Apna Skool, Migrant Labour ProjectApna Skool, Migrant Labour ProjectApna Skool, Migrant Labour ProjectApna Skool, Migrant Labour Project Jagrati Bal Vikas Jagrati Bal Vikas Jagrati Bal Vikas Jagrati Bal Vikas Samiti, KanpurSamiti, KanpurSamiti, KanpurSamiti, Kanpur U. P U. P U. P U. P

Report: Sep-Dec 2010 Jagriti Bal Vikas Samiti is an NGO in Kanpur, started by faculty, students and others associated with IIT-Kanpur approximately 20 years ago. Apna Skool, Migrant Labour Project (MLP) is a network of schools for children of migrant labourers at construction sites and brick kilns in and around Kanpur, U.P. There are currently 610 students in 20 Apna Skool centres. (It must be noted that the number of students keeps varying due the very nature of their parents’ work). Apart from education, Apna Skool activities include:

� Nutrition: Wholesome meals at every centre � Health –Related Activities � School uniforms for all and sweaters in winter every year � Excursion trip every year � Regular Teachers meeting every month and teachers training workshop twice a year � Periodic interaction with the parents of Apna Skool students � Vocational –Training � The Apna Skool library has around 1000 books ( Story books , painting books ) which are

circulated in every centre to encourage the joy of reading among the students � Short films( entertaining and educative) are shown at all the centres periodically

The months from September - December is usually the time when Students of Apna Skool return from their respective villages in U.P, Jharkhand, Chattisgarh and Bihar along with their parents and get back to their Schooling. While we start preparing the Teachers for the new year in September, actual schooling begins during October. With the beginning of the School year, procurement of Study materials and arranging for the basic necessities at the various centres implies considerable efforts. . Two new Adult education centers ( Jaguvapurva and Amiliha) and two libraries (Amiliha and Vishnupur) which were started in May were operative till October. September 2010

1. On 2nd Sep Janmashthami was observed and Children were told stories about Shri Krishna being born in Jail at Mathura and brought up in Gokul. As a part of the celebrations, Children cleaned up the area and decorated with coloured papers, drew Rangoli etc. and sang group Bhajans.

2. Teachers Day was observed on 5th Sep and Children learnt about Dr S Radhakrishnan, a great Scholar and Teacher. Children assumed the role of a Teacher for the day and conducted classes for other children. The day culminated with a cultural program at many centres. Expectedly this generated a respect for their teachers and several dreamed of becoming a Teacher in future.

3. Bal Sabhas (Children’s Parliament) were constituted in each centre and children elected their own President and Vice President to conduct these meetings.

• Tamasaha Centre On 18th Sep children deliberated on Environment and related issues; planted saplings in their neighbourhood and named the saplings after the name of the child who planted it – it was expected the person so named will take care of its maintenance.

• Panki & Panki Padav children took upon themselves to clean the neighbourhood of their centre, the objective being a message of Cleanliness to the inhabitants.

4. Id Ul Fitr and Ganesh Chaturthi were celebrated on Saturday 11th sep. The idea of mutual

brotherhood and concern for each other and the family was told as the significance of the day. Since Saturdays happen to be the Balsabha meeting day, as a part of the Celebrations, children displayed their paintings.

5. Monthly Tests were held during 20-25 Sep. Nearly 225 students in classes 1-5 were evaluated. Teachers were satisfied with the results and felt that the performance reflected their teaching efforts. These indeed provide important feedback to Children to know where they stand and encourage them do even better.

6. Solar and Lunar Eclipse: Children were explained the principle behind the Eclipses with the help of a Globe and model charts.

7. Science Experiment: Drawing inspiration from Dr Arvind Gupta’s visit (Mr. Arvind Gupta from Science Centre IUCAA, Pune visited Kanpur in Jan. 2010), Children did a number of Experiments using materials that were available commonly. • A simple toy , like Dancing Spinning Pencil was made by children using objects like

pencil, rubber, paper clips, cardboard etc http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8h9VkcyYaU

• Air Occupies Space. Crumple a small handkerchief in an empty glass and invert it in a bucket full of water. When you remove the glass and take out the kerchief you will find the kerchief completely dry – implying did not come in contact with the kerchief – because the air present acts as a barrier. This clarifies that invisible air in the glass does occupy space.

