ANNUAL REPORT
2008-09


“Each second we live is a new and unique moment of our universe,
a moment that never was before and never will be again. And what do we teach our children in school? We teach them that two and two makes four and that Paris is the capital of France. We should say to them: Do you know what you are? You are a marvel. You are unique. In all the world there is no other child exactly like you…You may become a Shakespeare, a Michelangelo, a Beethoven. You have the capacity for anything. Yes, you are a marvel.”

-- Pablo Casals
 

At Aseema, we have the opportunity to work with remarkable children. They are incredibly bright and filled with so much spirit and resilience. On some days, they endear themselves to us with their innocence and sense of wonder; on others, they amaze us with their insightful questions and a level of maturity far beyond their age. We cannot cease to marvel at all that they are and all that they can become. And we are reminded, each day, of our responsibility towards offering them the best education possible.

Over this past year, we have seen the scope of our work in the area of education expand tremendously. We have almost doubled the number of classes we run and have worked very hard to ensure that this growth is not at the cost of the high standards of quality we have set for ourselves in the past. As we begin the new academic year, we are proud to look back on, and share with you, our journey in the year 2008-09.
 


Pali-Chimbai Municipal School (Std. I-VII)
Aseema’s partnership with the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) has led to value-based and quality education being imparted to the most underprivileged children. It is heartening to see that this partnership, based on a foundation of co-operation and trust, has brought so many more children to the Pali-Chimbai Municipal School. This school has been the centre for most of Aseema’s activities since it was adopted by us in the year 2001. Aseema began by running classes for only Std. I and gradually put in more teachers and staff until we were responsible for all classes from Std. I-VII in the year 2007.

As the number of children in the school grew steadily, Aseema began looking at ways in which more children could be catered to without compromising on the individual attention that each child needs. A second batch of classes was, therefore, started in the school in June 2008. This required a large number of new teachers to be appointed and resources to be arranged for. The school began running in two shifts and had a strength of about 450 children. The teacher-student ratio was improved and the children were able to learn better in class.

Our teachers and staff made committed efforts towards improving the attendance and grades of the children. This year, the average attendance in the Primary Section rose to about 83%. The children were motivated to learn through innovative teaching practices and were able to fare significantly better in the examinations in the second term as compared to the first term. Education was also extended much beyond the requirements of the textbook or school syllabus. Co-curricular activities such as art, music, judo, sports and theatre were given as much emphasis as academic work.

One interesting event was the election of Aseema’s first democratically elected ‘Student Council’. Our Student Council comprised of a Head Girl, Head Boy and Captains from each class. As they took an oath at their Convocation Ceremony, the members of the Student Council vowed to be responsible leaders and were able to fulfill their duties in an exemplary manner.

The children’s participation in their own education process was encouraged and facilitated at every stage. On our Sports Day and the Amar Inam Annual Day, as always, every child in the school took part in the team events and performances. These events were non-competitive and relaxed, and were simply celebrations of our children’s talent. A particularly memorable performance was the Mallakhamb display done by our children for the very first time. The agility and grace with which they attempted this traditional Indian sport left the audience completely spellbound.

The children showcased their literary talents as well when some of them put together a class magazine. This multi-lingual magazine had articles, poems and jokes written by the children themselves and was appreciated by all.

Our gifted artists from our art studio – ‘Aseema Room 13’ – also organized an exhibition of their paintings at the Indusvista Art Gallery. This exhibition was managed almost entirely by the young artists through their Room 13 Management Committee. This Committee has nine members who were elected by the artists themselves. These confident, young students are now working on plans to manage their studio and raise funds for their art program.

Throughout the year, our teachers have aimed to make the school a holistic learning environment for the children. The success of their efforts can be gauged by the wealth of experiences offered to the children.
 
 


SANTACRUZ (WEST) MUNICIPAL SCHOOL
In the academic year 2008-09, Aseema shifted its entire Pre-Primary Section from the Pali-Chimbai Municipal School to the Santacruz (West) Municipal School. A lot of work went into making the school environment conducive to learning – from painting walls and polishing floors to providing sanitation facilities and furniture. The transformation in the school is striking.

The strengthening of our partnership with the MCGM has made this possible and it is our sincere hope that this partnership will enable many more children to avail of quality and value-based education.

Three Montessori Centres (running in two shifts) and a Sr. K.G. were set up. These classes catered to over 180 children and had an average attendance of about 86%. The children in these classes were of a mixed age group from 2.5 – 6 years of age. They learnt through the Montessori approach which allows children to learn independently and experientially.

There is a great sense of calm and contentment in the Montessori environment. The children are able to select the material they wish to work with and master it at their own pace. They are encouraged to explore their environment and build a strong and lasting academic foundation. It is an absolute pleasure to watch the children learn with such a sense of joy and accomplishment.

