Pratirodh Sansthan Bhadesar, Chittorgarh 2013 Updates & 2014 Renewal Proposal Residential School for Girls

Background Pratirodh Sansthan is working with Tribal community of Bhadesar district, Chittorgarh (Rajasthan) since Its an offshoot of Prayas which has been actively advocating Tribal Rights since over few decades with diverse initiatives – Tribal land rights – Cast discrimination and Khat Andolan – Women rights and SHG mobilization – RTI and MNREGA Advocacy – Food Rights Pratirodh Sanstan focuses primarily on girl education and women rights/awareness, with flagship project seeded through AfE-SV support in November 2008 The organization has philosophical roots in tribal rights movement, but, with a singular focus and belief in women being the change makers in the society

Objectives & Goals Uplift and Empower backward and marginalized tribes through education and awareness Prepare and motivate young girls as change makers, not only to empower but to influence the next generation of community! Bring awareness about education in the community with expectation that it will in turn lead to inquisitiveness and awareness in general – education is a big enabler! – Motivation is to make children ecologically & socially aware and get some basic literacy, instead of attaining grades and class attendance Bridge the divide between the first generation learners and the government schools/programs – Use self-paced/self-motivated learning techniques that is suitable to the environmental realities Leverage government schemes & programs and bring policy benefits to the community such programs are meant to – Not to run a formal school but to act as a bridge for motivated children to get access to the government schools Employ alternate education, self-paced/self-motivated, learning method for first generation learners from tribal community Make students socially & ecologically aware; and build strong long-term partnership with their communities/families

Project Background Pratirodh Sansthan runs Aadharshila Avasiya Balika Vidyalya (Aadharshila Residential School for Girls) in Amarpura village, Tahasil Bhadesar, District Chittorgarn, Rajasthan Bhadesar tehesil is predominantly backward and tribal population with SC, 2346 ST pupils out of total (discounting denotified tribes) Bheel and Meena are predominant communities in the area which traditionally don’t promote education, particularly amongst girl child. Aadharshila School started in November 2008 with Asha-SV seed funding The objective was to promote girl education not limited to basic literacy skills but into mainstream schools and build/integrate/promote capacity of government schools infrastructure for this purpose

Project Background Since 2001 central government has opened 6000 Kasturba Gandhi Balika Avasiya Vidyalaya for tribal girls. However, over 40% of capacity is wasted because of lack of students and absence of appropriate outreach and bridge program for tribal students This problem is exasperated by the fact that KGBV scheme is applicable to middle school students and most tribal students, particularly girls, never make it through primary school! Aadharshila school therefore acts as a bridge for tribal girl students to benefit from this scheme while maintaining a formal school themselves: – Aadharshila school focuses on primary education and preparing students to clear a grade-V examination that is required before they are enrolled in KGBV middle/high schools Aadharshila school started with a 77 tribal girls from 16 villages and 131 girls have since achieved middle-school level and have enrolled over 80 students in government high schools. Pratirodh Sansthan monitors and supports progress of students who enroll in KGBV schools and otherwise and intervention doesn’t stop at graduation and/or drop-pff from Aadharshila school. School operated in a rented gated facility with brick/concrete boundary walls, mud- reinforced floor and tin shed and open courtyard (see pictures) – Two ceiling fans in the shed – Two Bathrooms, Three toilets, two water reservoirs and three water tanks Large 40x30ft hall with a 35 cot capacity for children to sleep. Additional room for staff that has spillover capacity – Minimal infrastructure investment, although rental facility has caused some minor issued in the past – Individual cots have been changed to bunk beds with local help that consume relatively less space and more organized Two full-time residential female teachers, one cook and one helper, and one coordinator (one of the project funders) Small library with donated books and spare workbooks, journals, and newspapers

Project Background Aadharshila School operates in a rented gated facility with brick/concrete boundary walls, mud-reinforced floor and tin shed and open courtyard (see pictures) – Two ceiling fans in the shed – Two Bathrooms, Three toilets, two water reservoirs and three water tanks, most infrstructure is donated or has been secured with minimal cost Large 40x30ft hall with a 35 cot capacity for children to sleep. Additional room for staff that has spillover capacity – Minimal infrastructure investment, although rental facility has caused some minor issued in the past – Individual cots have been changed to bunk beds with local help that consume relatively less space and more organized Two full-time residential female teachers, one cook and one helper, and one coordinator (one of the project funders) Small library with donated books and spare workbooks, journals, and newspapers

Project Discussion Project uses alternate self-paced learning model based on methods and tools from Degantar Learning model is based on a mix of scheduled classes and self-paced group activities State curriculum is used for measuring and evaluation of learning level specifically to meet Grade-V requirement Teachers identify motivated students and coach them specifically for graduation and admission into KGRS program Formal evaluation and class structure along with self-paced model is critical to ensure transition into formal school environment Residential school model is not to isolate children from there home environment but to give them space for self exploration and group learning Environment of the school and pedagogy is to ensure preservation of the cultural and social engagement – language, environment, sanitation and hygiene etc.

Project Status – 77 students from 16 tribal villages – 10 students graduated and enrolled in KGBV Nahagragh; 19 students drop-off 2010 – 48 carryover students and 20 new students, total of 68 students – 16 students graduated and admitted in KGBV Nahargarh; 18 students dropped-off 2011 – 34 carryover students and 24 new students, total of 58 students – 26 students graduated and admitted in KGBV Nahargarh; no drop-offs yet 2012 – 41 carryover students and 17 new students, total of 58 students – 17 students admitted into KGBV Nahargarh, no drop offs since July – 54 students in total – 13 students admitted to KGBV Nahargarh and Mundwa 2014 – 41 carryover students, 12 new students, total of 53 students – 12 students preparing for grave-V examination due March 2014 Aadharshila School has since enrolled 80% of students in KBRV schools in the district through direct intervention, either admitted from the Adhaarshila School or through community intervention to enroll dropped out girls back into the school Large perspective student base that cannot be enrolled into Adhaarshila school due to limited capacity, girls attending a full-time residential school is not a taboo anymore Two students were sponsored to attend a residential high school in Jaipur and were awarded state scholarship for outstanding performance Meera Bhil from Margada village secured first position district wide in 8 th grade

Proposal [Budget] ParticularsUnitRateBudget Total Human Resources Coordinator (salary)1x12 [x 4200] x Teacher (salary)2x12 [x 5250] x Mess staff (salary)2x12 [x 3150] x [252000] (34%) Operations Stationary & material50x12 [x60] x Books & Aids50x1 [x200] x Health Care50x12 [x5] x Food & Nutrition50x365 [50x300] x Toiletries & Sanitation50x12 [x 50] x Travel1x [508000] [60%] Administrative Communication/Computer/Operational 1x12 [x800] x Audit Fees 1x1 [x3000] x Office Rent/water/electricity 1x [7800] [6%] Total [ ]