Kalampada Visit and KGBV Parents Meeting of 10th Standard Girls
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Suhrid Foundation had been taking care of 10 Zila Parishad School for over a decade now. The Covid had its impact since the schools were closed and the students were taught online. In this academic year, the schools have started in the regular manner and we too started our regular activities of school visits. As a part of that, we visited Kalampada, which is quite remote school.
It is a small school with 40 odd students. While they have been able to get overhead projectors and facility to show educational videos, they still don’t have adequate teaching staff. During our interaction with the students, it was realized the students, who are in 3rd or 4th standard are quite below standard since they started their education during the Covid period. Third standard students studied from home for the first two years. These tribal kids don’t have proper support at home for right education. They take more time – as compared with the city students – to understand the concept even when they are at school. Online teaching just does not add any value for them. Teachers are trying their level best to repeat their lessons. However, it is quite difficult to manage 5 classes. We also discussed with teacher about their need of rebuilding the toile which is very much dilapidated condition and needs rebuild.
While we did see setback on the education front, it was heartening to see that the kids were in good health. They did not get proper nutritious food during the Covid period. Once they started coming to school, Suhrid Foundation provided nutritious addition in their mid-day meal made huge difference. Teachers too took care of their personal hygiene and grooming.
We also visited our clinic at Alivpada, which is run by a trained nurse under the guidance of our senior doctor. The most important aspect was the small kids in the village are able to just walk in to explain the problem and get the proper treatment in time. The nurse, being a local person, is aware of the kind of medical challenges the local face. Additionally, she is able to communicate with them in their local language to give additional comfort.
As some of you may know, in Jun 2022, we had started fortnightly sessions for career guidance, confidence building and improving study skills of girls at Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalay (KGBV) through career guiding trainers from Boisar – named Shubham Learning. This session has helped these girls a lot in various ways:
- Confidence for public speaking
- Communication skills
- How to take notes in the classes
- How to plan their studies
- Improve concentration
- Improving English vocabulary
- And finally, choosing career objective and defining right goals
After completing 20 sessions since beginning, the concluding session was decided to do with their parents. Objective of this meeting was to explain parents about importance of further education of girls and how should they be supporting these girls in achieving their career dreams. Most of the times in the region, the hostels are up to the standard of 12th. Hence, on return from these hostels, studies of girls stop. Once they reach homes, they are engaged or even get married by the age of 18 years. To avoid that and make these girls and their parents aware of importance of further education so that they are more employable and are capable of earning their own livelihood.
Out of total of 40 girls, parents of close to 34-35 girls could make it for this meeting. Shubham Learnings team started the session with video explaining parents about what this session was and how was it done over this academic year. Post briefing from Rao Sir from Shubham Learning on how to take career forward, Suhrid Foundation team also re-emphasized on the point of importance of building upon the base which these girls have now. KGBV teachers ensured that they also have two alumni girls (Rekha and Kavita Desale) present sharing their experience and importance of further studies for all these girls. One of these two girls, Kavita Desale, was a super special girl. She was CP kid who studied and grew up at KGBV. Her early life was very tough, she dared all odds and with the help of teachers and friends reached to a level where she is giving MPSC exams and is likely to be successful with flying colors. She, having lived against all odds, have become a good motivation for youth. She spoke to parents about how support from family is very important and parents responsibilities does not end with marriage, but with ensuring that their kids are independent and capable to earning their own livelihood.
KGBV had arranged lunch for parents and all guests. Girls were very enthusiastic and wanted to show their talent to parents and all guests. So, last one hour was full of entertainment – street-play and dances – a program which these girls did not want to get over!
We at Suhrid Foundation, extend our best wishes to girls for their 10th and 12th exams and best for their career going ahead.
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