IRDRP Child Labour education , project Report from May 2017-May 2018

Institute of Research and Development for the Rural Poor-Trust No.48,18th Cross st, Kakilanchavadi, Tambaram Sanitorium,

Chennai, Tamilnadu, India

Project report from May 2017- May 2018

Submitted to

People Progress in India, USA

By Institute of Research and Development for the Rural Poor-Trust

No.48,18th Cross st, Kakilanchavadi, Tambaram Sanitorium,

Chennai, Tamilnadu, India Email: irdrpindia@gmail.com

Tel: + 91 44-22410117 / + 91 9444201262 Website: www.irdrp. in

Institute of Research and Development for the Rural Poor-Trust No.48,18th Cross st, Kakilanchavadi, Tambaram Sanitorium,

Chennai, Tamilnadu, India

Project Report from MAY 2017 – MAY 2018

“ EDUCATING OF CHILDREN IN STONE QUARRY AND NEGLECTED CHILDREN IN CHENNAI.TN, INDIA”

Synopsis of the Project: IRDRP proposed to work in stone quarry units in Chennai, Tamilnadu by providing opportunities to children in stone quarry units in Dharkast, Melathur, Somangalam and Erumaiyur villages such as schooling, supportive education, recreation, counseling, etc., for the healthy growth and development of children in quarries, especially younger ones. Spread awareness and understanding among the general public about the problems of working children in quarries, sexually exploited children and to prevent children employed in quarries. Project Activities carried out in one year

1. Enrollment drive in working areas 2. Mainstream all children (both boys and girls) in the age group of 6 – 13 years into the main school studies, who are dropped outs. 3. Run convenient education, Non formal education to all the children of quarry areas in the age group of 3-14 years through educational classes 4. Provide supportive education to slow learners, who are attending regular schools and mainstream them. 5. Train senior children in the age group of 14 – 18 children in computer. 6. Life Skill Education to Adolescent groups 7. Special programs for motivating children

Details of activities carried out:

IRDRP staff conducted survey in 5 target villages, door to door survey was conducted by asking their parents name, native place, migration reasons, working nature and income, health hazards, family members and education of all children. IRDRP staff listed out all drop out children and slow learners and organized 5 days camp at their location and also in IRDRP Training centre at Somangalam. A. Organized Enrollment camps: We organized two enrollment camps for drop out and non starter in stone quarry areas one in IRDRP office another in Dharkast village quarry area itself. Each camp was organized for 5 days, from morning 09.00 am to afternoon 05.30 pm, Our staff assessed the education level of each children in English, Mathematics and Tamil languages. As per student capacity Staff took class to the children. Our Director taught English Grammar to VI-X standard students. We also conducted few games, simulation games, fun and competitions to the children to encourage them to participate lively.

B. Enrollment Drive: After the completion of camp, drop out children were enrolled in the school as per their age and standard. It was easy to admit the children because of the SSA supporting us. Government Policy of Compulsory education till 8th standard was implemented in Tamilnadu. We enrolled 53 children of drop out into school current year. School headmasters also co-operated very well to admit the children as per their age into standard. IRDRP also organized evening classes for them to support their education. C. Provided educational support Materials

IRDRP supported children study materials to new enrolled children and children in stone quarry of 100 children, who attended in our enrollment camps. We provided school bags, notebooks, shoes , scale, pencil box, pencil, color pencil and eraser a complete set to all children. It motivated children and parents to send their children to school and reduced the burden of parents also in borrowing loan from the owners

to buy all these study materials. Parents felt very comfortable in sending the children. D. Organized convenient educational center: We started Convenient educational center at Dharkast and Erumaiyur Quarry. The center is open from Morning 10.00 am to evening 07.00 pm. Presently 13 and 16 children of child labours come and study in this center. We provided shoes, dress, bag, notebooks, pencil, pencil box, color pencils, to all children. Government provides books to these center. The full time teaching staff is available in these centers. E. Supportive education classes to School going and drop outs: IRDRP organizes three supportive education classes in the 3 targeted centers. Following are the details:

Center name Students strength Teacher name

Melathur 35 children Ms.Vimala

Somangalam 38 children Mrs.Dharani

Naduveerapattu 42 children Mrs.Shanthi

The above 3 centers functions from Evening 5.30pm to 7.30 pm. Once the school hours completed children come to their homes and refresh themselves and come to our Supportive education classes. Here our teachers make the children to do their home work, learn that days class teaching, and learn read and write. Saturday children engaged in simulation games, and sports.

