This best practice comes from the Ashram School in Kamkeda, which is in the Komna Block, Orissa. The Ashram school is residential but also has day scholars. The school has classes from 1st to 5th standards. The total number of students is 364 out of which 247 are boys and 117 are girls. There is a dominant population is the Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes students. The total strength of schedule tribe students is 322. The school is extremely remote and is a great distance away from any of the major villages. The parents of the students are mainly employed in cultivation during the monsoon season. During the months of November-December a number of the families migrate to neighboring Andhra Pradesh for bonded labour work.
The Aflatoun Program was started here on the 16th of December 2008. Prior to this, the Headmaster of the Ashram attended the teachers training workshop helped by ASHA Orissa, our partner NGO in Orissa, where he was introduced to the objectives and purpose of the Program. Presently the totally number of student savers is 122 and the total savings is Rs 3037/-.
Other than the savings, another definite plus point, as stated by teachers, has been a reduction in the student’s guthka (Chewing tobacco) and bhang (addictive substance) consumption.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Case Study: Neha Ravindra Patil
Neha Ravindra Patil is a Std 5 student of the Asdol School in Shalala, which is Dhule district, Maharashtra. Prior to the implementation of the Aflatoun Programme in her school, Neha was very shy and an introvert by nature. The Aflatoun Programme, where through fun games, activities, songs and workbooks, children are encouraged to take an active role in the learning process, brought about a significant change in her nature. Her self-confidence increased, she was willing to express herself more often and her communication skills developed. This resulted in Neha taking greater initiative in the school programmes. Neha also saved money in her schools Aflatoun Bank. She used the money saved (Rs 120/-) to learn to repair her brothers old bicycle. She eventually repaired her brother’s bicycle and now uses it on a daily basis to commute.
CASE STUDY: MOHUABAT UPS, NUAPADA, ORISSA
The Mohuabhat UPS consists of 287 students out of which there are 156 boys and 131 girls. Classes range from 1st to 7th standard. Most of the parents of the Mohuabhat UPS are daily wage labourers who work under National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGA). They also find employment in private construction companies and as agricultural labourers. Some parents also work as rickshaw pullers in the area. Major socio-economic concerns of the regions are poverty, alcoholism, and gambling (gachha) even among the children.
The Aflatoun Program was started in this school on the 19th of November 2008. The Program started with an initiation session including the children, teachers and school staff, and the representatives from ASHA Orissa. During the sessions the students were introduced to the Aflatoun character and song. The school was given passbooks, Aflatoun saving box with lock and key and two registers; one for each student’s savings record and one for session’s record. On the day of initiation the students were introduced to the concept and importance of saving. At the end of the session children who wanted to be part of the Aflatoun savings Program were given a passbook and they began saving right away. A total of Rs 366 was collected by 43 boys (Rs 213) and 37 girls (Rs 153). The school staff conducts a savings session every Tuesday and encourages more students to participate every time. By the second visit of the ASHA Staff on 12th January 2009, the participation strength of the student savers increased to 85 students with a total deposit of Rs 2200.
On 13th January 2009, student elections were held among the students. Five students were elected to the posts of President, Vice President, two Joint secretaries, and a treasurer. Out of the five representatives there are two girls and three boys. The students were aware of the roles and responsibilities of the elected executive members of the Aflatoun Club. It was also decided during this meeting to open an account in the nearby Post office. The school opened a joint account with signatures of the Headmaster as introducer and President and one of the joint secretaries of the Aflatoun Club as account holders. They deposited Rs 2000/- of the total savings in the Post Office account.
The Aflatoun club took on the responsibility of conducting the Saraswati puja. They collected Rs 10/- from students of classes 1 to 3 and Rs 15/- from students of classes 4 to 7. They completed the entire budgeting and planning of the event with guidance from the teachers. They purchased all that was needed for the event in the local market.
On 26th January 2009 (Republic Day in India), students from the Aflatoun club presented a Kathi Dance on the Odiya Aflatoun song with their own choreography and tune. The Sarpanch, village education committee and parents attended this event. Presently the total number of student savers is 99 and the total savings is Rs 2730. The rate of saving is higher in the girls but they are also spending more than the boys as per the withdrawal and deposit data.
The Aflatoun Program was started in this school on the 19th of November 2008. The Program started with an initiation session including the children, teachers and school staff, and the representatives from ASHA Orissa. During the sessions the students were introduced to the Aflatoun character and song. The school was given passbooks, Aflatoun saving box with lock and key and two registers; one for each student’s savings record and one for session’s record. On the day of initiation the students were introduced to the concept and importance of saving. At the end of the session children who wanted to be part of the Aflatoun savings Program were given a passbook and they began saving right away. A total of Rs 366 was collected by 43 boys (Rs 213) and 37 girls (Rs 153). The school staff conducts a savings session every Tuesday and encourages more students to participate every time. By the second visit of the ASHA Staff on 12th January 2009, the participation strength of the student savers increased to 85 students with a total deposit of Rs 2200.
On 13th January 2009, student elections were held among the students. Five students were elected to the posts of President, Vice President, two Joint secretaries, and a treasurer. Out of the five representatives there are two girls and three boys. The students were aware of the roles and responsibilities of the elected executive members of the Aflatoun Club. It was also decided during this meeting to open an account in the nearby Post office. The school opened a joint account with signatures of the Headmaster as introducer and President and one of the joint secretaries of the Aflatoun Club as account holders. They deposited Rs 2000/- of the total savings in the Post Office account.
The Aflatoun club took on the responsibility of conducting the Saraswati puja. They collected Rs 10/- from students of classes 1 to 3 and Rs 15/- from students of classes 4 to 7. They completed the entire budgeting and planning of the event with guidance from the teachers. They purchased all that was needed for the event in the local market.
On 26th January 2009 (Republic Day in India), students from the Aflatoun club presented a Kathi Dance on the Odiya Aflatoun song with their own choreography and tune. The Sarpanch, village education committee and parents attended this event. Presently the total number of student savers is 99 and the total savings is Rs 2730. The rate of saving is higher in the girls but they are also spending more than the boys as per the withdrawal and deposit data.
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