India: “Udisha” project, as a sunrise for teens from Goregaon
Udisha Project (in English, “The ray of sun that brings in a new dawn”), since 2004 offered 30 scholarships to 30 beneficiaries (boys and girls). It is a very innovative initiative, wich promotes the “giving culture” among teens from North and South of the World. It is insered into “Schoolmates” Project, prmoted by Teens4Unity Movement.
Moreover, through this project, the possibility was given to the children of Goreagon and surrounding areas to have tutoring lessons for an hour and a half every day for a week during the school year.
The Indian schools have a very high number of students, from 70 to 80 students per class. This creates difficulties in following them individually in their instruction.
They are all forced to take private very expensive tutoring in order to pass the exams. Children of poor families, who cannot afford these expenses are forced to abandon their studies, renouncing the possibility of advancing professionally and, in the future, of finding a good job which will allow them to come out of the situation of poverty in which they find themselves.
Today there are about 45 boys and girls who regularly attend the after school tutoring.
Their ages are from 7 to 16 years old and they belong to various religions: Christians, Hindu and Muslims. The lessons are divided in three cycles according to their age; they begin in the morning around 10:00 a.m. and end at 6:30 p.m. The teachers alternate and teach various subjects.
The activities that take place during the year are aimed at education, nutrition, medical cure of children and their families, with a deep attention to the intercultural aspects and mutual help.
Financial aid aims to improve the education of children, but also the quality of life of their families and of Indian society. It is, therefore, important to encourage each one and to use the personal resources which serve towards human and economic growth.
Throughout the school they try to live the “culture of giving,” starting to give what each one can and has (such as a smile, advice or concrete help) resulting in the reciprocal joy.
Fount: www.schoolmates.org