Gandhiji challenged free India to take up Life Education' but it is not
clear if the 2% education cess is helping provide such
education.
SEWA's over one million women members also demanded access to such life education, which we did through life schools or Jeevanshalas' that we run in 18 districts of Gujarat. But our reach in Ahmedabad was limited.
Children of SEWA's construction workers, vegetable vendors and head loaders hover around the workplace of parents. If the mother does not get work, the child goes hungry. Hungry children is a reality even in today's Ahmedabad.
But these hungry bodies have hungry minds eager to learn new languages, master arithmetic skills, how the municipal corporation works, how the police force functions, how a bank lends money. They want to know about Chandrayaan, India's steps towards moon. But the world of these children is limited to the worksite.
Teach India gave SEWA an opportunity to reach out to over 3500 such children in 3 months through 71 centres in the city's poorer localities with the help of its volunteers, whom we called gyan saathis'. They teach the children with passion and commitment.
The role educated gyan saathis doctors, mill owners, social workers, engineers, government servants, businessmen, college students, corporate executives and chartered accountants have played in teaching these children has made SEWA proud.
The partnership under Teach India with SEWA has resulted in building a bridge between educated professionals and poor informal sector households.
Gyansathis have committed to continue providing their service even after the campaign ends. At all the centres, Gyansathis not only contribute their time, but also bring nutritious food, books, teaching aids as well all voluntarily. At some Jeevanshalas, gyansathis have also adopted centres and support education with fees, books and uniforms.
Because of the powerful impact and increased demand from its members in Ahmedabad, SEWA is now institutionalizing these 71 Jeevanshalas as a low cost, community based learning by and with the community. Individuals and businesses are contacting SEWA to join this effort. This is the true impact of Teach India.
Perhaps the Teach India experience in Ahmedabad can throw some light on how the 2% cess collected for education can be better spent.
(The writer, Reema Nanavaty, is director of economic and rural development at SEWA)
clear if the 2% education cess is helping provide such
education.
SEWA's over one million women members also demanded access to such life education, which we did through life schools or Jeevanshalas' that we run in 18 districts of Gujarat. But our reach in Ahmedabad was limited.
Children of SEWA's construction workers, vegetable vendors and head loaders hover around the workplace of parents. If the mother does not get work, the child goes hungry. Hungry children is a reality even in today's Ahmedabad.
But these hungry bodies have hungry minds eager to learn new languages, master arithmetic skills, how the municipal corporation works, how the police force functions, how a bank lends money. They want to know about Chandrayaan, India's steps towards moon. But the world of these children is limited to the worksite.
Teach India gave SEWA an opportunity to reach out to over 3500 such children in 3 months through 71 centres in the city's poorer localities with the help of its volunteers, whom we called gyan saathis'. They teach the children with passion and commitment.
The role educated gyan saathis doctors, mill owners, social workers, engineers, government servants, businessmen, college students, corporate executives and chartered accountants have played in teaching these children has made SEWA proud.
The partnership under Teach India with SEWA has resulted in building a bridge between educated professionals and poor informal sector households.
Gyansathis have committed to continue providing their service even after the campaign ends. At all the centres, Gyansathis not only contribute their time, but also bring nutritious food, books, teaching aids as well all voluntarily. At some Jeevanshalas, gyansathis have also adopted centres and support education with fees, books and uniforms.
Because of the powerful impact and increased demand from its members in Ahmedabad, SEWA is now institutionalizing these 71 Jeevanshalas as a low cost, community based learning by and with the community. Individuals and businesses are contacting SEWA to join this effort. This is the true impact of Teach India.
Perhaps the Teach India experience in Ahmedabad can throw some light on how the 2% cess collected for education can be better spent.
(The writer, Reema Nanavaty, is director of economic and rural development at SEWA)
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