Neel Bagh Trust - Sumavanam

Project Brief: Sumavanam provides an environment of co-operation, and self and peer supported learning, along with some vocational training for about 30 children from poor villages. These kids show a great desire to attend school, and to study.
Project Type: Alternative Education (description)
Primary Focus: dropouts (description)

Secondary Focus: vocational training

Area: Rural
Supporting Chapter Contact: Seattle
Status: completed - requirements ended
Project Steward: Kesava Viswanathan
Project Partner(s): Latha Madaiah
Other Contacts:
Project Address: , T. M. Narasimhan(t.m.narasimhan@hotmail.com),Sumavanam Village School,Cheegalabailu,
ANDHRA PRADESH  517 325
Tel: 9247411764, 9247174487
Stewarding Chapter: Seattle
Jun 2015SeattleUSD 14556
Nov 2013SeattleUSD 2760
Dec 2011SeattleUSD 1525
Jul 2010SeattleUSD 1625
Jun 2009SeattleUSD 3330
Jul 2008SeattleUSD 3230
Mar 2007SeattleUSD 3500
Dec 2005SeattleUSD 1750
Dec 2004SeattleUSD 3500
Jan 2003SeattleUSD 3000
Dec 2001SeattleUSD 3100
Dec 2000ArizonaUSD 2700
Dec 2000SeattleUSD 7800
Dec 1999ArizonaUSD 900
Dec 1998ArizonaUSD 2100
Dec 1997ArizonaUSD 1500
Dec 1997ClevelandUSD 1500

Total = $58376

The children who attend the school are in the age group of 5 through 15 years. Sumavanam is in a remote part of A.P. and it provides quality education to 40 children who come from economically deprived neighboring villages. The school is based on the teaching methodologies of David Horsburgh of Rishi Valley.

The schools are able to arrest drop out rates by making children enjoy learning. This is done by providing an unique environment of co-operation, self and peer supported learning, along with crafts and hands on learning tools for lifelong support. These children, unlike most schools in this part of the country, have shown a great desire to attend the school, learn to read and master the subjects. The older children take part in teaching the younger ones. The students are also engaged in extra-curricular activities such as, painting, needle work, carpentry etc. They are extraordinary in their craft work and have great concern for the environment. They have taken part in putting out forest fires and have saved small animals in and around the school.
Objectives
-To provide economically deprived rural youth with quality education
-Empower them to better their lives and their environment
-Introduce effective new and innovative teaching methods in a rural school
Neel Bagh trust in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh (A.P.) runs Sumavanam village school. This school was started in 1974 by David and Nicholas Horsburgh, eminent educators who have written text books for grade schools. Mr. T. M. Narasimhan, a former scientist of National Aerospace Laboratory, India, is the present managing trustee of this school. He and his wife Usha moved to this area in the 1980s in order to set up the school. They were instrumental in turning an arid landscape into the green school campus that exists today.