This year, with the help of committed teachers and volunteers, a lot of emphasis was laid on language development. The children worked in small groups and were able to express themselves with greater ease. They performed beautifully and gave their best at the Annual Day and Sports Day events, and showed much confidence in all that they did.

Aseema also reached another major milestone at the Santacruz (W) Municipal School this year. An English Medium Secondary Section was set up in this School and classes were started for Std. VIII. Until now, children who completed Std. VII in the Pali-Chimbai Municipal School had very few options to continue their formal schooling. They were either enrolled in private schools or took up vocational training courses. With the establishment of the Secondary Section, these children can now continue their education in the school.

Std. VIII began with 26 children of which 15 had been Aseema students in the past and 11 were from other municipal schools. The children were of mixed age groups (13-17 years) and different ability levels. While some found the academic work exciting and enjoyable, others struggled due to lack of a strong foundation. All the children did, however, show a strong desire to be in school and were keen to do well. Their average attendance for the year was high at about 84%.

A great emphasis was laid on understanding of concepts, conversing in English and adjusting to the higher academic requirements of Secondary school. The children were encouraged to do a lot of independent study, read and research topics of their interest and work on projects and assignments. This has helped greatly in developing an attitude of inquiry and an aptitude for learning among the children.

Their progress was evident at the Annual Exhibition of students’ work held in December. Here, the young students welcomed visitors to their school and introduced them to the various topics they had been studying throughout the year. While some spoke of Rabindranath Tagore’s work, others explained the movement of planets and demonstrated science experiments. Through the entire experience, the children’s joy and pride at their accomplishments was evident and heartwarming.

  
 


SUPPORT CENTRE & ACTIVITY CENTRE
The Support Centre is an evening class which offers additional help to about 50 of Aseema’s children. These children come to class everyday to develop language skills, participate in co-curricular activities and clarify any difficulties they have with their academic work.

The children at the Support Centre enjoy a wide range of activities. Under the guidance of talented artists, they learn and create brilliant works of art. They also receive training in judo, yoga and music. Another interesting program started this year, was a Cinema and Theatre Club initiated by a volunteer in Aseema. In this club, the children are exposed to world cinema and learn about the technical and creative aspects of film making. They also participate in theatre workshops which help enhance their confidence and self-esteem. The children have now written scripts and screenplays of their own and are working on a short film.

The Activity Centre, too, has done extremely creative work. Until now, the Activity Centre was a special class attended by 15-20 children who learnt embroidery and crochet. This year, it was merged into the Work Experience classes conducted for Std. I-VII. As a result, more children were able to avail of this facility.

The children were introduced to new kinds of work such as gardening and cooking. The emphasis was on working with their hands and developing an appreciation for such work. The children have enjoyed these classes tremendously and now look forward to taking a more active role in maintaining their school.

  
 


EDUCATION CENTRE FOR TRIBAL CHILDREN
In July 2007, Aseema set up and inaugurated the Sitabai Kavji Mengal Aanganwadi in the village of Jambhwadi in Igatpuri. This Aanganwadi, which caters to about 40 children of the neighbouring villages, is the only school in the area and has become the centre of further development for the community.

Aseema’s carefully designed teaching approach has been introduced to the local teachers and the children; the classrooms have been outfitted with Montessori equipment. The children are quick to absorb new learning and are secure and comfortable with what they have learnt. They also participate in co-curricular activities, excursions and events which help to enhance their holistic development.

In addition to classes for Jr. and Sr. K.G., Aseema also caters to a few children studying in Std. I. At a later stage, they will enroll in Aseema’s proposed Education Centre for tribal children at Awalkheda.

The Education Centre for Tribal Children is being constructed on a plot purchased by Aseema in the village of Awalkheda, Igatpuri. The land has been fenced and prepared for construction and all requisite permissions have been sought, including the permission to use this agricultural land for educational purposes. Tree plantation drives have been carried out with the help of the local people, as well as children from our Mumbai projects. A well, open to use by the villagers and the only source of water for some people this year, particularly in the summer months; has been dug.

Construction of Aseema’s Education Centre at Awalkheda was delayed as Aseema was made aware that the local municipal authorities intended to create a garbage dump on a plot nearby. This dump would have brought waste from across the city to Awalkheda and would disturb the sanctity of the natural environment. It would also pollute the village well and other sources of water. Aseema believed that this dump was detrimental to the interests of the communities we are serving in Igatpuri and opposed it strongly. After several discussions and negotiations with the local authorities, we now understand that the dump is likely to be shifted elsewhere.

Construction of the Pre-Primary Section of Aseema’s Education Centre has commenced and one classroom and a toilet block have been constructed. Classes will commence in September 2009. Owing to the torrential rainfall in Igatpuri, construction of the entire Pre-Primary will resume in October. We are glad to have overcome numerous hurdles faced along the way, and are eagerly looking forward to starting school later this year.

