Asha Trust - Project Explore

Project Brief: Exploring new geographies and identify schools and staff required to work in these new areas.
Project Type: Other (description)
Primary Focus: to go to formal school (description)

Secondary Focus: children of dalits/tribals

Area: Rural
Supporting Chapter Contact: Chennai
Status: current / ongoing
Project Steward: Venkat Ramasamy
Project Partner(s): Rajaraman Krishnan
Other Contacts: Rajaraman Krishnan
Project Address: , No.383. Ambethkar Nagar, Kaivandur post and village,,Thiruvallur,
TAMIL NADU  631203
Tel: 9444404060
Stewarding Chapter: Chennai
Jul 2023ChennaiINR 200000

Total = $4360

Asha Chennai has been supporting 130 government schools spread across 8 districts. This is set to expand to about 150 schools by the end of the year. We have been managing that as four broad project areas.
SangamamWorks primarily in Thiruvallur District. We also reaching a little bit into Sriperumbudur block of Kanchipuram district and we may be doing some work in neighbouring areas of Arakkonam in Vellore district. Currently support about 80 schools. Besides the schools we run 4 RTCs and 2 libraries, Amazon explore and Asha Kanini training initiatives for broader outreach are being done as part of Sangamam.
Thulasi Works primarily in Villupuram and Thiruvannamalai Districts. Currently support about 12 schools. Besides the schools we run 3 libraires and a tution centre, We are planning to broader outreach with one Amazon explore trainer.
PearlWorks primarily in Thoothukudi District. Also works in adjoining areas of Thirunelveli and Thenkasi districts. Currently support about 20 schools. Besides the schools we run 4 libraires and support one Balwadi, We will be starting an RTC at Kayathar soon. We are planning to broader outreach with one Amazon explore trainer.
Poorna Vidhya Works primarily in Chennai and Chengalpet Districts. Currently support about 10 schools. We have been working with these same districts under these projects since 2014. Thulasi was the last new project to get launched in a new area.
We have experienced a good bit of growth in the last couple of years. Several new volunteers have also come in over the last few years who have their roots in other areas of Tamilnadu. The things we have in place enables us to expand easily to support government schools in new geographies.
Give these, we are thinking of exploring a couple of new geographies. In particular we are thinking of expanding to work with the slum resettlement areas of Chennai are semmanjeri, Thoraipakkam, Kannagi Nagar etc. We are also looking at getting back to work with school in Thiruvarur district. We have worked in this area in the past.
If we hire a teacher our cost will be about Rs 1.2 Lakhs per year and if we hire a coordinator, the initial cost is likely to be about the same. To get started with a new area, we may need one or both these kinds of staff.
Groundwork for Expanding Govt School Support to new Geographies.