Id Ul Fitr at Apna Skool Students assuming the role of teacher on Teacher’s Day

Science Experiment

Student Strength in Various Centres in September

S.No. Name of Centre Name of Teacher Centre timings Total No. of students

1 Dhamikheda 1- Nirmala Ji 2- Manju Ji 3 – Sunita Ji

9:oo AM to 3:00 PM 76

2 Panki Laxmi Ji 8 :00AM to 1:30 PM 35 3 Panki Padhav Hardas Ji 1:30 PM to 5:30 PM 21 4 Maharajpur Sarita Ji 12:00 PM to

4:00PM 27

5 Tamsaha 1- Raksha Ji 2- Mohit Ji 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM 53 6 Gol Chauraha (Med Coll.) Suraj 3;00 PM to 5;00 PM 6 7 Jaguvapurva (Adult Education) Pushpa Ji 12:00 PM to 3:00

PM 29

8 Amiliha Library Pushpa Ji 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM 72 9 Amiliha (Adult Education) Pushpa Ji 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM 10 10 Vishnupur Library Mohit Ji 6:15 PM to 7:00 PM 68

October 2010 Most of the Apna Skool Centres started functioning in October with the return of migrant (partially bonded) workers back in the brick kilns following the conclusion of monsoon (when normally brick kilns close and the workers return to attend to their responsibilities in their own villages).

1. Special Meeting was held on October 26th. Older children from various centres , all coordinators, Mahesh and Vijaya didi participated. Children brought up several problems they were facing in their studies. In view of the fact that there was no electricity in their make-shift homes it was becoming difficult to do homework, decision was taken to provide a solar powered lanterns at two centres. Children are encouraged to study in a group that helps them share and bond with each other.

2. Habit of Diary writing. Children are encouraged to maintain a personal diary to record their activities. One of them had an entry “I helped an old man cross the road”. Tulsi (Panki Centre) wrote about his inability to help a road accident victim, because the School van arrived and he had to leave the accident site.

3. During the Bal sabha meetings on Saturdays Students have started bringing out their own weekly news letter Bal Jagran, where they were encouraged to record the news from their homes and neighbourhood. They also display their talents writing Poems, Stories, Art work etc.

4. Sonia (class 8, Dhamikeda) participated in the Mehendi Competition held at the Zoological Park, Kanpur and won the second Prize.

Student Strength in Various Centres in October

S.N Name of Centre Name of Teacher Centre

Timing Total No. of Students

1 Dhamikheda 1- Sunita ji 2- Nirmala ji 3- Manju ji

9:00 to 3:00 71

2 Tamsaha 1- Raksha ji 2- Mohit 1:00 to 6:00 50 3 Panki 1- Laxmi ji 8:30 to 2:00 35 4 Panki Padhav 1- Hardas ji 1:30 to 5:30 22 5 Kalra -1 1- Pushpa ji 9:00 to 2:30 38 6 Jaguvapurva (Adult

Education) 1- Pushpa ji 4:00 to 5:00 4

7 Amiliha Library 1- Pushpa ji 5:30 to 6:30 70 8 Vishnupur Library 1- Mohit 6:15 to 7:45 51 9 Maharajpur (Deepak

Brick Kiln)

1-Anamika Mishra 9:00 to 2:30 25

November 2010

1. New Teachers Training: Newly joined teachers were given a two day program of training appropriate for instructions in Apna Skools. In particular we begin not from alphabets, but start the children’s familiarity with words through picture cards and follow it up with simple words and then introduce slowly all alphabets. This way, students grasp the fundamentals of language and comprehension.

2. School timings at Apna Skool are necessarily flexible, depending on the most suitable time students are available for study (since it is impossible to completely wean them away from partial work with their parents’ job).

3. Deepawali and Bal Diwas were celebrated on 4th Nov and 14th Nov respectively. On Children’s day an Art Competition was held in all Centres. At IIT under the auspices of NSS a Handwriting competition was held for all children and Vishambar (Panki Centre) won the third prize.

4. Children made their Letterboxes: Children were taught the art of letter-writing and use of letter box and made aware of idea of Post Offices through such activity.

