Kalabagan site and Jabala Kalabagan site and Jabala office visit by Swati Sircaroffice visit by Swati Sircar

Romi DattaRomi Datta

Asha for EducationBringing hope through education

Office visitOffice visit

• Met with S.K. Mitra (coordinator) and Met with S.K. Mitra (coordinator) and Baitaly Ganguly (secretary)Baitaly Ganguly (secretary)

• After an initial meeting, Swati was After an initial meeting, Swati was taken to the Kalabagan center and to a taken to the Kalabagan center and to a student’s home, and talked to some student’s home, and talked to some mother mother

• Returned to office for more discussionsReturned to office for more discussions

Visit to centerVisit to center• Cramped place, yet not much Cramped place, yet not much

disruptiondisruption• Almost full attendanceAlmost full attendance• Teachers very sincereTeachers very sincere• Lighting will be fixed soon (Project Lighting will be fixed soon (Project

steward had asked her to check it out). steward had asked her to check it out). Trying to make the club pay half, which Trying to make the club pay half, which is how Swati feels it should beis how Swati feels it should be

• Met football coach, who is also coach Met football coach, who is also coach of the Indian women’s teamof the Indian women’s team

Visit to centerVisit to center

• Football coach is a dynamic lady, and Football coach is a dynamic lady, and has really helped boost the girls’ has really helped boost the girls’ confidenceconfidence

• Swati really like her approach and Swati really like her approach and change she is bringing in the girlschange she is bringing in the girls

• Some of the footballer girls were Some of the footballer girls were present and they looked very confident present and they looked very confident and assertive, which goes a long way and assertive, which goes a long way especially considering the community especially considering the community they are fromthey are from

Visit to centerVisit to center• Center has been running for 7-8 yrsCenter has been running for 7-8 yrs• 2-3 teachers handling students from classes 2-3 teachers handling students from classes

I-XI-X• Students split into 3 groups as per classesStudents split into 3 groups as per classes• Students in the center attend one of seven Students in the center attend one of seven

govt. schoolsgovt. schools• Teachers from the center stay in touch with Teachers from the center stay in touch with

schools to keep the centers in syncschools to keep the centers in sync• 11stst batch will take Madhyamik (SSC) batch will take Madhyamik (SSC)

Visit to centerVisit to center

• During the visit students were revising last During the visit students were revising last years work, since school has not startedyears work, since school has not started

• On Saturdays, students are taught dance and On Saturdays, students are taught dance and drawingdrawing

• Teachers sincere and caring, and students Teachers sincere and caring, and students and teachers comfortable around each other and teachers comfortable around each other

• Swati gave suggestions for academic Swati gave suggestions for academic improvements, which the teachers accepted, improvements, which the teachers accepted, and eagerly asked for moreand eagerly asked for more

• Upcoming summer camp for 1-2 days, with Upcoming summer camp for 1-2 days, with scope of learning theatrescope of learning theatre

Visit to students’ homesVisit to students’ homes

• Visited home of 3 brothersVisited home of 3 brothers• Eldest son (class V) is a very good dancer, but the Eldest son (class V) is a very good dancer, but the

mother him to quit dancing because of increasing mother him to quit dancing because of increasing academic pressureacademic pressure

• Swati reasoned with her to let him continue and quit Swati reasoned with her to let him continue and quit in class Xin class X

• The three boys are becoming more vocal, and as a The three boys are becoming more vocal, and as a result, the father has reduced WIFE BEATINGresult, the father has reduced WIFE BEATING

• Another mother said her husband did not want the Another mother said her husband did not want the daughter to play football because of possibility of daughter to play football because of possibility of falling and hurting herselffalling and hurting herself

• Swati reasoned with her that such a thing can Swati reasoned with her that such a thing can happen in the streets of Kolkata at any timehappen in the streets of Kolkata at any time