Distribution of Initial Funding

Thank you all who have contributed to the project so far. I have been in constant touch with the people in the schools that the initial research was done. There have been a few things that have come up. Been traveling around in India and hence unable to update earlier.

The project has been received enthusiastically amongst the schools too. They are hopeful that with our efforts, they can aim to inspire more students to join the schools. The talks with the school authorities revolved mainly around the utilization of the funds and the distribution of the initial approximately 1000$. Based on this utilization, we will be applying for more funding.

Of the three schools, there is an immediate need for investment in the Nav Srijit Vidyala. The children in this school do not have a roof shelter in the single classroom that they have. During summers it is too hot to have the class due to the heat. With the monsoons around the corner, it becomes extremely crucial to have a roof. Even in the summer the children have to attend classes in the outdoor under a tree. In the single room that acts as a classroom, the children have had to sit on the floor. Apart from carrying the books, they also have to carry around the gunny-bags that they use for sitting. The one room school, with no roof and no furniture to sit on. The children sit on the floor either in the heat, rain or the cold.

So the first priority is to ensure that this school get the necessary furniture (the tables and the desks) and the shelter to ensure that the children continue to come to school. The advantage here is that the children do not have to come from very far off but are from within the neighborhood. A little support from the project would ensure their continuance in attendance in the schools. The children would then not have to carry their gunny bags to school everyday and hence could also look towards more cleanliness when they go to school.

A part of the initial fund will thus go towards the building of the furniture of this school. The other part of the fund will go to the other schools.