  
 


COMMUNITY WORK
Aseema’s Community Work Department maintains a link between the families of the children and the school. In addition to keeping detailed case studies on each child, ensuring regular attendance, attending to healthcare needs and monitoring admissions in the Pre-Primary, the Department also works to study and sensitize the community on various issues.

This year, awareness programmes on alcoholism and substance abuse were organized in the communities of Lalmitti (Bandra) and Murgan Chawl (Santa Cruz). In addition, a survey was done of 7 villages in Igatpuri with the help of two students from the S. P. Jain Institute of Management and Research and Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS). This survey covered 191 families and updated records on the number of children eligible for schooling. It also gathered information on other areas of concern such as malnutrition, lack of health facilities, reasons for high drop-out rates, etc. this data will help Aseema plan its services for children in this region.

  
 



STAFF DEVELOPMENT
In addition to creating opportunities of growth for the children, Aseema also encourages its staff members to constantly upgrade their skills and knowledge. Several training programmes are organized throughout the year and all staff members are invited to participate.

To begin with, a training session was organized on the Montessori approach for teachers in our Pre-Primary, Stds. I and II. This session was conducted by experienced Montessori Directresses and served to orient our teachers on ways in which this approach could be extended to children in the Primary Section. Some of our staff members also attended an International Montessori Congress held in Chennai in January 2009 to learn from the work being done in other Montessori schools worldwide. Our Chairperson, Ms. Dilbur Parakh, presented a paper at the Congress and spoke about the implementation of this approach in Aseema.

Our Pre-Primary Education Officer, Ms. Nirmala Rao, also participated in a year-long training programme organized by Absolute Return for Kids (ARK). This ‘School Leaders India’ programme, trained her in leadership and management skills required to run an educational institution.

In September 2008, our entire staff participated in a three-day interactive workshop held at Shaktiyogashrama near Lonavla. This workshop was organized on the occasion of Teachers’ Day and gave our staff an introduction to Indian culture, dance and meditation.

Training programmes were also organized for our helpers to assist them in their daily work and interactions. The sessions focused on knowing oneself and the organization, work ethics, team building, leadership skills, communication skills and body language.

In December 2008, a workshop was organized on Stress and Time Management for our staff. The session on stress management was conducted by Padmashri Fr. Joe Pereira, and the session on time management was conducted by Ms. Rency Kannenkeril, a management consultant from the U.K. These sessions gave our staff useful tips on how to cope with the pressures of their work in an effective and positive manner.

  
 


PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT
Aseema’s Product Division creates and markets beautiful products inspired by the children’s art. These products range from stationery and gift items to cloth bags and T-shirts. The income generated from the sale of these products contributes to the running of Aseema’s educational programmes.

This year, an interesting collection of new products were introduced including an exam board, new designs of trays and cloth bags and a corporate set comprising of a memo holder, pin holder, pen stand and card holder. These products were much appreciated even while some of the old favourites such as our floral trivets and mugs were, as usual, in high demand. Through around forty exhibitions organized by various corporates and schools in the last year alone, Aseema was able to showcase its products at a large number of locations.
 


PLANS FOR 2009-10
There is so much more that we wish to offer our children and so much that remains to be done. While we are proud of the accomplishments of the past year, we are eager to develop and expand our projects even further.

In the year 2009-10, we plan on implementing a more activity-based learning method in Stds. I and II. While the children in these classes have been learning well under the guidance of able teachers, we feel strongly that a more practical and ‘hands-on’ learning approach would benefit them tremendously. We have, therefore, designed an approach that is in keeping with our educational philosophy and allows each child to learn in a more independent and experiential manner.

This year, we will also commence classes for Std. IX at the Santacruz (W) Municipal School. In addition, we will organize a training programme for some of our helpers and older students which will teach them Aseema’s approach to education and will equip them to become pre-school teachers.

In Igatpuri, this year will also mark the commencement of our Education Centre for Tribal Children. This will be a landmark in Aseema’s efforts for underprivileged children and will bring greater opportunities and development to the tribal children there.

Throughout the year, our focus will be on a greater implementation of Aseema’s educational philosophy. We have begun creating education manuals documenting Aseema’s classroom teaching approaches and practices at all levels of schooling: pre-primary, primary and secondary. When completed, these manuals will serve as handbooks for new teachers, as well as useful tools for any organization that wishes to contribute towards the education of underprivileged children.

Aseema’s philosophy has devoted much thought and attention to every aspect of the child’s development. We believe it is this philosophy that ‘makes the difference’ in our work. It has been the foundation of all that we have done and will be the benchmark of quality for all that we want to achieve. While the targets we have set are high, we know that our children deserve nothing less. They are capable of the extraordinary and inspire in us a faith that we can achieve much more.
 
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