SHWETAARK EDUCATION PROJECT
SHWETAARK is a collaborative project between Flowering Tree, USA and I-India to run schools for transient communities. The project sparks a light of learning, empowerment, personal growth and development for street and slum children through its street schools/centres and newly established formal school Shwetaark Pathshala.
Since year 2010, the project worked with over 14 communities and conducted teaching centers, or street schools for children of slum and streets. The children who enrolled in this program are first generation learners whose parents have never had the opportunity to access quality education. Further, majority of them are victims of exploitation, poor health, gender discrimination and domestic violence due to alcoholism. At first, Shwetaark brought, water, some basic healthcare, hygiene awareness and food to the children. Over time, the children, have moved from a disorganized way of living to some semblance of order and continuity where they attend centers regularly, eat food, take showers, keep clean spaces, and attend classes held in the centers.
Eventually, these stable centers transformed into formal school where formal education has been provided, within the state guidelines. Arts and Sports have been introduced into the curriculum, and the children now have a lot more exposure to many things. In the beginning of year 2018, this formal school has been recognized and accredited by the state government and currently 279 children enrolled with this formal school.
PREM-PATHSHALA EDUCATION PROJECT
PREM-PATHSHALA is a government recognized higher secondary school at Jhag Children’s village was established in 2009 jointly by I-India and I-India Project Australia with the aim of providing quality education to children of below poverty line families of Jhag and adjacent villages. Another school for the children of urban poor has been established in year 2018 at Bhankrota suburb of Jaipur city. These schools have been financially supported and mentored by a generous family based in Singapore. The education project at Jhag provides quality education to over 650 children from socially, economically and educationally weaker section of the society. The school in urban area Bhankrota, serves to over 300 children. The current percentage of Prem-Pathshala students belonging BPL (Below Poverty Level) status is 98%.
The students are taught subjects like English, Hindi, Environmental Science, Mathematics, Science, Computer and Drawing. The school has a well-equipped computer lab, science lab and imparts computer education to students from all the standards. To make children confident and to enhance their skills, various co-curricular activities are also conducted like student exchange program, quiz, debates, singing, dancing, sports and physical education.
