Education – A way to end the cycle of poverty
Street children dream of education
Gadens Børn is committed to provide access to quality education for street children in Kolkata through a safe, stable and supportive environment that will enable them to access higher levels of education in the future. We recognize education as a necessary tool to escape the cycle of poverty. Over the years we have learnt that education is rarely a priority, as most parents feel forced to make their children provide the family. Families remain locked in a cycle of poverty that goes on for generations, and education remains too expensive, due to expenses for school materials.
When every day is a struggle for the next meal, it is not difficult to imagine that education gets a low priority. Taking into consideration, that one-fourth of the Indian population is illiterate, though there are significant progress in the numbers, which is why we spend a lot of resources on outreach work, and on communicating the importance of education to the parents. A message, which seems to gain footing – more and more each day. Our education programme is well aligned to the SDG Goal 4 (Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all).
Three schools and 605 students
In order to provide access to quality education for street children, we run three primary schools in different areas of Kolkata. In 2014 we opened our very first primary school, Aasha Kidderpore School. Later in 2016 we opened Aasha Santoshpur School and in 2017, we opened Sealdah School & After-School Care. We currently provide schooling for 605 pupils.
Aasha means Hope in Hindi, which is exactly what we aspire to accomplish with our schools. Over the years, our schools have progressively grown in size and transformed into fertile grounds for students to grow, learn and explore their abilities. This progression has enabled us to strengthen our teacher capacity and raise academic standards. Our schools have stepped up their teaching levels, as our students have progressively become more adept at studying while developing their skills and managing exams with great results.
In India, many students from vulnerable segments of society are still excluded from attending primary school. Even though government schools are free, expenses for books, school supplies, school uniforms and lunch prevent vulnerable families from affording schooling for their children.
In addition, the majority of street children are not registered at birth, which they need, in order to be enrolled in public school. A registration that we are still fighting so hard to provide every child in our projects. Our schools therefore remain free of any costs for families. Not one single rupee should it cost the families to have their children enrolled. Nor should the families spend money nor time on transportation to and back from school, as we pick them up and bring them back in school busses.
Self-Confidence and Academic Achievements
The main objective of our education programme is to enable vulnerable street children in Kolkata to get an education and improve their chances of escaping the circle of poverty.
Our schools offer curriculumS with core subjects of Hindi, Bengali, English, Mathematics, IT, and common knowledge. By taking a holistic approach, we seek to accommodate their difficult situations, academic levels and needs. We emphasize the development of the whole child – both mentally, physically, and intellectually. We see children as individuals with unique needs and recognizes that they learn best, when their individual needs are met, and when they are engaged in learning experiences that are both meaningful and enjoyable. We therefore strive to give them experiences of success, joy and achievement, through which courage and faith in their own abilities are strengthened little by little. A faith that has been challenged by degrading and derogative treatment that most street children experience from their surroundings.
A supportive family environment
Developing a close relationship with the parents is among our highest priorities, as we recognize the importance of parental engagement. It is our experience that parent involvement leads to increased motivation for learning, improved behavior, more regular attendance, and a more positive attitude about school in general. When we manage to create a successful collaboration with the parents, the children feel more confident to use their potential to succeed. We therefore strive to enforce parental support through guidance, information and by strengthening the capacity of their parents.
A successful collaborations with the parents affects the extent and quality of their involvement with their children's learning, which gives us a much better chance to accommodate the needs, wishes, and abilities of the children. And we are so happy for the attention and engagement the parents show in the wellbeing and education process of their children.
Aasha Kidderpore School
Aasha Kidderpore School opened in June 2014. The school currently has 130 pupils in the age of 5-15 years enrolled – divided into four different school levels.
Since the oldest pupils are much needed in their homes, we have chosen to start lessons at 11 PM, so that they can finish their home duties, if any, before school starts. This decision has made a significant progress in their stability, and has even improved the parent’s engagement too. They feel that we have listened to and understood their worries, challenges and needs.
Today their parents send their children to school, wearing a clean school uniform. In addition they often contact the teachers with questions of how their children are doing and how they behave in school. In order for the parents to follow the development of their children, we have started "Report Cards", and the children take great pride in showing them at home.
Aasha Santoshpur School
In April 2016 we opened yet another Primary School, Aasha Santoshpur School. The school currently has 400 pupils at the age of 5-15 enrolled – divided on eight different school levels.
Santoshpur School is surrounded by vegetative areas, and located 40 minutes away from public transport. There are no schools in this area. Children of this area thus needed to walk many kilometers for school, which caused them to be sent to work instead.
Gadens Børn has built the estate from scratch, and today it counts three floors, which makes it our biggest primary school. The estate has been bought in Gadens Børns Indian Trustfond. The school will therefore always belong to the children, no matter what might happen to the organisation in the future.
Sealdah School & After-School Care
Sealdah School & After-School Care opened in October 2017. The school currently has 75 pupils at the age of 4-15 enrolled – divided into four different levels.
The students at Aasha Kidderpore School and Aasha Santoshpur School live with their families in slum areas. However, the children at Sealdah School & After-School Care live on Sealdah Station. These are some of the most vulnerable street children in Kolkata. Many of these children do not get any other food or care, except for what we provide. To these children, Sealdah School is more than just a school for them – it is a lifeline
In order to accommodate these children’s extensive needs and minimize the amount of hours, they spend on the streets, Sealdah School is an extended day care. This includes an After School Center and a Saturday Center. In addition, many of these children do not have any parents, that will bring them to school. We therefore pick up the children at Sealdah station, in our very own school bus.
In order to calm these little bundles of energy, we start each day with a morning song and relaxing yoga exercises. We offer breakfast, lunch, and fruit in the afternoon, in order to ensure the nutrition and energy, they need to grow, learn and play throughout the school day. In addition, we offer a nice warm bath, including a clean set of clothes. All dirty clothes will be washed by our staff during the day.