5. Children equipped each centre with Letter-box, Clock, Calender and waste basket. . 6. Teachers were encouraged to teach concepts of Maths through Games, Geography and

Science by activities and maps etc. 7. Sweaters were distributed in all centres in view of the approaching winter. 8. In some centre older children helped create toilet areas with suitable covered environment in

the neighbourhood of the Apna Skool Centre. 9. Visit by Thiery and Nancy of Mala Foundation. Mala Foundation, one of our principal

donors visited a few Centres of Apna Skool and joined in a picnic at Bhitoor along with some children from A-one Centre. Children enjoyed and had a great fun.

Tree Planting in Apna Skool Centres Letter box made by Students

Thierry and Nancy from Mala Foundation with Apna Skool Students Student Strength in Various Centres in November S.No. Name of Centre Name of Teacher Centre Timing

Total No. of Students

1 Dhamikheda 1- Sunita ji 2- Nirmala ji 3- Manju ji

9:00 to 3:00

80

2 Tamsaha (AID) 1. Raksha ji 2- Mohit 3:00 to 6:00 50 3 Panki Power House 1- Laxmi ji 9:00 to 3:00 35 4 Panki Padhav (AID) 1- Hardas ji 1:30 to 5:30 21 5 Jaguvapurva 1- Pushpa ji 4:00 to 5:00 5 6 Kalra Brick Kiln-1 1- Pushpa ji 10:00 to 3:00 38 7 Kalra - 2 1- Omkant ji 10:00 to 3:30 33 8 Deep BK (Bhauti) 1- Ekta Pal 9:00 to 3:30 28 9 Ankit Brick Kiln 1- Rajesh Kumar 9:30 to 3:00 17 10 Rautepur (Bhola Brick Kiln) 1- Shakuntala Pal 10:00 to 3:30 15 11 Saran Brick Kiln 1- Rupa Saini 10:00 to 3:30 26 12 Vishnu Brick Kiln 1- Mohit 10:00 to 3:30 27 13 A1 Brick Kiln (AID) 1- Amardeep ji 2-

Pradeep ji 9:30 to 3:30 36

14 Jaiswal Brick Kiln 1- Raksha ji 10:00 to 3:00 30 15 Mera Brick Kiln 1- Raksha ji 10:00 to 3:00 30 16 Murari Brick Kiln

(Tikra)(AID) 1- Najma Khan 9:30 to 3:00 35

17 Bhadhawan-Khalsa Brick Kiln

1- Indra Kumar 9:30 to 3:00 30

18 Kisan Nagar (Jain Brick Kiln)

1- Asutosh ji 9:00 to 2:30 23

19 Lodhar Brick Kiln 1- Shabnam 10:00 to 3:30 22 20 Maharajpur (Deepak Brick 1- Anamika Mishra 9:00 to 2:30 25

kiln)(AID) 21 Gol Chaurah 1-Suraj 4:00 to 5:30 7 22 Amiliha Library 1- Pushpa ji 5:30 to 6:30 70 23 Vishnupur Library 1- Mohit 6:15 to 7:45 51

December 2010

1. Uniforms were distributed in all Apna Skool centres during the month of December. 2. “Apna Skool” Library:- “Apna Skool” libraries were started at all the centres this month 3. Radio Recording in I.I.T Kanpur (FM 90.4) - On 12th December, students from some centres of

“Apna Skool” visited the IIT Campus, along with their teachers. Songs and poems recited by the students were recorded. A brief description of “Apna Skool” was also recorded by the teachers. These recording were broadcast on 90.4 FM at Sunday.

4. Visitors to various Apna Skool centres during the month December include Rashtabandhuji, renowned Hindi Poet from ; Kavita Ramanan, Professor Brwon University , US; Prabal Maiti, professor , IISC. Bangalore.

5. Update from Alumni of Apna Skool: Mandakini, Doojbai and Teejbai ex-studendts of Apna Skool are now teachers at their respective villages. They sent us updates about their activities, a gist of which is given below.

