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Project Information
Description
This project aims to improve the living condition of 16 underprevileged children at Sumati Balwan in Pune, Maharashtra, India. This project is targeted first to build a sanitation facility and then in second and third phase provide classrooms for the children at Sumati Balwan. In the first phase, existing infrastructure will be upgraded. This includes providing a sanitation facility including building toilet blocks, sanitation and plumbing for toilets, septic tank/chamber and dry Otta (wash basins block).
In the second phase there are two (2) classrooms to be built. In the third phase two (2) more classrooms will be built.
Please refer to the expenses page for the construction details.
Purpose
At Sumati Balwan there are 16 children from age group 3 to 18. At present there are about one or two toilets and shower rooms. With influx of additional children being admitted to Sumati Balwan this existing infrastructure needs to be upgraded. Also the site where this Balwan is located is an underdeveloped area where school facilities and education provided are not even average standard. Therefore local children from Gujar-Nimbalkarwadi also come to Sumati Balwan to gain the education. Balwan provides classes up to 10th grade. They also run one class for kindergarten. However, due to space restriction they do not have Jr. KG and Sr. KG classes. Apart from education provided teachers at the Sumati Balwan also try to help students to cultivate their natural talents. There are programs in the school like dancing, singing, sports etc. It’s an attempt to make education more enjoyable with these added activities. Therefore, school and home for the destitute children is a combined-synergistic project.
Balwan provides free commute ride to the children from Gujar-Nimbalkarwadi so that they could come to the school. Being remote area it lacks good transportation. Despite the fact that it is near Pune, it is a severely underdeveloped area. Basic fees per student (from nearby area) asked is Rupees 50/month but majority of them cannot even pay this amount which is just about $1! People in this area are mainly farmers and being in the valley they rely on rice crops i.e. pretty much seasonal earning. That is why parents here do not realize importance of education for their children. However with the efforts from Balwan volunteers, now people are willing to send their children to Balwan.
Government sponsored education in the area is just there for namesake; nobody is bothered to run the school. The goal of this project is to help Sumati Balwan in their efforts to spread the importance of education. Sumati Balwan is trying to imbibe good values in children, provide solid foundation for education to secure their future. This site is not only used by destitute orphan children but also poor children from local area.
