a year at a glance at wep’s “sudar” center … year at a glance at wep’s “sudar” center...
TRANSCRIPT
A Year at a Glance at WEP’s “Sudar” Center … !• 86 young women attended; 70 received scholarships. "• 3 English, 3 Computer, and 8 study skills courses were offered."• 14 life-skills workshops and fieldtrips were held. "• Average daily attendance increased from 25 to 30 students. "• Nutritious snacks were served daily."• Student meeting and book club was held monthly."• 70 students volunteered at an orphanage and an elderly home."• Students initiated a tutorial program for 23 neighborhood children."• 17 students graduated from college – all entered a PG program."• 15 alumnae and current students found part-time and full-time jobs. "
Madurai Program"WEP’s Madurai Center, Sudar (meaning “light” in Tamil) is a house in the Nerimedu neighborhood of Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India. After college hours, students walk, cycle or take a bus to Sudar to study, enjoy nutritious snacks, and use the computer lab and library. Weekends and holidays hold workshops, fieldtrips, book club, and impromptu dance and song sessions. Ms. Vijayalakshmi, Program Director and Ms. Preethi, Office Assistant (and Sudar alumnae), report from this lively center: "
Workshops and Fieldtrips. Students learned about:"• personal financial management"• traditional medicinal plants and how to grow them at home"• strategies to prepare for their (many) exams"• women’s health – a workshop by Aravind Eye Hospital doctors"• using a camera and telling a story through photos"• conducting interviews and photography projects for WEP News"• responsibilities of central and state government departments "• karate chops in a self-defense class"• writing a resume - conducted by a US-WEP volunteer "• global warming at an international conference held in Madurai"• nature in Kodai Kanal, a mountainous region"• manufacturing at Ruby, Madurai’s famous mango drink factory"• International Women’s Day – a kollam drawing competition"• methods to teach children – conducted by a US-WEP volunteer"
Captions (Clockwise)!• Singing the Sudar song on
Annual Day !• Attending a Women’s
Health Workshop!• Learning to use a camera!• Drawing kollams
(traditional chalk drawings) at the center. !
Captions (Clockwise)!• Discussing a novel in
Book Club!• Organizing a check-up
for orphanage children with Aravind Eye Hospital doctors!
• A student stands next to a newspaper clipping congratulating her on second place in a state exam. !
• Reading at the center!• Teaching at the
children’s camp held at Sudar!
Hi. I am doing my B.Sc chemistry second year in Lady Doak College. My father is a mechanic. My ambition is to become a teacher. My family is struggling financially. Even we are struggling, my parents are very much interested in our studies. My friend introduced me to WEP-Sudar. After I get the confidence of finishing my education goals and career. WEP-Sudar provided me a scholarship after knowing about my poor financial back ground. Sudar is a great opportunity for young girls like me for higher education and career. Myself and my friends do combined study at Sudar. """" I am doing B.Sc Maths, 2nd yr. I am the first child to my
parents. I have two younger sisters and one younger brother. My father is a coolie [load man]. My father is my hero. My family is a beautiful family. I want to become a Software Engineer. During the end of my 12th standard, I got fear about my higher studies because of my family’s poor economical condition. But that time WEP-Sudar adopted me and helped me for my higher studies. Now I don’t have fear about my mere future. I am having Sudar now for fulfilling my wishes. Sudar showed me the way for higher education. "
A House visit by the Madurai Staff: "Our scholarship student, a commerce student, is living in a small hut. Her mother is an illiterate woman, a nice innocent lady who works as a coolie in construction work and earning Rs. 150/ per day ($3).Her father is working as a coolie in river tank and earning Rs.2000/ ($40)per month. Her family consists of six members. Her first younger sister is working as a coolie in a company and other two sisters are studying in school. Her mother devoted her thanks to WEP-Sudar for its support of her daughter's education""
Hyderabad Program"At WEP’s Hyderabad Center, a partnership with the M. Venkatarangaiya Foundation (MVF), Ushassu (meaning “dawn” in Telugu), rural and urban students attend various colleges surrounding the MVF office. On the weekends and holidays, students meet for workshops, fieldtrips and other events. Esther Subhashini, Program Director and Program In-Charges Mr. Venkatesh and Ms. Susan Rani report: " "A Year at a Glance at WEP’s “Ushassu” Center … "• 45 students attended the program and 36 received scholarships to intermediate and college programs."• Daily tutorials in English, Commerce and Math were offered."• Monthly student meetings to plan program were held."• 10 workshops and fieldtrips were conducted throughout the year. ""Workshops and Fieldtrips. Students learned about:"• Tom’s Shoes and assisted in a shoe distribution for children "• kitchen gardens – a training by MVF. 18 students planted home gardens and reported savings on vegetable
expenditure. "• environment - held a mock parliament, essay competition and rally on World Environment Day."• journalism and photography – attended a 3-day program with professors from Hyderabad. "• producing articles and photographs for WEP News "• women’s health "• methods to teach children – conducted by a US-WEP volunteer"• writing a resume - conducted by a US-WEP volunteer "• the stars - toured and attended a lecture at the new observatory "• bio-diversity – learned about millets and farming technologies"• communication skills– a workshop at CRIDA""""*Unfortunately, due to the Telegana separatist movement and a water scarcity problem in the village area, the Ushassu program was unable to offer all of the activities and many colleges were closed.)""
Students did small volunteer projects in their community … !• 7 students helped elderly in their community by visiting their homes and helping with small tasks"• 14 students gave tutorial classes at their own homes for children in their villages"
Captions (Clockwise)!