F. Conducted 5 days life skill education: IRDRP organized 5 days life skill education program to Adolescent girls at our Office 25 Girls participated in the program. Mrs,Alfina,MSW,MPhil psychologist invited as resource person and talked about elf esteem, life skills. We taught health and personal hygiene of girls specially the management of menstrual cycle, clean health, common diseases

spread in stone quarry units like malaria, typhoid, ulcers etc., Life skill training and art of expression and thematic concept competition was held to them, Children effectively participated in the workshop. All girls and boys participated in the workshop with the course teachers. Addition to that we also taught them jewelry making, paper bags making to them. Girls said the program was very useful to them to do at home and earn little money. G. Computer Education to Adolescence Boys and Girls in quarry:

IRDRP running computer skill program to adolescent girls and boys in our Computer Center at Somangalam office. 36 students participated in the program in the first batch (May- Aug 2017) 24 students gained in the second batch (Sept-2017 Dec 2017) and Now 29 students getting training (Jan- April 2018) We are teaching Basic computer Micro soft, word,

excel, powerpoint, internet, web search, resume preparation, Job applying etc, We also teach Personality Development- personal appearance, interview skills, soft skills, and leadership management. This helps the students to learn the additional knowledge and perform their interpersonal skills. H. Organize skill training programs to Parents

IRDRP organized three days skill training program for Parents of quarry children at IRDRP Training center from 20-22nd Sept 18. We train them in making candles, agarpathy and artificial jewelry training to them. It helped to start a Self Help groups among them and now they started small business in the group. Making

candles as business and sell them among them itself and near by shop. J. Organized Independence day observation in Erumaiyur village: We observed Independence day celebration at our IRDRP training center at Melathur somangalam. We invited village elected President Mr.Sekar and its Ward members for this function. Quarry Children performed lots of programs like folk dance, freedom speech and singing programs, their parents admire their children skills. Its opportunity to share with children’s parents about the children talents and improvements of our coaching class. Village leaders also appreciated our efforts and children performance Prizes were distributed to all children and special performers. Its an encouragement and motivation for parents to send the children regularly to class and school and also motivation to children to come to centers regularly. K. Organized two days Gender awareness workshop:

Two days gender awareness workshop was organized in Erumaiyur computer center itself. Boys and girls participated in the workshop. It was organized 14th July 2017. Dr.Irudayasamy facilitated the workshop. Gender definition, gender roles, behavioral changes of adolescent stage, and health life.

L. Children Parliamentary:

We introduced children Parliamentary concept to our students. 3 months once we invite all children for Children Parliamentary. Students elect their Chief Minister, and other ministers by nomination. Then they are allowed to canvas other students to vote for the person. Finally on the basis of votes Ministers were elected. Among the elected Ministers they elect Chief Minister and other cabinet

Ministers. Ministers like Environment, Education, health and Communication. These ministers would do some village activities along with their students. Environment Minister did plantation of

trees in the villages, Keep village clean. Health Minister conducted health classes in the villages. Health Minister prepare himself about the talk through web search and referring books and then he made sessions in the Supplementary classes.

Photo: left to Right : Education Minister, Transport Minister, Environment Minister, Chief Minister, Health Minister and Education Minister Thus they develop civic conscious and keep their village clean and healthy. M.CHILDREN TALENTS SHOW: We organized Children’s Talent show in our IRDRP training center. 100 children participated in the program. Center wise children performed their talents, and individual children also expressed their talents by singing, dancing, speech on special topics, Karate, etc., it was nice experience for the children to show their inherent talents and time to get together all children. It was Happy moments for the children in the special occasion.

Conclusion: We really thank the People progress in India, USA for their generous supports and contribution to run the project very successfully.

Following impacts we observed in the community 1) Parents are aware of importance of education and sending the children 2) Parents feel very comfortable of supporting children on studies like bag, notebook, and evening classes. 3) Local leaders are very supportive. 4) Children strength increases because we take them tour, functions to express their talents, prizes etc., 5) computer class helps them to learn computer and also Maths and English through computer. 6) Children continuing their studies without drop outing in middle. Teachers also supporting for this, because of teachers orientation and regular follow-up our teachers 7) Child labour rate is decreasing in this two villages.

Place: Chennai-600 047 Date:30/05/2018 Signature of the Managing Trustee