Project title: BH Amaravati Slum Education 2008-11 (PBFI)

Project Location: Amaravati, Maharashtra, India

Need (the wider problem that project will help to resolve):
Dalit children underperform in schools and colleges in relation to their peers, often dropping out altogether at a young age, so losing confidence and the opportunity to join society’s mainstream. Reasons:

1. For the masses who have migrated from the villages to the urban slums, the pressures of finding work and shelter, as well as addiction to drinking and other intoxicants, means that their children’s vital early education (3-6 yrs) is neglected.
2. As a result of caste discrimination amongst teachers, many Dalit students are not supported in crucial subjects such as Maths, Science and English, and are too poor to afford the extra tuition that other students benefit from.
3. Conditions at home are often unsuitable for afterschool study, where there is no electricity or the father is an alcoholic.
4. The often chaotic family cultures do not leave children with the self-discipline and confidence necessary to manage their studies and life.
5. They cannot afford the necessary coaching for competitive college and job exams.

Overall intended impact (the wider societal change to which your project is contributing)

1. To create the society base on the liberty equality and fraternity.
2. To shape the educational future of children in the urban slums.
3. To support Dalit youths in finding government jobs.

Outcomes (changes in beneficiaries lives or behaviours if Outputs are achieved):

1. More slum children will take nursery education
2. Dalit children will be more successful in school and will feel more confident and enthusiastic about education.
3. More will remain in school and pursue junior and senior college education.
4. Physically healthy and mentally confident youths will become more confident and self-reliant
5. Youths will have hopes of getting jobs and will have career.

Outputs (specifically deliverable results expected from the project to attain the Outcomes)

1. 3 daily balwadis (slum kindergartens) providing nursery education, and encouragement to childrens’ families to send them to school.
2. 3 daily afterschool study classes supporting middle school students to improve in challenging subjects and encouraging their interest in further studies.
3. 1 study and career guidance centre to support college students in their studies and in preparing for state and central government recruitment processes.
4. 5 daily karate classes to help slum children to develop self-discipline, confidence and good health.

Number and gender of beneficiaries: