Vanavasi Project Proposal - ASHA Stanford

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Name, location and contacts

Name of Project
Vanavasi Ashram Trust Project

Location
Vanavasi Ashram Trust
P.O. PERIYA, WAYANAD
KERELA - 670644, INDIA
Phone# 91-493-560422

Useful Web sites

Contact Information


Background

Vanavasi Ashram trust is running a residential tribal school at Periya, Wayanad, Kerala, India for the last four years. The school was started in May 1997 with 47 tribal children and now there are 207 of them studying.

The chairman of the trust is a retired university Professor and the trustees include three tribal Chieftains, one medical practioner, one lady teacher and a retired school teacher (the Secretary).

Temporary buildings are constructed for school hostels using locally available materials with the financial support of well wishers. The local tribal community is also participating in the construction of buildings and agricultural activities whenever needed.

The school is following the 'gurukula' system of education where teachers and students stay together as in a family. Agriculture, stitching and tailoring, carpentry work, basket making, book binding, yoga and music etc are also part of the school syllabus. Paddy, pulses, bananas and vegetables are grown by students and teachers in the land of the trust. Significant change has come in the attitude of the tribal community towards education and health care. Senior students participate in rural development activities of the area. This place is surrounded by Reserve Forest on all four sides. Ninety five percent of the population belongs to tribal community namely, Kuruchiyas, Paniyas, Kurumas, Kattunaikas and Adiyars.


Goal of the project

The short-term goal is to start 8th, 9th and 10th standards with vocational training to the tribal children. Currently, the school is running up to 7th standard. If 8th std is not started in 01-02, children will stop their education and fall back again as illiterate. Otherwise, further education and vocational training will enable them to earn their livelihood independently and change the whole community.

213 children are expected to be beneficiaries in the sort term. Out of them 207 are tribals (128 boys and 85 girls).

The long-run goal of the trust is upliftment of the tribals around the area by a series of education related projects. Adult classes have also been recently started by this trust.


Funding details

Total of $25,800 including (1) $13,000 for building a permanent building (RCC - concrete structure), (2) $5000 for building a 750m road to school, and (3) $7,800 for construction of a well for drinking water. This money is required for 2001-02 [Note: separate from this, $14,700 have been asked from ASHA Silicon Valley for computers - please see ASHA Silicon Valley proposal in "Project related documents below"]


Miscellaneous information


Project related documents


Last Updated April 13, 2001
Pankaj Gupta
pankaj@cs.stanford.edu