Kolkata project update - February 2009
Kolkata Project - February 2009
This is the second year of a continuing project. SI Birmingham West has committed to sponsor 10 girls aged between 9 and 13 years old for two years thus enabling them to continue their education past the early primary stage. The first Rupees 26, 000 have already been used to pay school fees, text, exercise books and stationery. Uniforms and shoes were also purchased. Meals are provided on six days per week.
SI South Kolkata members are monitoring and supporting the girls’ progress. Their President sends regular reports regarding progress.
We held a fundraising lunch on Saturday13 September at one member’s house. She most generously provided all the food and drink. The two events held this year have now raised £633.32 towards the £700 needed. At the October business meeting, Birmingham West decided to use a donation and money from its Connie Jones Education fund to make up the amount. This will be presented to SI South Kolkata in the New Year when one of our members will be there.
There is a great opportunity for another club to take over the sponsorship from 2009 onwards.
SI Birmingham West have been supporting this project for the last 2 years (see reports and fund raising) and Soroptimist International of South Kolkata kindly sent us this report.
Project Report for the Period April 2007 to 15th June 2008
Soroptimist International of South Kolkata [SI of SK] Chartered on 21st September 2006 on the World Peace Day did take up a number of programmes covering children and women who belong to the under privileged population of the city of Kolkata.
1) HEALTH:
a) Eye Camp: Eye check-up was carried out with children from Community Learning Centres of IPER, Talim-Haq School, Howrah in association with Rotary club of Kolkata-southeast district-3290 and in the slums of Gobikhet in association with Charis Foundation. A total of 564 children were examined. More than 175 children were given eye-drops, Vitamin A capsules, dietary advice, a few were referred to a special school and advised eye exercises and 45 children were given glasses free of cost.
b) Health Camp: A general Health Check-up was held at Rajendra Siksha Sadan Primary Schoolfor two days with active participation of our members, the teachers and members of IPER. A Pediatrician and Ophthalmologist examined 98 children. Allwere given de-worming tablets. 50% of the children had stomach aches due to dysentery, a few had ear/skin infections. They were appropriately advised. Parents were given tips on health and hygiene.
Healthy breakfastwas arranged for200 children on the Independence Day, 15thAugust’07 in association with Hope for Children Foundation at Rajendra Siksha Sadan Primary School.
2) VOCATIONAL TRAINING:
One trainee was sponsored from Gobikhet project and she was linked with the IPER’s Vocational Training Programme for enhancing her skills in tailoring for nine months from January’07. Members of a Self-Help Group in south Kolkata has been identified for training in Bandhni as per their own choice.
3) Production and Sale of Jute Products
Bags, table mats, wall-hangings were made from jute donated by one of the well wishers of SI of SK to raise funds for the projects.
4) EDUCATION:
“BEYOND SCHOOL – NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND” is aProject conceived as an integrated child learning programme through creative teaching, ‘that what is not generally taught’ in school. This is a long-term project, started in July 2007.
Aim: Impart communication skills in children, bring out their hidden talent through creative work like arts, crafts, essays/poetry writing, computer training, provide healthy/nutritious meal, help maintain clean surrounding, to inculcate healthy habits, hold health camps to maintain optimal vision, health and dental hygiene.
Impact: All round development of the children.
Through this programme, the activities that were taken-up are:
a) Communication skills and Personality development (CSPD): The programme started on 7th July 07, with 25 children (10-16 yrs) from the under privileged community living around Prince Anwar Shah Road, presently is catering to 33 children. The sessions are conducted on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays ofevery month by the members of the club; children are taught maths, English, art, music in an unique way to help them become confident and express themselves freely. Healthy snacks are given at the end of each session.
Children from the CSPD group performed at the 1st anniversary celebration of the Charter Day of the club and it was a huge success. Renowned artists in field of dance and music were invited to spot talents and now 8 children are undergoing professional training in dance, music /recitation and 6 in painting at ‘Inspiration Foundation’ of Alokananda Roy the famous dancer. SI of SK supports the training by donation to the foundation.
PujaParikrama: Children were taken by our members, for a special Puja Pandal hopping and visit to a fair during the Durga Puja festival in Oct.’07. Magic Show was arranged as part of Children’s Day celebration on Nov. 14th, 2007 Taare Zameen Par a sensitive movie about a dyslexic childwas screened for the children who watched it spellbound. Calcutta Youth Choir - 6 CSPD children participated in the golden jubilee celebrations of the renowned choir, in the presence of honoured dignitaries like the Mayor of Kolkata, the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, and renowned artists in the field of music and dance. Two of these will be groomed to be members of the Choir. Children visited Birla Industrial And TechnologyMuseum, and Nehru Children’s museum of Dolls on June 14th, 08.
c) Computer Training: Two batches of6 children each have been sent for Computer training at I-NET Computer training Centre from mid-October’07. Members attended and PAC was invited to speak during the 1st anniversary celebration of I-Net. SI of SK is bearing the training costs of the second batch of students while the first was totally free. Some children are showing significant performance from these special trainings.
5) AWARENESS PROGRAMME: Our members participated in a rally to observe the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Trafficking on 26th June 07 in associations with IPER and Kolkata Police.
6) DONATION OF CLOTHES: Clothes and provisions were donated for the riot victims of ‘Nandigram’ and for the inmates of a Mental Hospital in the city of Kolkata.
FUND RAISING:
a) Awareness regarding SI of SK along with fund raising was organized at a Dance recital at Gorky Sadan on 6th April’08 and more than Rs.5000 was raised during the evening.
b) A Summer Workshop was held for children from 9th to 13thJune 08, which added more than Rs.14000 to the project fund of SI of SK. SI of SK also got a lot of mileage through this workshop as it is being advertised in the newspapers, with sponsorship from Kwality Walls and Time-zone, Singapore, the popular children’s play company.
9) SPONSORSHIP OF CHILDREN-‘Project SHIKSHA-KIRAN’: SI of Birmingham has financed SI of SK from April’08 to sponsor 10 girl children. It covers the cost of their education, uniform and mid-day meal; one child has also been similarly sponsored by a local donor through SI of SK; four meritorious children from secondary and high school too have been identified for sponsorship for continuing their higher education with financial support from the Kobe Charity Bazaar, Japan.
Soroptimist International of South Kolkata