Education
INTEREST FREE LOAN SCHOLARSHIP SUPPORT
Education is the only way for the tribal communities to come up in life. Today, the problem of rising costs of higher education is forbidding tribal youth from undergoing higher education. Furthermore, costs of college education keep growing and students cannot afford paying for their college education, whereas educating children becomes an unaffordable burden for many families. As a result social gaps widen that leads to the exclusion of students from low-income families belonging to tribal community from the college education.
We have identified 22 youth from the project area who are pursuing their college education and supported them with interest free loan scholarship assistance .SMIDS utilized the service of its Self-Help Groups to identify the needy youth to receive this scholarship assistance. Academic performance and economic backwardness are the main criteria followed in the beneficiary selection. Prior to the release of the scholarship amount we have verified with the educational institution in which the students are studying and their academic performance.
The interest free loan scholarship assistance was very helpful for the marginalized tribal families to educate their children. It eased their burden of paying the college fees. Parents of the scholarship recipients are repaying the scholarship amount in monthly installments to SMIDS and the same will be utilized to support other students in the coming years. Selin a scholarship recipient correctly said “the scholarship assistance come at a time, I was forced to drop my studies due to no payment of my tuition fees. I was feeling sad and desperate. My poor parents could not muster needed to pay my tuition fees. Scholarship was a great blessing for me to pay the tuition fee dues and continue my nursing study. Thank you for lending me your helping hand when I need it the most”
LEGAL LITERACY PROGRAMME FOR THE TRIBAL PEOPLE
It has been observed that tribal people in the rural areas are unaware of the Constitution and the rights or laws inherent in it. They are also ignorant about what to do when a person or a community is debilitated or offended. Tribal people are ignorant about whom to contact and what steps to take when their rights are exploited or violated. They simply accept such acts as their destiny and a victory of the affluent. Such situations have widened the gap between the exploiter and the exploited. Legal literacy programme is planned under this project with a view to increase their legal knowledge; to bring it into actual practice; increase awareness among community members; and would also help in liberating the target group people from the clutches of exploitation.
We have been able to conduct 20 legal literacy programmes of 3 days duration for the benefit of the Tribal SHG members under this project. Participants to undergo the legal literacy training were identified from our Self-Help Groups. Preference was given to SHG members who are active and are eager to learn new things. Given below are the details of the legal literacy programmes organized under this project.
We were able to impart legal literacy training to 603 people under this project. Sessions were handled by persons having legal background and have got experience in conducting sessions for the villagers. Topics like what is fundamental rights, rights of women, consumer protection rights, Right to information Act (RTA), Domestic violence act etc were the broad topics covered during the training . How to get bail, how to get free legal services and rights of women if arrested were also discussed during the trainings. The sessions were conducted in an interactive manner which helped the participants to clarify their doubts. Case studies and successful legal interventions were shared during the training which induced the interest of the trainees.
Participants were given an exercise to write an application to get information under Right to Information Act and an application to government office to get services from it. Resource person corrected the applications and guided the participants how to write such applications. The practical oriented training was very much appreciated by the participants. “The training was an eye-opener for me to know more about rights guaranteed by our constitution and where I have to approach in case of my rights are violated. As citizen of the country we have every right to know about government schemes and programmes for our welfare and Right to Information Act is much useful for us to gather information about government schemes and programmes. I will surely share the things I learned from this training with my fellow SHG members” said a confident looking Saritha from Mothiramalai.
WOMEN SKILL DEVELOPMENT
- Women should develop their speaking skill
- Women should develop their writing skill
- Women should develop their reading skill
HOUSING PROGRAMME
Housing is the basic need of a family. It is sad to note that a number of marginalized families are living in improper houses and dilapidated huts. These houses needs urgent repair to make it suitable for human habituation. SMIDS identify and support most deserving families to do the maintenance and rebuilding of their houses. Necessary financial support for this house maintenance programme is mobilized from generous heart persons in the local area and abroad. Beneficiary has to mobilize certain percentage of the cost by way of material and labour, which will help them to feel the ownership of the house
SKILLS TRAINING FOR THE RURAL POOR WOMEN
Skills and knowledge are the driving forces of economic growth and social development of any country. In order to improve the employability of the local women, women needs to be equipped with appropriate skills which local specific and simple. Form its inception SMIDS has given priority in equipping the skills & capacities of the village women. This has helped them to start micro-enterprises in the trades in which they are trained. Sea shell handicrafts, Palm leaf handicrafts, soap, surf making, pickle preparation, goat rearing, tailoring etc.
1.1 SHG PRODUCT TRADE CENTRE
The SHG product trade centre was started at Nagercoil with the purpose of promoting the various products of SHGs. With the foundation of this trade centre, the SHGs are able to exhibit and sell their various products at a central level.
1.2 HYGIENIC SOLAR DRY FISH, TUBERS, VEGETABLES AND FRUITS
Processing and marketing of Hygienic Dry fish, vegetables tubers and fruits is the initiation of SMIDS to economically empower women in 7 coastal Villages of Kanyakumari District.
