Literacy Focus – December 2016 Issue
Braveheart of Mithila
Girls are generally married off early in Bihar. Sunita’s (name changed) story depicts the plight of girls who did not get education as children, but got an opportunity to study when RILM’s Asha Kiran centre was started in Mithila. The girls here can now read and write though they have lost many precious years.
“My name is Sunita. Due to family issues, I was forced to drop out of school. I was keen to study but there was no opportunity. I got enrolled in the Asha Kiran centre that was opened in my village with my father’s permission. I learnt various useful skills, apart from studies.
My time at the centre was cut short when my father planned to get me married at age 13 with a boy from the neighbouring village. I tried to resist in vain.
After few days he invited the boy’s family and forced me to stop my studies. I gathered courage and said, “Hum bihaa na karam, padhai karam.” (I want to study and not get married.)
That incident changed my life. Now I go to the Asha Kiran centre regularly and I will not get married until I get basic education. I pray that all parents give proper education to their daughters and never marry them off at a young age.”
Sunita has become an inspiration for many other girls in the village. Education should not be treated as a privilege but the right of every individual.
Teacher Support
RILM entered into an agreement with Macmillan Publishers Pvt Ltd in March 2016 for training teachers across India. On September 8, the International Literacy Day, RC Bharuch, D 3060, organised a two-day workshop with Macmillan to train 70 teachers. The training topics were Classroom Management and Life Skills Education. The programme was conducted under the leadership of Teacher Support National Committee Chair PDG Devang Thakore. RI Director Manoj Desai graced the occasion with his presence.
RC Salem West, D 2982, conducted a session of the British Council’s Core Skills programme ‘Critical Thinking and Problem Solving,’ for teachers. The session was part of the valedictory of British Council’s ‘Connecting Classrooms’ — a global education programme designed to build the capacity of teachers worldwide and help young people become globally aware and competitive.
The key objectives of the core skills project were to provide training on core skills pedagogy to 100 teachers from government schools in Salem, to enable them to use student-centric approaches in their lessons in line with the recommendations of the NCF (2005) and to inculcate core skills thinking in students.
School Survey Campaign
RILM plans to conduct a survey in Government/Zilla Parishad/Municipal schools.
As a result of vigorous CSR campaign, corporates are willing to give donations for T-E-A-C-H, and they require the names of schools. If we start the survey exercise post enquiry generation, it delays the entire process. It is better that the survey is done in advance. Thus a reservoir of data should be created. This survey also helps the clubs in their future projects. It gives hands-on experience for the clubs about working with schools at grassroots level.
The following steps will help the clubs in the process:
1 Download the RILM App
2 Go to the School Survey tab and familiarise yourself with the form
3 Identify at least 5 schools and seek permission from the school authority to conduct the survey
4 Visit the schools and speak to the Principal, School Management Committee to fill up the form.
5 Click on submit to complete the survey.
Clubs conducting survey will receive recognition certificates from RILM. The recognition criteria are as follows:
Star Club — Survey in 5 schools; Super Star — Survey in 10 schools; Mega Star — Survey in 15 schools; Supreme Star — Survey in 25 schools.
12,640 children more under the Asha Kiran… a ray of hope!
The child development vertical of T-E-A-C-H is growing in leaps and bounds as we continue to reach more children with a ray of hope.
The first Asha Kiran centre of D 3080 was launched by PRIP Rajendra K Saboo on the National Education Day for 1,000 out-of-school children of Snehalaya, an orphanage, run in collaboration with Vatsal Chaya Trust. The members of RC and IWC Chandigarh are screening the children of the Trust.
Next were a series of collaboration with Charities Aid Foundation India which is covering RI Districts 3012, 3040, 3051, 3053, 3261 and 3262, comprising the States of Delhi, Chattisgarh, Odisha, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, benefitting 10,000 children. Around 540 children will also be sent back to school in collaboration with Awareness Training and Motivation for Action in District 3052. A collaboration with Adarsh Shisksha Samiti will send 500 children back to schools in Udaipur, Rajasthan.
An MoU with Lutheran World Service India Trust is set to send 600 children back to school in Assam, West Bengal, Jharkhand and Odisha.
Happy Schools
1,420 elementary schools transformed into Happy Schools
RC Mysore West established libraries in each of the four schools in a village of Mysuru.
IWC Jamshedpur, District 325, improved the infrastructure at Mahatopara Prathmik Vidyalaya, Kagalnagar, benefitting more than 100 students.
RILM Mobile App
Have you downloaded the T-E-A-C-H App yet? If not, download it now. Download it from App Store/Play Store/iOS. It will make things very easy for DGs, Presidents and Rotarians to get news, update projects, share pictures etc. It will be your gateway to find funds for T-E-A-C-H projects.
Adult Literacy
10 Adult Literacy Centres started by District 3080
District 3080, under the chairmanship of PDG Manpreet Singh Gandhoke and guidance of Assistant Governor Vivek Minocha, started 11 literacy centres in the District. With an aim to reach out to 10,000 adult non-literates, RC Saharanpur Central, RC Saharanpur Continental and RC Saharanpur South collaborated with local schools, colleges and NGOs.
RC Saharanpur Continental reached out to 2,415 adult learners through Swabhimaan Centres at Mahila Vridh Ashram, Manav Mandir, District Jail, Noor Basti slum area, Sankalp Siksha Niketan in Sonarjunpur village, Shishu Mandir at Satpura village, Udaan and D A V Public School at Malhipur.
RC Saharanpur South set up a Swabhimaan Centre at Jagdish Prasad Inter College, enrolling 200 adult learners and RC Saharanpur Central enrolled 2,000 adults in a Centre at Good News School.
Activities by Inner Wheel Clubs in India
Around 1,200 teachers were recognised with the Nation Builder Awards by Inner Wheel Clubs across India on Teachers Day in September.
RC Udumalpet along with Inner Wheel Club of Udumalpet and Rotaract Club of Udumalpet Gandhinagar, District 3202, donated 40 sets of furniture to Government Elementary School in Udumalpet in Tamil Nadu. IW District 312, Inner Wheel Club of Dudhi started a Swabhimaan Centre and enrolled 20 enthusiastic learners.
10 Reasons to attend South Asia Literacy Summit at Chennai
1. Literacy has become the buzz word for Rotarians and Inner Wheel members in South Asia. This will be our Karambhoomi — we have to be at Chennai.
2. Be there to cheer the 5 Literacy Heroes who will be honoured with cash award of ₹1 lakh each.
3. Network with Rotarians around the world especially from Bangaldesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan, Thailand, Sri Lanka and of course, India.
4. A great opportunity to listen to our RI President John Germ and Judy, TRF Trustee Chair Kalyan Banerjee and Binota who will be there.
5. Be part of the Centennial Banquet.
6. The Chennai Trade Centre will be a sea of humanity to witness the biggest event under the Rotary banner in India this year.
7. Meet friends, exchange ideas and enjoy live performances at the House of Friendship.
8. Listen to top-notch speakers in the field of Literacy.
9. Rub shoulders with our past presidents Raja Saboo and K R Ravindran, and the entire Rotary leadership of the country.
10. An opportunity to soak in the cultural ambience of Chennai, the land of R K Narayan, Rajnikanth, Sundar Pichai, Vishwanathan Anand, A R Rahman.
