Dazzling Stone Home for ChildrenDazzling Stone Home for Children

• Marijke

Welcome

Dazzling Stone School : why• Not enough orphanages in Chennai – creation of Dazzling

Stone Orphanage (1994 – at the start 5 children – between 3 and 18 years old)

• Good education too expensive for orphans

• No difference can be made between religion and race : the catholic approach has been chosen as the means of living all together

A bit of history...A bit of history...• Year 2001 – a sabbatical : take a small break – work with

Global Volunteers – Minnesota

• Volunteer work in combination with development work

• Chennai (Madras) - India

• The only european volunteer participating in the project

• 100 children in a small building, all going to public school

Socio-economical• Sirukalathur - Kundrathur - Chennai - Zuid-India• India: ± 1 bio inhabitants, Chennai 6 mio people• Lacking good english education• A lot of people living under poverty level• Problems Chennai :• * over-populated• * pollution• * people without a roof• * drugs, alcohol• * poverty

Socio-economical (more)…Socio-economical (more)… • Agricultural work

• Warm & humid climate

• A bit or no rain at all during summer

• Drinking water quality ?

• Medical assistance ?

• Schooling?

The family• Founder : Deva Dhas

• The family Dhas : Deva, Joy, Jobin & Dany

• Worked in the local ‘missiepost’

• Was also worker in the local hospital, now FT in orphanage

• Started in his private house, with a few children

• Moved into a larger building, now really occupied with the children

A typical orphanage dayA typical orphanage day• 05u15 - 05u30: getting up• 05u30 - 06u00: prayer• 06u00 - 07u00: study• 07u00 - 08u00: washing & dressing• 08u00 - 09u00: go to school• 09u00 - 16u00 : lessons• 16u30 - 17u30: playing & washing hour• 17u30 - 19u00: study• 19u30 - 20u00: dinner• 20u30 - 22u00: prayer + songs• Midnight : go to bed !

Results up to todayResults up to today• From a rented building (300 m2) to a new (owned) larger

building – Indian Style

• Basic but comfortable

• Every kid own case with private stuff

• Separate school building

• Separate kitchen

• Much play ground for the kids

• Very close to the water reservoir of Chennai

• Pets for the children : pigeons, fish, dog, cats …..

Creation of the school• Reserach of the needs in 2001 (by volunteers)

• Creation of 4 classes (grades) in 2001 - 02

• Partly english eduction (Tamil subjects mandatory)

• Growth to 5 grades in 2001-2003 - 7 grades in 2006

• Recognition by Indian Government in 2006

Education

Education prevents migration, migration prevention creates peace

Children have to become independent individuals able to have a self supporting life in India

Budget 2009:2010 (total 7 grades + Budget 2009:2010 (total 7 grades + supervision, incl lunch)supervision, incl lunch)

• 6 educators 6 x 5.000 RS : 30.000 RS/mth• 1 principal 1 x 6.000 RS : 6.000 RS/mth• 1 watchman 1 x 3.000 RS : 3.000 RS/mth• 1 helper 1 x 2.500 RS : 2.500 RS/mth• Note/text books 1 x 56.000 RS : 56.000 RS/yr• Uniforms 2 x 45.000 RS : 90.000 RS/yr• School material 1 x 90.000 RS : 90.000 RS/yr• Lunch school 1 x 328 000 RS : 328.000 RS/yr• Fuel bus 1 x 27 500 RS : 27 500 RS/yr

• TOTAL :12 calendar months : 1 089 500 Rupees = +- 15 565 € (on Nov 23, 2009)

New/other needs in Dazzling Stone ?

• Creation of all grades of basic education (growth from 7 – 12 classes) would give a full control on education of the children

• For every class a separate room (now 2 classes in one room)• Admission of more children from the village (now 30 – could be more

if more space available)• Recruitment of more english teachers (full degree) + principal with

full degree• More and better school material• Innovation in the orphanage building : flooring of the dining room,

flooring in the bedrooms, renovation of the toilets, electricity safety works overall, concrete floor on the playground

Thanks!

• Marijke