Deepalaya - Enabling Self-Reliance

Location : Shalimar Bagh
Address : B.K.2/39, 2nd Floor, Near Railway Reservation Centre, Shalimar Bagh, New Delhi - 110088

Contact no. : 011-27 49 41 53
E-mail : support@deepalaya.org

Coordinator : Officer - Program

Funding agency : Edukans, Netherlands

Commenced From : 1st of August 2006

BRIEF PROFILE
Deepalaya works along with the economically and socially deprived, the physically and mentally challenged - starting with children - so that they become educated, skilled and aware. India is home to the highest child labour in the world. Out of 100 children in India, 19 continue to be out of school (“Status of children in India” by HAQ Centre for child rights) and of those who enroll, 53 drop out before completing class VIIIth. The same study says that in 46% from the scheduled tribes and 38% from the scheduled casts continue to be out of school.
In the age group from six to 14, estimated 1,500,000 children are out of school in Delhi. Out of this group nearly 500,000 are working children, of which 100,000 are street children. Socialists and Educationalists are of the opinion that the curriculum and teaching methods are not interesting enough to attract and retain such children in a formal learning process.
Thus, these children grow up as illiterates or semi-illiterates and irresponsible citizens. Despite the enormous investments and recurring expenses for the formal school system, children dropping out of the system are on the increase. Therefore it is an important need to reach out to those vulnerable, develop curriculum and teaching methods for educating such children and to make learning a joyful experience.

RATIONALE OF THE PROJECT
The rationale of this project includes different aspects. It is proposed to identify and motivate street and working children in four areas and engage them in a learning process, which is enjoyable. With this project, Deepalaya wants to provide education at door step to all those who are out of school rolls, to enable the non-going children to acquire a certain minimum education and - if possible - to mainstream the successful children in formal schools through Open Basic Education. Especially for the education of street and working children, new curricular and teaching methods have to be developed.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The Education on Wheels project started in 2006 with the purpose of identifying and reaching out to marginalized children through innovative and joyful teaching methodologies - in order to attract and retain out of school and working children. The basic aim is to educate “children at risk” in an alternative way using a mobile unit to achieve a high accessibility & education at the doorsteps at a convenient time of the working children, thus allowing a maximum coverage of the target group. As there are space shortages in slums, the concept of a mobile bus gives a complete solution and therefore allows more utility. The ultramodern set up in the bus improves its motivational quality and other basic facilities. It is an innovative approach to joyful learning.

Regular classes are held five days in a week at all four locations. Teachers use flash cards, art and craft activity, games, story telling methods, role-plays, ice-breaking exercises, educational CD’s and other joyful means to make the teaching sessions more interesting and attractive for the children. The bus is equipped with the required accessories like TV, DVD/ VCD, Music System, Computer, etc. The teachers’ do home visits every day.

Deepalaya runs non-formal classes in two classes with two teachers at one location at the same time. The project “Education on Wheels” conducts eight classes of approximately 25 students each on daily basis. The bus starts at 8 am and continues until late evening to reach out to the maximum number of children. During the classes, the bus is parked at convenient locations in the identified four locations in North West Delhi.
At present we have a team of eight teachers working at the four project locations, two for each location. The teachers were initiated with Deepalaya’s philosophy and mission. At regular intervals they visit schools and projects of Deepalaya and interact with the teachers of the schools. The teachers are also involved in making and renewing the teaching material. Training programs for capacity building of teachers are held on every working Saturday. Through these training programs the teachers have been trained in various topics like grading and grouping of children, preparation of teaching learning materials, using creative ways and means of interacting with children, preparation of lesson plans, spoken English, class management etc. All these trainings have helped in building the capacity of the teachers. The learning’s from the training help in conduction of various activities at their respective project locations.

Previous Project
Deepalaya was running a previous project (Winrock) on education at Shalimar Bagh from May ‘05 till June ‘06. In this time it was able to mainstream a good number of working children into government schools. After analyzing the outcomes of this project, a new project namely “Education on wheels” was started in August 2006. The knowledge and goals achieved (manuals for joyful learning, teaching materials…) include a great chance for a big profit of the new program.

TARGET GROUP
Identification of the Locations through Survey
A door-to-door survey was conducted in Wazirpur Industrial Area, Bhadolla, and Kela Godown at North West Delhi; in order to find out the figures of non-school going, drop out children, working children etc. The survey findings gave some very insightful results.
The main reason for children not attending the school or dropping out from school are a lack of interest in studies as well as migration to villages, gender biasness, inaccessibility etc. Moreover, parents themselves don’t seem to be concerned about what their children do. Children were found working in the vegetable and fruit market near Azadpur. There were others who were not directly involved in money making activities for example the girls are involved in attending to housework, taking care of siblings as well as assisting their parents at their site of work. They also accompany their mothers who work as housemaids.
Through the survey we found that at Kela Godown there are other organizations like Pratham, Gyan Udaya working on education and providing non- formal, remedial classes to the children hence, we decided to locate another area for the fourth location and Sanjay Gandhi Transport Nagar was found to be appropriate for starting the project as there were many children found working and assisting in tea stalls, small eating joints, scooter repair shops etc.

The children were grouped into three levels: (I) who don’t know anything; (II) who knew certain things and have some basic reading and writing skills and (III) who knew quite a lot were put in the advance group. There are some children who have dropped out from school because of certain reasons but have knowledge and skills of reading/ writing and calculations.

