Fellowship Update (September 2014 to May 2015)

-A.S.Karthikbharathi

Dear Asha Supporters

First I would like to thank you all for your continued encouragement in the development of underprivileged children and young people through education and life skills training, and your acknowledgment towards my works.

My work can be seen in six different aspects in the year of 2014-15.

  1. Working for Madurai Seed children and young people

Direct Beneficiaries: 282 children

  1. Working for Sevalayam Boys Hostel program

Beneficiaries: 136 children

  1. Working for rural children associated with CESCI

Beneficiaries: Children of 10 villages

  1. Responsibilities in other organizations
  2. Providing awareness about government schemes
  3. Developing my personal skills

At Madurai Seed:

I am the one working full time at Madurai Seed. The others are working part-time in the evening, and other holidays. This year, there was a situation of vacating two education centers except the VandugalArangam (My house). So, there was a lot of work including shifting the materials, racks, library books, and electrical works to the new places. Now, the centers are functioning with better facilities comparing to the older places. Friends of Madurai Seed have helped to pay the Building Advances. Apart from this, we are able to get helps from people through facebook, and website pages. Some of the former friends also helped some developments. Volunteers and Internship students are coming every year through facebook, and website.

My important work in Madurai Seed includes “Channelizing resources”, that is why the donors, interns, abroad volunteers, former students, local persons are always connected with children and young people in a better way where knowledge sharing is possible.

Hariharan Mani and Vasutha from USA are taking “Sunday Science Classes” through Skype. Naveen, MBA student from Bangalore came for internship in December. Yogalakshmi, social work student from Madurai worked as an intern in May. Janeziah, a study abroad student from USA worked as an English tutor for children during October- November. Ms. Sujitha and Rajesh, IT professionals from Madurai get inspired about Madurai Seed, helped to buy chairs for the Library. KarthikNatarajan, an engineer from USA helped to set windows in the library.

We are trying to bring Indian friends, supporters, well-wishers under one roof in the name of Friends of Madurai Seed, India and an Alumni association in the name of Vizhuthugal. The groups are active in facebook. Step by step, the two groups will be built into very strong. They’ll be utilized for minimum level finance requirements, academic, and skill development activities for children and young people.

Last year, Dr. Laura’s friend has helped to set up a projector in VandugalArangam. This year, Hotal North Gate has sponsored an LED TV. It was fit in the VergalArangam. Another LED TV was sponsored by International Tamil Language Foundation to undertake SPARC science classes. So, now there are three audio/visual classes. We are planning the best ways to utilize the equipments in this year.

There are 12 out-going young people this year. Among 1 M.Phil graduate, 2 male teachers, 3 female teachers were provided complete educational sponsorship. 25 children finished 10th std. 15 students finished 12th std. Educational and vocational guidance were provided to all of them and their parents.

Sevalayam Hostel Program:

Sevalayam is a free hostel for village children (boys) from poor economic and social background. The children are from 64 villages in 8 districts of TamilNadu. All the students are studying in a nearby corporation school. Many of them are single-parent children.

What we do: New supplementary education program is initiated for children of Sevalayam Hostel. There are 5 volunteers to help the children every evening. Among 136 students, 102 children are having problems in basic reading, writing abilities in both Tamil and English, and basic arithmetic skills. Volunteers are helping to improve their basic skills. Volunteers teach two hours a day. 10th and 12th standard students are provided help in Math and English subjects.

Benefited age group : 10 to 17 years old

Working hours : 7.00 to 8.30 PM weekdays

Number of volunteers : 7

In 10thstd, 17 passed the exam. 100% result. Top score was 447 by Subramani.

In 12thstd, Among 12, nine passed the exam.

  • Apart from the regular classes, a sports meet was conducted for the first time in the history of the hostel. Children were provided with certificates, and gifts.
  • 10th and 12thstd students were given stationeries for board exams.
  • Guidance, goal setting sessions was organized.
  • Our former volunteer Saranya sponsored one day lunch to the children.
  • 10thstd and 12th std topper will be given endowment prizes from Madurai Seed’s scholarship fund.

CESCI Rural Programs:

CESCI is the organization works for rural children and women development. They are conducting Dreams Summer Camp every year for the rural children from 10 villages. So, far they have conducted 6 camps. Among4 camps were designed and coordinated by me. In the previous years, I also conducted brain-storming sessions for their volunteers. In a small amount, I am assisting them designing some activities and coordinating some activities. We are working hand in hand in exchanging ideas, resource persons, etc.

Other Organizations:

  • I am a member in School Management Committee of Elango Corporation Hr.Sec School. I am taking part in the committee meetings.
  • I am also a board member of “Aadharsh” a rural development organization functioning in Dindigul.

Government Schemes Awareness:

I am continuously giving awareness about bank loans, benefits in studying in government and corporation schools, RTE act, etc. This year one engineering student got bank loan. I gave awareness about RTE to the people in Karumbalai. Around 10 people applied for nearby schools.

Personal Skills Development:

As I am the one working full time at Madurai Seed, I am giving the leadership training, skill training to the volunteers every year. In every three year, a trained group so far around 60 people went out after their graduation. This year, 12 are going out. So, every year there is a need for responsible and skilled group. As I can’t do every thing, I depend on some people for example English and Computer related tasks, documentation, photography, etc. ArunKumar, who was helpful in the last seven years, is going for another job.

With the help of Dr. Laura, Dalyan Foundation based in Switzerland has given me the opportunity to learn English in the British Council, Chennai which will help me to sustain on my own. I have spent 7 weekends (14 days) in Chennai. There are improvements in my English.

This year, I have to train the volunteers to run the education centers, and other holiday activities because the most of senior volunteers (around 12) are out-going. We are soon going to make an annual calendar and share responsibilities.

I am also thinking of extending evening tuition support to nearby hostels run by government and trusts for poor students. But, this needs enormous volunteers and adequate funds to provide stipend.

I pledge my 100% commitment to the less privileged children and young people in providing guidance, encouragement, scholastic and co scholastic resources for their development. I am very thankful for Asha for supporting me to these works.

Thanks for your Kind & Support.