Implementing NGO: SNEHA
Established in 1993, ILP partner since 2001
Location: Kudligi, Bellary District, Karnataka
Project Start: 2003

Region Demographics

Bellary district is located in north-central Karnataka. The district consists of 7 taluks,including Kudligi, which is the target area for this initiative. The region is characterized by high levels of illiteracy and prevalence of child labor and social inequalities.

Project Description

SNEHA, with the support from India Literacy Project has been working for the past six years in 50 villages of Kudligi taluk for betterment of government schools through strengthening of community based organizations. The program has been expanded to 80 more villages starting 2007, thus transforming into another mass scale literacy initiative. The focus of the intervention has also been expanded to cover early childhood care as well as primary and high school education.

Activities in 2007-2008

• Ensured 100% enrollment in schools with help from SDMCs. No drop outs in grades 1 – 5.
• Out-of-school children were surveyed and relevant information provided to the education department.
• Visited 17 schools to ensure that all children that passed 7th grade were enrolled in high schools, and monitored their retention.
• Organized Bala Vikas Samithi meetings to explain the importance of early childhood education, provision of play/education materials for children in 131 anganwadis.
• Organized meetings with SDMC members and school teachers who then motivated parents to send their drop-out children to schools.
• Organized 10 enrollment camps to motivate children to go to school by providing them information about importance of education, child rights, learning activities etc.
• Organized training sessions for 1170 SDMC members and 868 Community Based Organization (CBO) members in 130 villages, helping them understand their rights & duties.
• Organizing motivation meetings for Self Help Groups (758 women) to make them to participate in village school development by sending all the children to schools and contribute for the village school development.
• Organized workshops for 349 Panchayath members / community leaders about the role of Panchayath in village education.
• Established child rights clubs in every one of the 130 villages to promote child participation and to build social consciousness among children.

Financials

2009 Funding: $40,909

Mass-Scale Expansion

ILP is actively expanding this project into a mass scale integrated project over the next few years. SNEHA started as a project focused on community involvement for children’s education in 50 villages, and is being expanded into 225 total villages in 2009. SNEHA’s successful implementation results have enabled ILP to make the decision to convert this project into a truly integrated mass-scale initiative.