HIRO 2: EDUCATIONAL ENDEVOURS UNDER HIRO-SATARA

The Objective of HIRO (Hamlets In Reauirement of Orientation)  Project:

To create, render,  opportunities with the financial and/or any other support which can further education, for the underprivileged rural children (Girls and Boys from Kindergarten to the High school) from the villages adopted by the SCOPE in SATARA, PUNE districts and wherever the SCOPE will work in the future besides these districts.

Who are these Children: 

Socially & Economically chanllenged. 

These children are from the SCOPE adopted remotest villages of the above two districts. Of course, SCOPE is not limited by the boundaries of these two districts.

The remotest means the villages or the people who are not yet exposed to the development or any urbanization; they are also quite away from many of the modern means that are in the urban area. Due to geographical difficulties, that is, the terrain being hilly and jungle becomes very difficult to reach out to the cities and vice a versa. 

A boy is seen free from school

After having walked the lengths and breadths of these small and hilly pathways, we spotted several settlements of the people far away from the cities as well as the main village-markets. These settlements are called 'Hamlets'.  There are about fifteen such hamlets. The SCOPE always tries to find the people who are poor, and settled in remote villages or settlements.  

After having spoken to the people on several occasions, we came to know their needs. One particular need came in to sharp focus: the EDUCATION. 

Education is a panacea for all the Social and other ills like economic backwardness, social degradation and lack of life quality. Only education can render sustainability to life, create means of livelihood and help live human person in a dignified manner. 

The SCOPE understands EDUCATION as an UMBRELLA concept.

What is an Umbrella Term:
All the children are not naturally inclined to study in a formal, educational Institution or classroom situation. Many are variedly inclined and have different capacities. Therefore, in the HIRO Project, students or children who are differently inclined are also included. Technical or any other non-formal educational training also forms part of the HIRO Project. 

EDUCATION-for Children: 

The SCOPE expanded the concept of EDUCATION to mean differently in different situations for different persons. We found a number of children out side school atmosphere. Some of them were just being at home clinging to their mothers or walking around with their mothers. Some were being looked after by their little older sisters. Some help their mothers around the house.

Others engaged in some children's play-either playing in the mud, or loitering around aimlessly. Such children needed to sit in the Kindergarten classes so that they are in the school atmosphere.  

Clay Artefacts by the Kindergarten Children: A Class Activity.

Hence, the SCOPE appointed some women to search for children who had not been in the school ever since their birth and were at home. Initially it was difficult for the women to separate the children from their mothers and home atmosphere. We had to use various methods and baits to attract them to a so called classroom. Gradually they began taking liking for a group games and learning. We also began providing snacks to hold them back in the classroom. Our main aim was to create in them the liking for books and studies. This will help them to educate themselves.

The Teachers:

Kindergarten Teachers are in a workshop

One may wonder how the SCOPE could get teachers in such remote hamlets. The so called teachers were not actually trained teachers with specific degrees to teach in a Kindergarten or in a school. These were the girls grown up to twelve, thirteen and above years of age. They were in the school up to seventh grade.  

However, the High schools being far away to a block headquarters or in another village quite away from their own homes, they remained at home. Thus they became school-dropouts. Many of these girls once reach their puberty, they would be married off. Such married women we spotted who could earn a little to support the families. These were ready to teach the children whatever they had studied at School from their childhood. That was how they became Kindergarten Teachers. 

A Teacher drawing pictures

The SCOPE gathered such women and/or girls and trained them as Kindergarten teachers. These teachers would receive from time to time training. For such training the SCOPE would hire resource persons from Kindergarten centres of the cities. The SCOPE created opportunities to give them exposure to District level Kindergarten classes. This was in view of improving the quality of our Kindergarten classes as well as quality of teachers. 

This post is under construction
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HIRO 3: Education for Women's Empowerment- SATARA (EWE)

EMPOWERING Women:

EMPOWERING Men: 

Agriculture Officer mixes manure & seeds

To bring such people in to the main stream of general life, improve the quality of their life

Various Kinds of seeds exhibited