Children in Awalkheda go to school for the first time

Awalkheda (and the hamlets surrounding it) is an extremely impoverished tribal village in Igatpuri, Maharashtra. During the agricultural season, the tribals farm their tiny land holdings, and during off-season, they either work as contract laborers or gather and sell firewood. Most families earn less than $ 50 per month, and since few government education schemes reach the area, there is very little hope for the tribal community.

Aseema started Aseema Bal Shaikshanik Kendra, a pre-primary education center, in Awalkheda, Igatpuri in March 2011, with the aim of bringing education to the new generation. Currently, 65 children aged 2.5 to 6 years are enrolled in the school. The school, where the medium of instruction is the mother tongue Marathi, uses the Montessori approach, to help the children learn independently and experientially. To promote holistic development, children are exposed to co-curricular activities such as art, music and sports. Learning is made fun and meaningful through celebration of festivals and events as well as field trips. On recommendation by a nutritionist, the mid-day meals have been customized to address malnutrition issues. Regular interactions with the community and persistent efforts are made to ensure that parental involvement in children’s development. School buses pick up children from the nearby hamlets, to ensure that children (and teachers) do not have to walk long distances to get to school.

Your donation, Laura, will enable 34 children between the age of 2.5 to 6 years in the “Prithvi” (Earth) class, to have access to quality value-based education. The teachers in the class are Archana and Charu, neither of whom is from the area, but both of whom are committed to providing a good education to the children.

Thank you for helping to bring about socio-economic change in the impoverished tribal communities.
In the attached photograph, two tribal children are learning through the Montessori method.