Chetanaa

Project Brief: Their mission is to help educate children living in poverty. Having begun with 35 pupils stucying in 2 classes held under trees, they now have 125 pupils in 6 rented classrooms. Annual expenses include books, sweaters, shoes, socks, and trips.
Project Type: Tuition Centers (description)
Primary Focus: other (description)

Secondary Focus: other

Area: Rural
Supporting Chapter Contact: Seattle
Status: completed - requirements ended
Project Steward: Anju Anand
Project Partner(s):
Other Contacts:
Project Address: , H.NO 43,NEW COLONY VILLAGE,MIRZAPUR, Regd. No 504,
Haryana  132119
Tel: +91(1744)239809
Stewarding Chapter: Seattle
Dec 2005SeattleUSD 2145
Dec 2004SeattleUSD 2145
Apr 2003SeattleUSD 1900
Dec 2002SeattleUSD 4200
Dec 2001SeattleUSD 5700
Dec 2000SeattleUSD 2500
Dec 1999SeattleUSD 1000
Dec 1999South East FloridaUSD 250
Dec 1998SeattleUSD 1500
Dec 1997SeattleUSD 1000

Total = $22340

Their mission is to help educate children living in poverty. Having begun with 35 pupils stucying in 2 classes held under trees, they now have 125 pupils in 6 rented classrooms. Annual expenses include books, sweaters, shoes, socks, toys and games, and educational trips.

Having begun with just 35 pupils in Class I and II, it now has 125 pupils in Classes Nursery to V in 1995-96. The annual expenses for these classes includes items such as books, sweaters, shoes, socks, toys and games, and educational trips. In early stages, classes were held under trees. Now, children have three reasonably ventilated class rooms hired at the village Mirjapur.

CHETANAA has three dedicated teachers. Other members devote time to educate children in academic, co-curricular activities, manners, morals, cleanliness, etc.

CHETANAA believes that children are small buds and need our loving care to flower. Money is a big constraint, however. Contributions are, therefore, welcome and will be rightly utilized. Contribution in the United States can be made to ASHA-SEF which will forward the donations to CHETANAA.
The Objectives:

Although there is a government school in the area, there is not much incentive for parents to keep their children in school. As is well known, poor families in India deem children as source of income. The tendency is to withdraw children from school and place them in menial chores. Also, children receive no encouragement to study or help in completing homework.

Chetanaa was started to provide a learning environment for such students. The children attend the government school in the area. The facility at Chetanaa provides them additional help so that the children feel motivated to learn and stay in school. They are provided extra coaching and help in homework. They are taught manners, moral values, and cleanliness concepts. To facilitate this, Chetanaa currently has three teachers, who teach students (in shifts) in the four classrooms.

Professor Sharda admits that one of the difficult problems is to keep students in school especially after middle school. She has to visit homes sometimes to convince the parents and children. In general, the project has been successful since many students have achieved top ranks in their class.

The main objectives of Chetanaa is to ensure that students complete elementary, middle, and high school with reasonable grades, and to keep the drop-out rate to a minimum. In addition, students are trained in moral and cleanliness concepts.


Long Term Goal:

CHETANAA wants that each child of CHETANAA receives the education atleast up to 10+2 level. CHETANAA also wishes to help them in getting some vocational training like computer education or other technical trainings at the proper institutes, so that these children can settle in life and earn their livelihood respectfully. And thus they can provide better childhood to their children. CHETANAA also aspires to help outstanding children in going for higher education.
Children & Housewives Enlightenment Towards a New Awakening Association

The mission of CHETANAA is to help in the education of children in India living in poverty. The current President of CHETANAA is Professor Sharda Kumari of Kurukshetra University. In 1989, CHETANAA was a concept and in 1990, it became a reality. The founding members were Dr. Sharda Kumari, Dr. Indra Handa, Dr. Asha Pandey, Mrs. Daya Tuteja, Mrs. Nisha Garg, and Dr. S. Mangwana (Lady Doctor). They adopted village Mirjapur as the initial site. During the short span of seven years, CHETANAA has not only stirred the peoples' imagination, but has also produced tangible results.
Dr. Sharda Kumari can be reached by email at sharda_garg@rediffmail.com or by regular mail at Teachers Flat - 9, University Campus, Kurukshetra, Haryana 132119, India. In the absence of Dr. Sharda Kumari, you may contact Dr. Indra Handa at the same email address - indrahanda@rediffmail.com. Addtional phone numbers: +91-98120-98956, +91(1744)229538