The immediate target group of this pilot project is “street- and working children” in North-West Delhi. About 1000 street and working children were identified and more than 400 in four locations were motivated. They participate regularly in the activities and learning exercises at the various centers/ locations of Education on Wheels.
At present Deepalaya is reaching out to 479 children through non formal education, remedial classes, study tours, exposure trips, health check ups, awareness sessions on personal hygiene, de-addiction, life-skills, safe environment etc. The numbers of children reached out in the four locations are:

Out of these, 160 children are coming for regular classes. Once the children were identified, a formal assessment was done for grouping and grading the children according to their age and level of understanding. Individual files for each and every child are maintained to monitor his/ her progress and evaluate what is needed.
At present there are 44 children enrolled under OBE for 3rd, 5th and 8th classes. OBE is recognized examination conducted under National Institute of Open Schooling, accredited with Ministry of Human Resource & Development. The certification provided by OBE is valid and the public and government schools cannot deny admissions to these children who may want to continue education through formal system. All the children enrolled for the OBE examination due in month of February are receiving regular classes and inputs for OBE exams.

ACTIVITIES CONDUCTED:
Latent Talent Development
Activities like theatre, workshops, poster making, sports competitions etc. are regularly done to develop the unknown talents of the children. Latent talent development was started in October and will be done throughout the year.

Exposure Visit
Children are taken to different places where the purpose of the tour is to combine knowledge, information and fun.

24 children from the project participated in Yamuna Yatra. GE organized the event in collaboration with other NGO’s like We for Yamuna, Swekchha and SOS. The visit was aimed to make children conscious and sensitive about water pollution in Yamuna, (the river flowing through the heart of Delhi) and what one can do to prevent it. Children enjoyed the visit thoroughly they got an opportunity to do boating and also learnt about preserving the environment and becoming responsible citizens. Besides such trips the teachers regularly take sessions on personal hygiene, de-addiction, life-skills, safe environment etc. with the children.

World Disability Day
On December 3rd the project team along with staff from the Samvedna (an organization working for differently able) created awareness regarding different kinds of disability and their causes, symptoms and the available services etc. in the project locations. We could spread across these messages to about 1000 people.

General Health check ups
Periodic general health check ups are organized for the children in all the project locations. A professional medical practitioner conduct routine check up of the beneficiaries. There are many children who suffer from anemia, cold and cough; stomach problems, burn injuries etc which are treated and some are also referred for a further treatment. Medicines are also distributed to the children.

Awareness Sessions
Regular awareness on numerous topics like importance of education, discrimination against girl child and child labour act etc is done through street plays in the communities. As the concept of mobile school was new in these areas, information on Deepalaya’s ‘Education on Wheels Project’ was also disseminated. People were made aware about on the facilities the bus offered like audio video aids, learning through computer, creative and play way method of teaching etc to attract the children who have lost interest in education. The community appreciated the plays and also shared that they would fully participate and cooperate in Deepalaya’s effort to bring education for all.

Celebrations
The children are encouraged to celebrate all the festivals like Diwali, Id and Christmas. They make beautiful greeting cards; organize and perform activities etc for the occasions. Also Children Day, which falls on 14th Nov, is celebrated with enthusiasm. They participate in various activities and win prizes.
Networking with other stakeholders
In order to successfully implement the project, we focus on community participation, establish networks and linkages with other organizations working on issues and concerns of street children, involve volunteers etc. Those employing child labour, the staff of the government/ private schools, Traffic Police and society in general are sensitized about the hazards of child labour and importance of educating working children. Awareness on child rights and child labour was organized in all the project locations through HAQ.
Two of our children participated in a workshop on mass media and journalism organized by Butterflies. One of them has been selected as the editor for the upcoming edition of Children’s Newsletter to be taken out by Delhi Child Rights Club. We also network with the Government Officials and Public schools in the vicinity of our project locations for mainstreaming of children. We conduct regular meetings with the community leaders, other NGO and stakeholders within the community for their support in terms of providing space, parking of the bus etc. They have been very appreciative of Deepalaya’s effort and have been giving us a lot of assistance and support in the smooth running of the project.

VISION AND FUTURE PLANS
Overall the project is successfully reaching out to the disadvantaged. There have been interesting feedbacks by the children. The children shared that they got opportunities to learn good things in the bus like poems, doing mathe sums, writing etc., the bus comes close to their houses and the teachers in the bus are caring and approachable etc.
Education on Wheels is a successfully implemented project, which can be used as a pilot project for other NGO’s. The developed teaching materials and methods can be of use to attract and retain similar children anywhere in an educational/ reform process.
As a vision, Deepalaya wants to attract more street and working children to this way of joyful learning, to give them a better chance for their future.

HOW YOU CAN HELP:
Deepalaya is committed to make a difference in a child’s life by ensuring his / her physical and psychological health and this can be done through education and support of families on a range of issues that could change their life for better. You can help us in our endeavour by

• Being a volunteer teacher at our various locations of the project.
• Sponsoring a child’s education.
• Sponsor educational visits, teaching materials.
• Being a partner of our Project Sponsorship. Project Sponsorship is a programme through which a sponsor/ donor gets an opportunity to assist a particular Deepalaya project/ school for its various activities. It is an integrated community development programme with child being the entry point.