Newsletter (December 2019)


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The Doon Promise

Newsletter - December 2019

Conference on Out-of-school children

UNICEF issued a call for innovative solutions to reach out-of-school children. We were shortlisted as the only NGO from Uttarakhand and invited by UNICEF to attend a conference organised by them in New Delhi.

A presentation on our approach to resolve the issue of Out-of-school children was made by our Chairperson, Ms. Shaila Brijnath who elucidated how all buses donated to us are retrofitted with technology and turned into Mobile Learning Centres. This innovative approach has enabled us to enrol slum children into primary education and is protecting them from exploitative labour. A marketplace was also set up at the conference showcasing stepped progression of the street children from illiteracy to gradual learning and enrolment to mainstream schools.

Shivani-The Hans Foundation Champion

Shivani was felicitated as a “THF Champion” on the occasion of The Hans Foundation’s 10^th anniversary. Their magnanimous support enabled Shivani from leading the life of the physically disadvantaged. Former President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee, presented her with a certificate and a cheque on behalf of The Hans Foundation in the presence of Shweta Rawat, Chairman & Founder, Manoj Bhargava, Founder & Chief Funder, Shri Trivendra Singh Rawat, CM, Uttarakhand.

Achievements

Academics

NIOS results

Aasraa is an accredited Education and Vocational Training Centre by the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS). In the month of September, NIOS declared results of A, B and C level examinations. Children currently enrolled in our NIOS centre passed exams with good grades. Ajay with ‘A’ in each subject and Arsalan were amongst the top scorers.

We also train these students in different skills to enable them to break the poverty cycle and lead independent lives of dignity.

Sapno ki udaan

On 12^th December, in a block-level competition, ‘Sapno ki Udaan’, varieties of competition including poetry recitation, debate, quiz, science model and painting were organised at GPS Aaraghar, Aasraa’s partner school under the SQEP mandate. 13 students secured first and second position in different categories and six students who bagged first position will now participate in the district level.

Extra - curricular activities

Sports

At Aasraa, children are gaining the chance to pursue their sporting dreams. Our senior students played at Uttarakhand state-level basketball and three of them (Arjun, Aman, and Karan) have been selected to represent Uttarakhand at the nationals.

In the month of August, our students played U-19 Block level Volleyball Tournament and finished as runners up in the finals. After the tournament three of our students were selected for the District championship.

Aasraa students at NCC camp

Our students got a taste of regimental life when a NCC camp was organised at Bannu School for our senior students. In the 7-day camp (2^nd December- 9^th December) they were taught how to use a compass, map reading, and other navigation tools. Both girls and boys interacted with the cadets and imbibed lessons in leadership and responsible citizenship.

Healthcare- Immunization drive

In September, we organized an inoculation drive to protect our children from Typhoid and Hepatitis B. For the last 5 years Aasraa has provided vaccination services with the support of Max India Foundation. This year our heartfelt thanks go for the immunisation drive to - Integra Quadrangle Advisors LLP, Ms. Mandira Rana, Ms. Mona Sahney, Mr. Uday Pasricha and Hope Town Girls’ School who enabled us to immunize our children.

Visitors@ Aasraa

27th August

Lal Family Foundation @ Aasraa

Ms. Nihar Joshi, member of Lal Family Foundation visited our education centres on 27^th August 2019. She visited our street smart centres, our core education projects where street children are prepared for mainstreaming.

Lal Family Foundation’s magnanimous support has always been the ‘wind beneath our wings’ empowering us to reach out to all children in need.

9th December

Fundacion Heres @ Aasraa

Mr. Matias Nadal of Fundacion Heres was on a 3-day visit to our education projects. He spent a good deal of time with the children studying in our Mobile Learning Centers, the NIOS centre (donated by them) and the government schools we partner with under the School Quality Enhancement Programme. Fundacion Heres contributed in building the infrastructure at these schools. This year they donated a bus too which adds to our existing fleet of 5 Mobile Learning Centers.

11th October

Help Alliance @ Aasraa

Ms.Andrea Pernkopf and Ms.Sangeeta Sharma visited our projects to better understand how Aasraa is making a difference in the lives of thousands of slum children. The Wings program, of remedial education, at New Haven is sponsored by them. The centre has 60% girls being educated who have not completed their schooling.

19th December

On 19^th December a group of Help Alliance volunteers from across India conducted student-centric activities like wall painting, story enactment, math puzzles for the students currently enrolled in their sponsored project at New Haven in Dehradun.
The next day more than 200 students were treated to a screening of a biographical adventure fim Poorna at PVR and the children were treated to scrumptious treats much to their delight! Our heartfelt thanks!

Overseas students of Round Square

Our children were the beneficiaries of the Round Square Conference held at The Doon School. The overseas students worked collaboratively with our students on wall painting and display boards in the government schools we partner with. Lessons in preserving the environment were imparted with the plantation drive.

Exhibition at The Doon School and Welham Girls’

Like every year, The Doon School and Welham Girls’ School invited Aasraa to participate in their Founders’ Day functions. A stall was put up by students where products made by vocational trainees and handicraft items made at Street Smart/NRST centres were displayed. Children proudly and confidently spoke about the items made and the opportunities afforded to them.

Tracksuit distribution

Our sincerest thanks to all our friends for their generous support in helping us keep our children warm, healthy and in school through the harsh winter with the very positive response to our Diwali appeal. Tracksuit distribution has started at all centres.