Organisation: Rural Development Institute (RDI), Dehra Dun Dist,
Uttaranchal, India
Project Hightlights:
Target region is the mountaineous region of Garhwal Himalayas. This region
lies in a state of great neglect. RDI has been working since 1991 to turn around
this state of affairs.
RDI, as an NGO, has won recognition from the State and Central Government
and major funding agencies for its distinctive work in developmental activities.
It now holds the status of mother NGO, which empowers it to guide and train
smaller NGO's working in the state.
This Project has the potential to make a deep impact on the region. RDI has
its base near Dehra Dun but has its field workers stationed at the villages, in
the interiors of Garhwal. The field workers regularly go to the base for
reporting, training and workshops. RDI also maintains monitoring visits, both by
its staff and district officials. The staff of RDI are young, capable and
extremely motivated.
With its experience drawn from the work done on the literacy front since
1994, RDI drew up a comprehensive plan to tackle illiteracy in a major way. But
this project has not been able to take off for lack of funds.
This is an Asha-Stars Project, which has been born out of the need to
furthur the literacy efforts in Garhwal and which is comitted solely to this
project.
Total Amount requested:- Rs 13,28,000 ($1 = Rs. 47.05) $ 28,225 Donation from Asha-DC: $2,500 Net Amount Seeked: $25,725
1. Project for which the grant is being requested. Educational Program
of RDI
2. Summary of the Program.
Rural Development Institute (RDI) is working as a catalyst for sustainable
development in the hilly district of Garhwal, UP, India. Literacy has been
identified as a means of empowering the people to work for their own
development. But the situation is a complex one. Inaccessibility, lack of
resources including well-trained teachers and general apathy paint a bleak
picture.RDI has drawn up a multi-dimensional program to address all these facets
besetting literacy.
3. Summary of the grant request.
The educational program that RDI requests funding for is seven-pronged. It
seeks to run Non-Formal Education Centres (NFE) for youngsters and Functional
Literacy program for adults. To empower adolescents into standing upto the
practical realities, the project seeks to initiate self-management programs and
conduct technical training camps to equip them with the skills for earning a
livelihood.It proposes to conduct an innovative program called Project Based
Education (PBE) to supplement the education given in schools. The scholarship
program targets bright needy students. Finally to address the critical factor of
inaccessibility, the program entails mobile libraries, so as to be able to bring
literacy resources to the doorstep of the far-flung villages.
4a. Describe the target population, including size (number of student,
etc.). Indicate the breakdown in age of clients served per year by grant.
Non Formal Education (NFE) targets 300 non-school going children ( age
9-15 years) Project Based Education reaches 250 school-going children
Functional literacy targets 200 illiterate adults Technical training
program targets teenagers (80 students) Program for adolescents targets 100
adolescents Mobile library will reach 1000 people Scholarships for 6
students
4b. What is the student:teacher ratio? NFE 30:1 Adolescents
Program 10:1 Functional Literacy 20:1 Technical Training 20:1
Project Based Education 25:1
5. What is the target area?
10 villages which are situated in the rugged Garhwal mountains at an altitude
of 1000 to 6000 feet above sea level.
6. What are the goals of the program/operations? What goals does the
agency hope the clients will be able to achieve upon the completion of the
program/services?
The education program of RDI wishes to target 1855 individuals in 2 years:
that 300 non-school going children get equipped to get enroll in regular
schools through the NFE program that 100 adolescents would be trained for a
pro-active role through 10 adolescent peer groups that 200 illiterate adults
would get trained in basic reading, writing and accounting skills. that 250
children would benefit from project based education that 1000 villagers will
get access to literary resources through the mobile library program that 6
exceptionally bright students are provided with the resources to pursue higher
studies.
7.What are the activities undertaken by RDI upto the present?
RDI has been working since 1991 on the frontiers of health, income
generation, education, water and sanitation. The health, income generation
and water and sanitation projects have full-scale funding support (funding
agencies). The work done on this front earned RDI the status of "mother NGO"
from the UP State Government.
The educational program until now has been sustained by funds from
individuals. Within the scope of the available funds, the activities undertaken:
1 formal school(kindergarden to II standard): running for more than 8 years
Non-formal education centres which reached 250 children
After-school homework: one-hour sessions after school to help students
complete their homework and thus bring themselves to the level of the school
standards.
Health education provided for 2,500 children: Free health screening and
medical services were provided to primary school children in 24 schools of
Doiwala block, Dehra Dun district over a period of three years. This program
entailed the students to keep a record of their health status and to report to a
group leader for periodical followup. This was a very successful project.
Preliminary ground work completed in in Project Based Education (PBE) by
testing it over 3 groups (each for a duration of 6 weeks). The first group
targetted the children of construction workers, the second group for children of
snake charmers and the third for the children going to government schools.
20 Girls trained in stitching,tailoring and embroidery. Their products are
marketted by the institute.
Succesful running of the bee-keeping unit for more than three years now. The
honey bottles have a wide demand.
Other vocational training like making of lantena furniture, envelopes and
greeting cards, also provided.
8. How are the participants refereed, selected and recruited?
A survey is conducted in the villages to find out the educational status of
the children. Based on the needs the issues are addressed either through the
Project Based Education, Non Formal Centres or Training Programs.
9. How will the following members be involved in the planning and
implementation of this grant: staff, volunteers, board members, and clients?
Based on the needs that emerge, the type of program is decided. Accordingly
the staff for the same is recruited. The core team who are well versed with all
these programs provides training for the staff and volunteers if any.
The person incharge for the education wing will oversee this program. She
will supervise the coordinator for this program. She in turn reports to the
Director of RDI.
Periodic reports will be sent to the funding agency. The board members are
kept appraised about the programs.
10. Describe the qualification of the personnel that will carry out the
program/operations.
Ms Malini- Education Wing Incharge - M.A.(Master of Arts) in Psychology
Ms. Kavita - M.A. (Master of Arts) and Bachelor in Education (B.Ed)
11. How does the agency plan to evaluate the success of the program?
Through different type of indicators like 1) Number of non school going
childen motived for Non Formal Education 2)Number of children who are
enrolled into regular schools. 3) Number of children who have taken up
project based education 4) Number of mobile libraries which are running
effectively. 5) Number of children equipped with livelihood skills.
12. How has the agency determined community need for the service that they
provide through these services?
RDI saw its inception as the rural outreach of a multifacted hospital
complex, the HIHT, in 1990. Harnessing its very strong medical base, RDI started
out in a major way to address the immediate pressing problems of health,
especially among women. Working with the community, it also learnt to sit down
and listen to their needs and thus slowly but steadily evolved over the years
other programs including education and income generation.RDI has thus been
following a need-based approach, introducing and refining programs according to
the requirements of the community.