As per proverb, “many a little make a mickle” tremendous change happened in the life of JLG members in coastal villages of Kanyakumari due to their plan to start up with the group enterprise activities to enhance their socio economic life. Women in this location came together and started their own JLG to come up in life and to stand in their own. Later the JLG emerged as big movements to empower women. Now they have grown big and got good visibility at the community through their community enterprise model.
EDUCATION
SMIDS play vital role in nurturing the contemporary youth with social and spiritual values so as to make them active and productive citizens. In this venture SMIDS conducting adult literacy programme in villages and educate all those who did not have opportunity to have basic education. In order to help the unemployed youth in the rural and slum areas, our SMIDS runs 27 Tailoring units & 7 Computer Education Centers, to help youth to get adequately trained and get self employed. SMIDS runs 21 tuition centers and prepare children mentally and physically to participate in mainstream education.
ASSISI CHILD CARE ACCESS
The following are the initiatives undertaken under the umbrella of ASSISI CHILD CARE ACCESS at various places by conducting child welfare programmes to ensure the rights of the child enlisted by United Nations.Among the total children, 346 are doing their school education.176 students are doing their higher education. We also provide care and assistance for 130 children infected with HIV/AIDS. With the view of improving our children’s skill base and equipping them with self employment skills, skill based training and mentoring programme is operated. Under the mentoring programme, a group of 20 children are attached to one teacher. Children are being empowered by forming 371 new children groups in 140 villages. This concept of developing children’s parliament is very successful in these villages. Our services includes
Child Sponsorship for the ‘Educate a Child’ programme was the first initiative of ACCA. Today it has grown to provide opportunities for change to around 650 children every year. So far, more than 1300 children have been benefitted through this programme.
ACCA also organizes biannual health camps (with treatment), talent shows, sports activities, picnics, exposure programmes and film screenings for the children in order to provide them with an opportunity to explore their potential.
Every sponsor will receive the details of the supported children. ACCA also encourages the sponsors to meet their supported children, so as to foster interaction and also develop greater sense of social responsibility
- Child sponsorship programme provided educational support to 613 children from different communities.
- Transform the lives of orphan children andChange their Story
- Help given to children from economically backward and destitute
Marriage help | 81 Girls |
Study help | 673 Students |
Housing help | 56 Families |
Treatment | 620 Members |
Camp | 74 participants |
CHILDREN’S CREATIVE LEARNING CENTERS (CCLC)
SMIDS identified the issue that children studying in schools are lacking in social, environmental education which is required for a social commitment to every child. Children should be motivated to involve in social/community issues in their local area as responsible citizens. Further children studying in higher standards require guidance and counseling for their full growth. Children’s Creative Learning Center (CCLC) is a developmentally appropriate curriculum based child care programme. We value both, structured and unstructured learning opportunities. Our goal is to provide a positive, nurturing, learning environment with responsive teachers and classrooms that recognize early children as a distinctive and important stage of life. This training is provided to children in the age group of 10 to 15 years of age. SMIDS has got 200 CCLC centers in its operational area. In each centre there will be 15 to 25 children. We have employed exceptionally well trained and committed teachers to guide the children in these centers.
We have noticed remarkable changes in the attitude and outlook of the children who are attending out CCLC centers. Children are scoring good marks in the school examination and coming forward to help poor and needy in their local area. Quarterly trainings are organized for the CCLC teachers with a view to equip them with appropriate skills which will help them to be effective in this new system of learning.
RURAL STUDENTS CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAMME
In the year 2019 we commenced a programme called Students Capacity Building Programme in rural village in our working area. The following components of activities were conducted through the sisters. Rural Students Capacity Building Centres in 28 villages. The following activities are conducted in these centres.
- Talent development coaching and competitions.
- Specialized academic coaching [evening tuition] on class lessons.
- Communication capacity Development.
Evening programmes were conducted on all the above components of activities. In each centre, an average of 30 students of various standards / degree level participated and benefited. Local coach / trainer / teachers were engaged in molding the students in the above three areas. This programme was conducted for three years during the time over 15000 college students and 20000 school students benefited from the programme.
YOUTH DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES:
SMIDS play vital role in nurturing the contemporary youth with social and spiritual values so as to make them active and productive citizens. Counseling economically weaker students and enabling them to cope with the social environment by finding appropriate resources for them.
PROGRAMMES / COURSES OFFERED
Diploma Course in Agriculture
- Diploma in Agriculture.
- Diploma in Food Processing.
- Diploma in seed Technology.
- Diploma in Horticulture.
- Diploma in Organic Farming.
- Diploma in Animal Husbandry.
- Diploma in Agro Products Processing.
- Diploma in Post Harvest Technology.
- Motivational Trainings to the Teachers and Children
- Counselling course for College Students and Professionals
- Counselling course for destitute, Widows, Couples and teenagers
- Professional Skill training for academicians and administrators
- Functional Skill development programmes for School and College students
- Certificate course in counselling
- Intensive training course in counselling
- Helping and Human Relations Training
- Self-Help through Creative Writing
- Spiritual Retreats
- Women Trainings and capacity Building – Development trainings – Violence against women for SHG’s
- Motivational Trainings to the Teachers and Children and youth
- Special meeting for Government officials, corporate sectors.
