Peoples Action for Transformation (PAT)

Project Brief: PAT works among the children in the slums of Thiruchirapalli (Trichy), Tamil Nadu. Asha's involvement began in Aug 2005.
Project Type: Pre-Primary (description)
Primary Focus: children from slums (description)

Secondary Focus: other

Area: Urban
Supporting Chapter Contact: Chennai
Status: completed - sustainable
Project Steward: Priya Veerasubramanian
Project Partner(s): R Stephen
Other Contacts:
Project Address: , No. 4, A-Block, St. Paul’s Complex, Bharathiar Salai,,Thiruchirapalli,
Tamil Nadu  620001
Tel: 0091-431-2413434, 2463434
Stewarding Chapter: Chennai
Jun 2011Work an HourUSD 7000
Nov 2009StanfordUSD 4750
Jun 2009CanadaCAD 5000
Oct 2008CanadaCAD 5000
Mar 2008StanfordUSD 3948
Jan 2007StanfordUSD 3356
Dec 2006CanadaCAD 1250
Feb 2006StanfordUSD 0
Dec 2005CanadaUSD 1000
Dec 2005StanfordUSD 3400

Total = $33129

PAT runs four daycare centres for children in the age group of 2-5 years in three slums -- Kempstown, Ramamoorthinagar and MGR Nagar -- within Thiruchirapalli (Trichy) City Corporation limits. These daycare centres provide children with a nutritious diet, early childhood education, hygiene, clean clothing and medical service.

PAT would like to expand its daycare facilities to cover a total of 100 children between the ages of two and five from the slums mentioned above and three adjacent slums (Khajapettai, KhajaNagar and Melaguparai) as well. The overall objectives of the project include:
- Feed children with nutritious diet and drink.
- Pay medical attention to their ailments.
- Provide clean clothing
- Create stimulative play environment & basic awareness
- Encourage more co-operative learning environment
- Create opportunities for children to learn by doing
- Develop low cost materials for them to acquire first hand experience
- Foster independence and creativity by encouraging self expression
- Develop children's ability to communicate effectively.
- Ensure that the activities in the centres were related to their own world.

Thus far, the daycare centres have brought about significant improvements in the general well-being of these children, especially in their physical growth and personal hygiene, personal and social habits. PAT has also succeeded in arousing their intellectual curiosity. So far 220 children from these creches have been enrolled in primary schools.
The People's Action for Transformation (PAT) was formed in 1999 by a group of concerned citizens affected by the plight of slum children in Trichy.

PAT has received funding in the past from Rotary International, but that funding ran out in 2003. It has been funded during 2004-2005 by private individuals and citizens of Trichy, but that is a non-sustainable source of funding.