For AID Buffalo

About Apna Skool• Initiated 25 years ago by group of students and local people as

the pro-bono organization - Jagriti.

• Focuses on primary education of children belonging to family of migrant laborers thus impacting their socio-economic development.

• Today, has full-fledged programs based out of Kanpur province in collaboration with Prayas, Jagriti, AID, ASHA and Mala Foundation.

• Mainly laborers migrating to Kanpur from Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and some districts in UP covers the target audience.

• Develop importance of education amongst migrant laborers, thus encourage them to send their kids to schools.

• Let children experience the joy of childhood by bringing them to schools and involving in sports and recreational activities such as singing, drawing, SUPW etc.

• Inculcate a sense of responsibility amongst parents, especially women, further leading to community development.

• Engage parents in community camps to increase awareness of health, hygiene and minimum wages.

Mission/Objective

Programs/ Activities• In total 15-20 teaching centers operate

every year depending on the brick kilns in the region.

• Approx. 550-650 students, with 40% of female students, and 28 teachers participate in the teaching program which are run at various centers in and around Kanpur.

• Children are provided sweaters, uniforms, study and sports material.

• Nutrition programs involving mid-day meals, immunization camps and visits from doctors.

• Other than education, trips to zoo and educational centers, movies and animations are part of the curriculum.

• Future Prospects: Many children who started studies with Apna Skool are now working as teachers in primary school, Shikshamitra, Art graduates etc.

• Attitude change: Now more and more laborers are keen in educating their children and participates in annual day of the school. They feel enthusiastic when their kids perform plays, sing or dance.

• Not just laborers, but even contractors have started taking interest in supporting child education at construction sites and providing minimum wages to the migrants.

• Minimum wages awareness: More and more workers are aware about the guidelines laid down by government for minimum wages.

• Community development: Many schools started near to brick kilns, are also situated near to the community where laborers live. It have helped in development of the community other than the kids’ education.

Impact

Supporters• AID has been supporting 5 centers

since 2006 with an average contribution of $6000 annually.

• ASHA supported other centers until the recession in the year 2008.

• MALA has supported land acquisition of hostels for children to stay at Kanpur and study while their parents migrate for their livelihood.

Do read the poem!!!!

New projects

• At present, the Apna skools are supported till July’11.

• Additional funding is required for construction of 2 new hostels, land for which were procured in the July’10.

• Honorarium of teachers is to be supported, conveyance and transportation for children is required to take them from home to respective schools.

• Also nutrition programs, uniforms, study and sports material for kids i.e. scholarship support is required.

Click on the links to get the funds break-up.

Updates/Challenges• Right to education bill passed in 2009 which guarantees

education to every child 6-14 yrs of age.

• Private schools are required to reserve 25% of seats for the underprivileged children.

• Govt. to provide free books, study materials.

• RTE fails to be implemented rightly in most of the states including UP. Job which should be done by government is taken by NGOs like Apna Skool to provide primary education to the children.

• Under RTE, NGOs like Apna Skool can provide NIOS (National Institute of Open Schooling) only till 2012.

Future directions• Filing petitions to government

to provide separate guidelines for NGOs or schools which are run non-formally but act as rich sources of primary education to the underprivileged children.

• Engage or popularize work from NGOs providing primary education in order for them to gain recognition.

Appendix A – Scholarship for children

Item Description Amount ($)

School fees Paid once per year 20

School dress 2 sets of dresses per child 16

Study Materials For one term 22

Nutrition Mid-day meal/ fruits 70

Transportation Vehicle maintenance cost, petrol charges

110

Education Tour Education Center tickets, Vehicles hire charges

6

Sports kits Utilities per center 30

Total scholarship required for 65 children = $13,000

Appendix B – Funds for Apna Skools

Items Description Amount ($)

Teacher Honorarium Annual salary for 5 centers

5454

Teacher training* Conducted once in an year. For 20 centers

910

Coordinator Honorarium Annual salary for 20 centers

2180

Conveyance Annually 410

Administrative Expenses Annual for 20 centers 2348

Conducted in guidance with Eklavya.

Total amount required to run centers is = $11,302