Bhagavathula Charitable Trust (BCT)

Project Brief: BCT is building an institute known as 'AHAR' wherein youth of 100 villages in and around Vishakhapatnam would be training in various skill areas to create self confidence in their minds thereby become self-sustained. Since many years, it is also prov
Project Type: Formal Schools (description)
Primary Focus: other (description)

Secondary Focus: other

Area: Rural
Supporting Chapter Contact: Atlanta
Status: completed - requirements ended
Project Steward: Anuradha Bulusu
Project Partner(s): Sri Ram Murthy B
Other Contacts: Binal Shah
Project Address: , Chief-of-Liaison, BCT,D.No.49-36-46/5, NGO Colony,Akkayyapalem,
ANDHRA PRADESH  530016.
Tel: 00-91-(0891)550084
Stewarding Chapter: Atlanta

Asha Stars, if any:

Akhil Nigam

Mar 2011AtlantaUSD 1600
Aug 2007AtlantaUSD 5600
Dec 2007ToledoUSD 5000
Apr 2006ToledoUSD 10000
Jan 2006ToledoUSD 1500
Jan 2006ToledoUSD 6500
Dec 2005ToledoUSD 4884
Dec 2003HoustonUSD 30645
Dec 2002UIUCUSD 2200
Dec 2002Silicon ValleyUSD 12500
Dec 2001Silicon ValleyUSD 2560
Dec 2000Silicon ValleyUSD 16948

Total = $99937

“Confidence” is aimed at generating self-employment in 100 villages through providing meaningful training program to 400 hundred young adults enabling them to be self-sufficient and remain in their villages, thereby generating “Confidence”. Youth from 100 nearby villages will be gathered and trained in skills that would assist them in becoming self-reliant.
It is envisioned that an Academy will be located at Haripuram, and eventually offer training to participants covering the entire district of Visakhapatnam. This academy will be known as Academy of Humans as Resources (AHAR - which means basis of livelihood in Hindi, the national language of India).
The courses that would be offered are:
1. Dress making for women
2. Electrical repairs and pump maintenance
3. Carpentary
4. Masonry
5. Agricultural skills like floriculture, vegetable gardening
6. Etikopakka toys (Toys made by application of lacquer on wood to create a distinctive appeal, studded with gold and precious stones, beads, colored glass, mirrors etc)
7. Hand made paper from rags, waste banana fiber
8. Screen printing
9. Soap and detergent making
10. Bakery and biscuits
11. Washing soap production
12. Computer operation and repair

This project also involves creating a small AHAR within the premises of Government Residential school for visually challenged girls by building a vocational wing with training in making file pads, envelopes etc. Simultaneously the school is provided with tactile books and more than half of the school students will be equipped with custom-made acrylic lenses that would improve their vision capacity.

The “Confidence” Project will be a partnership of Asha Toledo, Toledo Rotary Foundation with field work lead by Bhagavatula Charitable Trust (BCT), assisted by Rotary Club of Waltair. With the help of Toledo Rotary Foundation and an anonymous donor, dress making course and electrical maintenance and masonry courses are on its way to begin.
Once the efficacy of the program and capability of BCT is demonstrated, it is projected that it would be possible to approach a large funding source like the Indian Government or a funding agency to set up the Academy, even as a deemed university.
BCT has been in operation since 1976 and has a long relationship with Asha. BCT has been running NFE (Non-formal education) programs in partnership with the Government of India for the last 10 yrs. With its experience in education, they have developed the expertise to implement this pilot project. BCT is pursuing a dream that every child in India should have access to education and participate in an expanded “Confidence Project”, once the pilot project is completed.

BCT is trying to achieve Universal Elementary Education (UEE) in the three mandals of Vishakapatnam district: Achutapuram, Ram,billi and Yellamanchili. BCT has a model, which they have developed over the past 25-30 years. This model constitutes stage wise education, project management and Resource center and village animation. Their areas include but are not limited to education, waste and development, agriculture extension, community organization, health, community based rehabilitation for the disabled.