Students of Apna Skool of yesterday are Teachers today Doojbai Doojbai was one of the earliest students to get the benefit of education from Apna Skool. Daughter of a migrant labourer from Chattisgarh started her Class I at Apna Skool in 1989. She continued in the IIT’s Opportunity School and then in a private School in the neighbourhood to reach the 12th class. She retuned to her village Nirjam in Bilaspur District, Chattisgarh and became a Teaching assistant scoring the highest mark in the Selection Test for the School System there. She was appointed at Chamam (about 7 KM away) as ShiksaKarmi (Teaching Assistant) for Classes 6-8. After three years she married a B Sc graduate working in Bilaspur, but continued as Teacher back at Nirjam. She is an enthusiastic teacher and takes care of classes 1 – 5 and appears very popular with her students. She is also continuing by correspondence a degree program that will lead her to Bachelor’s degree. After completion this years she plans to enroll for a B Ed program that will enable her become full-fledged Teacher. Teejbai Teejbai is Dooojbai’s sister and had a parallel association with Apna Skool. She started a copule of years later and went on till class 10 in Apna Skool, Opportunity School etc. She completed her twelfth in Nirjam and is teaching in a private School called Ravindra Bharati in Dhanu village (about ½ hr by cycle from Nirjam). She is the only female teacher in this school. She laments that the girls do not in her village go beyond class 6 or 7 because their parents are afraid that they may not find suitable husband! She has given the entrance test for a B Ed program and continues by correspondence B A studies. She helps her father in farming activities after School hours and teaches Sewing to village girls. She desires to equip herself with computer literacy when she will find it possible to do so. She writes that she helped a blind girl Manjulata, given up by the local school system with basic rudiments and took the initiative to admit her in a Special School for Blinds at

Raipur. Manjulata, now in class 7, plans to continue further. This is indeed a remarkable feat for one who has been a first generation learner! Mandakini Mandakini is another student with Apna Skool, who completed her School education in Kanpur went on to pick up a B A degree from a college near her village in Bilaspur district. She is now in Raipur having married a carpenter employed there. She adds to the income of the family by being an agent for small savings scheme and uses her spare time in educating construction workers children at worksites – very much like the education she first received.

Uniform Distribution

Teejbai with her Students Doojbai with her Students in School function

Student Strength in Various Centres in November

S.N Name of Centre Name of Teacher Centre Timing Total No. of Students

1 Dhamikheda 1- Sunita ji 2- Nirmala ji 3- Manju ji 9:00 to 3:00

80

2 Tamsaha (AID) 1- Raksha ji 2- Mohit 3:00 to 6:00 50 3 Panki Power House 1- Laxmi ji 9:00 to 2:30 35 4 Panki Padhav (AID) 1- Hardas ji 1:30 to 5:30 22 5 Jaguvapurva (Adult Education) 1- Pushpa ji 4:00 to 5:00 5 6 Kalra Brick Kiln-1 1- Pushpa ji 10:00 to 3:00 38

7 Kalra - 2 (Amiliha) 1- Omkant ji 10:00 to 2:30 37 8 Deep BK (Bhauti) 1- Ekta Pal 9:00 to 2:30 22 9 Ankit Brick Kiln 1- Rajesh Kumar 11:00 to 3:30 26 10 Rautepur (Bhola Brick Kiln) 1- Shakuntala Pal 10:00 to 3:30 21 11 Saran Brick Kiln 1- Rupa Saini 10:00 to 3:30 23

13 A1 Brick Kiln (AID) 1- Mohit 10:00 to 3:30 32 14 Jaiswal Brick Kiln 1- Pradeep ji 12:30 to 4:00 27 15 Mera Brick Kiln 1- Raksha ji 10:00 to 3:00 30 16 Murari Brick Kiln (Tikra)(AID) 1- Najma Khan 9:30 to 3:00 39 17 Badhawan-Khalsa Brick Kiln 1- Indra Kumar 9:30 to 3:00 33 18 Kisan Nagar (Jain Brick Kiln) 1- Rahul Singh 9:00 to 2:30 25 19 Lodhar Brick Kiln 1- Vahida 11:00 to 4:00 23

20 Maharajpur (Deepak Brick Kiln) (AID) 1- Anamika Mishra 9:00 to 2:30

35

21 Gol Chaurah 1- Suraj 4:00 to 5:30 7

22 Nahar Kothi 1- Pradeep Ji 2- Rajesh Kumar 10:00 to 3:30

30

Report compiled with assistance from Apna Skool coordinators: Mahesh , Laxmikant Shukla, B.N. Sharma, Sangeeta Verma, and Vijaya Ramachandran rvijaya26@yahoo.co.in, vijayav26@gmail.com Pranab Mohapatra pranab@iitk.ac.in