Sankurathri Foundation

Project Brief: Higher Elementary School from Grade1 to Grade 7 with 97 students, and 8 teachers.
Project Type: Formal Schools (description)
Primary Focus: children of dalits/tribals (description)

Secondary Focus: vocational training

Area: Rural
Supporting Chapter Contact: NYC/NJ
Status: completed - requirements ended
Project Steward: Atrei Ghosh
Project Partner(s): S Chandrasekhar
Other Contacts: Neil Mehta
Project Address: , A.P.S.P. Camp,c/o Dr. S.Chandrasekhar,Kakinada,
ANDHRA PRADESH  533 005
Tel: 91-884-2306 301 or 91-884-2306
Stewarding Chapter: NYC/NJ
Feb 2009NYC/NJUSD 10000
May 2008NYC/NJUSD 33216
Dec 2007NYC/NJUSD 4500
Dec 2007NYC/NJUSD 4500
Nov 2006NYC/NJUSD 4000
May 2006NYC/NJUSD 4000
Dec 2002NYC/NJUSD 2500
Dec 2001SeattleUSD 5000
Dec 2000NYC/NJUSD 5000
Dec 1999ArizonaUSD 2350
Dec 1997ArizonaUSD 1500

Total = $76566

The school aims to provide education in the rural communities so that children can help themselves in future. The school follows the State syllabus and books. The teaching methodology is different from the methods followed in conventional schools. The school imparts strict discipline and very high academic standards. The student-to-teacher ratio is less than 1:10 and this actually helps the teachers closely monitor the progress of each child and help them build upon their strengths and overcome weaknesses. The teachers try to identify the innate potential of each child by paying attention to each child and monitoring his/her progress. In addition, the school provides two sets of uniforms, nutritious lunch, medical check ups and medicines, a late afternoon glass of milk and bus transportation for students not living within walking distance. The management conducts parent-teacher meetings every month to discuss the problems both parties have and provide guidance to arrive at effective solutions. Most parents have also realized the value of education their children receive by going to Sarada Vidyalayam and their conventional outlook towards education has changed.

Apart from this, the kids take yoga classes twice a week, from a professional yoga teacher. All the children have been given three doses of Hepatitis-B vaccinations. Dr. Indira Gadhiraju from Ottawa, Canada, conducted dental checkups. A local dentist, Dr.M.Bhaskar volunteered to do the necessary follow-up work free of charge for the children. The school provides opportunities for its senior grade (six and seven) children to participate in science fairs conducted by local schools in Kakinada. The children are also taught art and craft, using readily available materials like seeds,coir,waste plastic and other inexpensive household items. This activity teaches children the significance of objects they see daily, as well as inculcating in them the idea of recycling.

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

We are very proud to announce that all the children who have graduated from 7th Grade have joined in High schools, some in Gurukula schools and others in local High schools. Those former students who have completed 10th class have joined in colleges. One student has cleared the entrance examination to polytechnic with a good rank and has gotten admission in the local Government Polytechnic College. There were no dropouts from the students who attended Sarada Vidyalayam. Every single student who has entered Sankurathri school has successfully completed 7th grade and passed the state exam with first class (60%). All of these students have gone on to continue their high school education. For the last few years, all the students from Grade 7 have been encouraged and trained to take the entrance examinatin for admission into Grade 8 at Andhra Pradesh Residential Schools, which are popularly known as Gurukula schools. These Gurukula schools are well structured, disciplined and known for their excellent academic standards and results.

Our efforts so far have been very fruitful. All the children who are attending these schools, and their parents, are extremely happy about being admitted into these schools. We hope to continue the effort in order to enable the children face the challenges of life.

Your donation goes to cover the teachers' salaries.
DEMOGRAPHY

The school is situated in a rural area near Kakinada. The children's parents are fairly young farm workers, masons, carpenters and casual labor working in various other areas and are illiterate. The average family tends to live in small huts or rented houses and comprises of 2 to 4 children. The literacy level in the local community is about 10%.