• A student gives a speech at International Women’s Day"
• A lecture at the Observatory"
• Tom Shoe’s Program"
• 4 photos – environmental awareness programs and a pledge to protect the environment (1-4)"
All Photos (clockwise) – Environmental Awareness Programs. !!• A mock
parliament!!• A lecture!
• A neighborhood rally!
• A fieldtrip to innovative, water saving irrigation system !
I am 19 years old and I am pursuing Bs.(M.P.C;s) 2nd yr. I live with my mother and younger brother. My widowed mother runs a roadside tea counter. My brother is now in 8th standard. We do not have much money and live on day to day earnings. I joined WEP 3 months ago. The main reason to join is, I lost my father in my 8th standard. Since then onwards my mother has been working very hard to help me complete B.Sc 1st year. Due to our severe financial and family problems, my mother and family member were forcing me to stop my educaNon and work to support my family. In this situaNon, I asked my mother to look for someone to help me. She then came to know about W.E.P. My relaNves were pressuring my mother to get me married. But my mother by knowing the value of educaNon gave me support and sNll struggling and working hard to educate me. I have been given a lot of encouragement and support by the WEP-‐Ushassu program. This has increased my mother’s hope that I can go for my further educaNon and reach my goal. In my view, financial support that is for educaNon is the best support given to girls like me. I now feeling happy that my mother’s burden is lightened by WEP/ foundaNon and she is able to educate me happily with your help.
Hi. I am 20 old. I have one elder brother, younger sister and brother. My family is toddy tappers. While I am studying 8th class at the age of 13 I was married. So I disconNnued my studies. Unfortunately my husband died in an accident. So I came back to my parents home and worked as labourer for two years. I completed my 10th class through open school system. I wished to conNnue college studies but my parents had not given me the support to conNnue my studies due to financial and other tradiNonal reasons. In the year 2010 i came to know about WEP and it support to women’s educaNon. With the help of MVF staff I jointed in WEP. (that year) they have given me a opportunity to join Intermediate course by providing scholarships. In the WEP-‐Ushassu I have aXended number of training and other acNviNes like Rural bakery, Photography, Journalism, Fodder culNvaNon, Teacher training & Resume wriNng, Personal hygiene, health & nutriNon communicaNon skills / HIV –aids. I have gained a lot of knowledge by aXending these trainings and classes. (I successfully completed my intermediate course in commerce with 75% in 1st division.) With their conNnued support this year I have joined in degree course. I am feeling proud to say that this really, WEP students have given me a lot of moral support and financial to successfully reach my goals. With the help of WEP I completed my intermediate course with 1st class by conNnuing this year. I am studying 2nd year in commerce course. I am sure with the help of WEP I will complete my graduaNon my ambiNon is to become a teacher. WEP / MVF has given girls moral & emoNonal support which we did not receive from my parents. I am very thankful to WEP for giving me a opportunity.
Bangalore Program"On July 11, 2011, WEP opened its third center, this time partnering with the Hope Foundation in Bangalore, (Karnataka, India). Named Diya (“light” in Hindi), the center provides an after-school program for girls in the 8-10th grades attending Hope’s elementary school. ""Program Director, Kala Vathi in her first report writes “[WEP] is one of the most inspiring projects … in the community of Doddannanagar girls usually go home and must do household work [and] do not have enough space to study peacefully. Parents are happy that girls are given so much importance in education as well as extra curricular activities.“ Kala and teachers Ms. Supriya and Ms. Shanti report:"! A Year at a Glance at WEP’s “Diya” Center … "• 30 students attended the program."• Computer class was held daily - Typing Master was a hit. "• English, library and craft sessions were offered each day."• Nutritious snacks were served daily."• Students took up the Cricket bat. (Teachers were surprised " at their interest, as the game is usually played by boys, and " saw the students’ confidence soar!) " "Workshops and Fieldtrips. Students: "• held an environmental awareness campaign to educate their neighborhood about planting trees."• visited Crosswords Bookstore to choose books for their WEP library."• learned about journalism, media, and photography."• published their own interviews, articles and photographs in WEP News."• visited a maternity hospital and interviewed a doctor about her career."• drew Rangolis (colorful powder drawings) for a competition. "• received a full tour of a post office and learned about postal activities – a favorite trip for the teachers and students! "" "
“Hi! I am very happy that Hope Foundation School has started WEP for us. Everyday I am waiting eagerly to come to this class. I am not only having fun but also get to revise my lessons and clarify my doubts in all the subjects. It gives me immense pleasure to use the computers freely.” " "“I am a student of WEP. WEP is not only helping us to do well in studies but also we have full one hour operating computers, playing games, learning spoken English even the teachers play with us. I am happy to attend this programme everyday without fail.”""“Hi. From last year, I used to stay in the school waiting for my sister to finish WEP class and come home, on the way she used to share how she was learning and enjoying in this 2 hours class. I always used to ask my teacher to make me also part of it. So today I am very happy to be part of it. Thanks for giving me admission.”"!" ""
Captions (Clockwise)"• Learning in the
computer lab ""• A visit to a maternity
hospital"
• An environmental rally in the neighborhood"
• A craft lesson""
A generous contribution from Zebra Technologies helped us to launch WEP News – an online journalism program.!"All students attended a Journalism workshop and a photography training at their centers. ""Students completed journalism projects interviewing professionals and personal heroes and photographing their neighborhoods. ""To view the students stories, please visit WEP News on our website. "
Women’s Educa.on Project Financial Statement July 2011 – June 2012
Income
CorporaNons and FoundaNons 76,692
Individuals and Events 35,037
Total 111,729
Expense
Program 92,252
AdministraNon 19,589
Total 111,841