Establishing Additional Learning Centers (ALC)
We felt the need to provide education to the tribal children living in the Megamalai mountain areas. We started running Additional Learning Centres to provide education to the children. Watching from outside was a great learning experience, but working directly with them at the project site was also a great learning experience. The current living conditions of parents who depend on daily work made it imperative to provide quality education to their children. By finding out the travel and visit times, we felt the need to support these children who lack wide exposure and continuous support to improve their education and health. In this situation, we found out the living conditions and knowledge exposure of our tribal community in several places in the mountains of Theni district of Tamil Nadu, located in the southern part of the Western Ghats of India. They are socially and economically backward.
They are denied their rights and are affected by all kinds of evils. They are untouched by civilization. There is no formal education system in traditional tribal communities. Hundreds of tribal families living in remote forests struggle to even have two meals a day. Children suffer from malnutrition. Medical facilities are also out of reach. Many tribal families do not have shelter and food. The primary focus of child development is to provide education, which acts as a key tool for empowerment. Our organization believes in quality education that adds value to a child’s life and prepares him/her for a better future. We provided the following activities to students in eight hill villages in the Megamalai Hills:
- Transportation facility through advocacy and lobbying
- Annual convention for tribal children
- Children recreation activities
- Child rights education and awareness
- Child rights and watchdog activities
- Establishment of ALC
- Distribution of learning books to tribal children
- Distribution of Vitamin A tablets and Nutrition
Through such activities, 146 children of the Megamalai Mountain peoples and the children of migrant workers from the northern states have been provided with continuous schooling through joyful education and dropout rates have been completely prevented. We are grateful to the donors Ananya Birla Foundation and SMPL for their support in this project.
An additional learning center aims to improve academic achievement by providing personalized support and resources to students, especially those with additional learning needs. These centers often focus on personalized instruction, skill development, and fostering a positive learning environment, ultimately increasing students’ confidence and academic performance.
The services provided to the hill children this year are as follows
Information about the Masters of Education
Same as last Year: - Impact of GREEN - Shamdasani Foundation intervention among tribal children, awareness on the adverse effects of health awareness on tobacco, tuberculosis, dengue and the recently introduced coronavirus were explained to the tribal students and they are asked to bathe, clean their bodies and wash their hands before eating. Apart from this, tribal children are motivated to provide higher education to tribal children to get better employment opportunities. The tribal students are interested in learning the computer education process and many of them have started shining in their schools. The teachers of their schools are satisfied with our services. While providing education cannot give immediate tangible results for fundraising activities, early signs show the success of the project. The students, at the end of the day, feel that by being in school, they can prepare themselves for good job opportunities in the future. Most people (including parents) are like this. So, take advantage of it and try to relate your subject to how it can be used in the employment context. Tell them how doctors, engineers, IT developers, writers or dancers can use that information to succeed. The teachers explained about tree cultivation. Trees create an ecosystem to provide habitat and food for birds and other animals. Trees absorb harmful gases like carbon dioxide and sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide from the air and release oxygen. A large tree can provide oxygen for four people for a day.
Director Mr. S. Bose visited the evening classes and spoke on health education. He spoke on
Tobacco: Awareness about the effects of tobacco consumption on oral health and potential risk factors for smoking behavior among students. Dengue: Creating awareness about dengue fever i.e. all four dengue viruses are transmitted primarily by the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes (A. aegypti and A. albopictus). These mosquitoes also transmit chikungunya and Zika viruses. Tuberculosis: Tuberculosis (TB) is a major public health problem in India. Awareness about the disease, its diagnosis and treatment will help in controlling the disease among the general public. This awareness programme aims to achieve educational awareness about TB among the hilly tribal poor community. Coronavirus Awareness: Common symptoms of Corona infection include respiratory symptoms, fever and cough, shortness of breath and difficulty in breathing. In more severe cases, the infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure, and even death. Standard recommendations to prevent the spread of infection include regular hand washing, covering your mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing, and thoroughly cooking meat and eggs. Avoid close contact with anyone who shows symptoms of respiratory illness such as coughing and sneezing.
Here is a detailed look at such achievements
1. Improved Academic Performance
Personalized Instruction
Additional Learning Centers provide personalized support to address individual learning styles and needs, leading to improved understanding and mastery of subjects.
Skill Development
The centers focus on developing key skills such as literacy, numeracy, and problem-solving skills that are critical for academic success.
Targeted Support
The centers assist students with specific learning differences such as learning disabilities, language-based learning difficulties, or executive functioning challenges.
2. Enhanced Confidence and Motivation
Positive Learning Environment
By providing a supportive and encouraging environment, these centers help students feel more comfortable and confident in their learning abilities.
Mastery and Achievement
Successfully addressing learning gaps and achieving academic milestones increases students’ self-esteem and motivation to learn.
3. Holistic Development
Social and Emotional Development
Learning centers often include activities that promote social interaction, collaboration, and emotional well-being, contributing to more holistic development.
Life Skills
They may also focus on developing life skills such as time management, organization, and communication, which are essential for academic and future success.
4. Community Engagement
A Collaborative Approach
Many centers involve parents, educators, and other stakeholders in the learning process, which fosters a strong support network for students.
Integration with Schools
Centers often work closely with schools to ensure a seamless and integrated approach to learning.
5. Addressing Specific Needs
Inclusive Practices
Additional Learning Centers play a key role in promoting inclusive education by providing support to students with diverse learning needs.
Early Intervention
Early identification and intervention prevent learning gaps from widening and ensure that students receive the support they need to succeed. In essence, the Additional Learning Center aims to create an environment where all Hill Tribe students can thrive, reach their full potential, and become confident, competent learners.
Conclusion
Through our services to the Tribal Children, all of the Children are very happy and satisfied. Now, these tribal children are prepared to attend the final ALC Examination. These children’s parents thanks to Shamdasani Foundation and our GREEN- Staff team.
Many more thanks to Shamdasani Foundation
