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How
does the project work?
BJK and its linked grassroots groups are not seeking to start their own schools, but to pay fees and for books and uniforms so that these 200 girls can get a better education at a good local private school as the girls’ families cannot afford the monthly fees which are the equivalent of one day’s labouring wages.
Only education can give children hope for the future and skills to ensure that they have options in life besides living on the streets, labouring under exploitative, hazardous or abusive conditions, or a life of crime. Girls deprived of high school education are often forced into child labour or taking care of their siblings at home. They tend to marry at an early age and are exploited economically and sexually.
This project started in a small way with 30 girls in April 2005. The majority were girls who had dropped out of school, but in the first year of the project only one girl, stopped attending. Stri Shakti (Women’s Strength), the local group supporting the girls, monitors their progress and well-being.
AVI’s Coordinator and one of its Managing Committee members have met the girls and visited the school. All the other groups which will start the same programme in their areas are also well known to AVI and its members.
StriShatki’s report on the first year of the programme says:
“Help and guidance of Action Village India to educate girl children of rural India has started showing its results. Thirty girls of rural backward community no longer have the feeling of ‘burden in the family’. They are getting quality education …. and also getting acquainted with Information Technology … which was once a dream for them and their family.
Continuation of high school quality education has changed their way of living. A sense of discipline, regularity in school routine, interaction with teachers and students has developed their confidence in themselves. It is our support and guidance that has helped one of our students to achieve very close to distinction 69% marks in her standard VIII exam.”
NBJK Main page Project background
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