. Unfortunately, not all children in this world are born equal, and its up to us to empower them with the knowledge that would see them through difficult times, and eventually place them on the pedestal to make the right choices to help improve their lives and the world in the process.

India, with its population and poverty, has problems on an unimaginable scale, one to be dealt with by multiple support groups, in addition to the government. Here are some figures that put the problems in context:

• There are 7.1 million out-of-school children in the ages of 6-14.
• It is increasingly realized that retaining the disadvantaged children enrolled in schools is a far more challenging task than enrolling them into the education system. Around 22% of children drop out in classes I and II.
• The drop-out rates for backward castes are significantly higher (around 40%). 2/3rds of the tribal students just do not go beyond class VIII.
• In all, over 50% drop out (i.e., around 91 million children) at elementary level.

Vibha

• 50% of Vibha's resources go towards educational projects in India. In places where the government school system has failed to impart quality education, several projects have started primary education centers to ensure basic literacy skills. Examples are Alamb and Sevalaya
• In order to encourage out-of-school children to get back to school some projects have started Bridge Schools. These help the children to "catch-up-quick" and get them mainstreamed into the regular school system. Examples are Swami Vivekananda Vani Prachar Samity and Door Step School.
• Some projects help the children by providing after-school programs. They ensure that children do not drop out of mainstream schools due to lack of resources at home. Sarada Kalyan Bhandar and Gohaldanga Ramakrishna Sarada Vivekananda Sevakendra-GRSV are excellent examples in this category.
• In several parts of India, the government schools have good infrastructure but lack motivation due to insufficient community involvement. Citizens in these communities take up this cause and support the schools by funding additional teachers, facilities, computers and field trips. This approach is resulting in the reduction of drop-out rates of children from these schools. In this category, Vibha is funding Gandhian Organization for Rural Development-GORD, and Sikshana.
• Many of their projects like Alamb, Rajasthan Mahila Kalyan Mandal -RMKM and Amta Block have vocational training as a significant component of their overall approach to development for older children. Income generation skills such as tailoring, embroidery and mechanic work help them stand on their own feet and break the cycle of poverty. These children would otherwise have to turn to more desperate measures for a livelihood.
• Children with special needs face significant hurdles because of a lack of community awareness of their needs and rights. Vibha has taken up the cause of these children and is supporting RMKM, Jan Madhyam and Prayas. Apart from providing education and training through special teachers, they are doing a great job in awareness generation and sensitization of the general public about the needs of these special children.
• Certain groups like children of sex workers and children in bonded labor are particularly vulnerable. Vibha is supporting projects that are focused on this segment of the population. CORP India is protecting such children by providing shelters, education and vocational training for alternate income generation. Health Education Adoption Rehabilitation Development Society-HEARDS is fighting the issue of child labor through community mobilization and education with bridge schools.

The Vibha DreamMile

• $120 can give quality education to a child for a whole year
• $50 can facilitate the rehabilitation of a severely mentally handicapped child for a year
• $40 can sponsor the non-formal education of a child for a whole year.
• $35 can keep a child safe from many fatal diseases by providing him/her complete immunizations for a year.
• $30 can provide a child with all the educational materials he/she needs for a year.