For a details list of the past projects and infra work, please visit here
We talk to individual school principals and teachers and attempt to find leaders who are highly motivated in improving the lot of their pupils, and who take ownership of their schools.
2010 Projects
OPEN continues (started from Jan 2010) its funding of about Rs 1 Lakh per month for Siragu Montessori School’s monthly operating expenses including tuition fees, boarding and lodging expenses. Also OPEN funded the two sets of uniforms for 392 kids at a cost of about Rs 3 Lakhs.
OPEN continued its year over year support for scholarships and after-school programs at Ganapathy Iyer Girls’ High School at a cost of Rs 1,76000/-. We increased the number of girls supported through this program from 90 to 150. We have started classes in Spoken English, Dance, Yoga and martial arts.
Our support for infrastructure needs at the Jaigopal Garodia schools continues. We built toilets at the Girls' schools at Villivakkam and Saidapet for a total of Rs 3,82000/- and donated about Rs 6 lakhs for construction of classrooms for Jaigopal school, Bangalore. We continued our effort to move children from the floor to something more comfortable with 150 bench and desk sets for Rs 4 lakhs.
We started supporting the Somasundaram Middle School, a rural govt aided school in Pillayarpatti, with funds for basic infrastructure. OPEN helped this school with renovation of the school lunch kitchen, roofing, plumbing, clearing and laying of a playground, and with conversion of one classroom to a computer room. We donated Rs 1,43000/- towards this.
Deepam organizes after-school programs for poor children. We helped with 6 Netbooks for their 6 centers in Chennai, for a total of Rs 90000. Deepam teaches children Computer skills, Spoken English, and personality development through Arts and Music classes.
OPEN, looking to extend its support to rural education was impressed by the concept by Changers, "Teach from anywhere" and decided to support the infrastructure needs in G R Matriculation School, Omalur, near Salem district, a model school for this project. They have implemented the project and it is already showing a huge sign of success. They have published a schedule for weekend classes in their forum for people to volunteer. Open donated Rs 95947/- for buying Multi-media equipments.
IGNITE Charitable Trust recent activities in collaboration with OPEN India Charitable Trust Our flagship program EAC (educate-a-child) with the support of OPEN India and Rotary Club of Chennai, Kilpauk continue to support more students in Polytechnic, Engineering, and Degree colleges. Total number of polytechnic/ Engineering and degree students supported by this program for yr 2010 is 99 and OPEN contributed Rs 6 Lakhs out of Rs 10-Lakh budget.
IGNITE in collaboration with OPEN started Pudhiyadhor(after school and weekend program) center at General Cariappa School, Saligramam. Began in summer of 2011 currently 23 students are visiting the center on a daily basis. They are planning to have a session to talk to the parents and explain them about Pudhiyadhor to provide awareness about this program. Currently they have 2 teachers and 1 coordinator. Art/Music/drama/games are the activities during weekend (full day). During weekdays they teach activity based stuff using Montessori methods. Computer room is ready now (funded by OPEN – Rs 43000) and a group called Bhoomi is going to start computer classes on Sundays. They have started crafts and origami work as well.
With financial support from OPEN, IGNITE completed infrastructure work at General Cariappa school, Saligramam, for which we paid about Rs 3,37000/- for the multipurpose hall, noon meals kitchen, men staff toilet and built the lady staff toilet.
Spoken English class is introduced as part of the curriculum at General Cairappa School, Saligramam through Speak Easy program. Currently it is conducted for all classes in middle and high school. Budget – Rs. 65000/- year
Projects and Proposal (so far) for 2011 and beyond
1. IGNITE program – Supported 70 students in yr 2009-10 and grew to 99 students during 2010-11. We expect this to grow to about 130-140 students for 2011-12. Budget for 2011-12 – Rs. 13 Lakhs
2. Proposal to sponsor Pudhiyadhor center at General Cariappa School. Pudiadoor center will be fully sponsored by OPEN. Budget – Rs. 10 Lakhs/year
3. Santosh Charity home – Currently OPEN is supporting 6 children which includes their living and educational expenses. Budget – Rs. 45,000/- per quarter for sponsoring 6 children.
4. JaiGopal Garodia schools, Chennai – OPEN committed to provide year over year support for benches/desks for their schools in Chennai. Budget - Rs 5 Lakhs.
5. JaiGopal Garodia School, Bangalore school needs support for buying equipment for their science lab and also some text books for very economically backward kids. Budget – Rs. 3 Lakhs.
6. Ganapathy Girls High school, Chennai – Yearly scholarship support for 150 students for books, uniforms, shoes etc. Budget – Rs. 1.76 Lakhs per year
7. Siragu – Support for their operational expenses for the school. Budget – 13.5 Lakhs. Also provide additional support to buy uniforms for 160 children. Budget – Rs. 96000/-
8. Malleshwaram shisu vihar – We would like to provide yearly support for their operational expenditure. This will include part of their teacher’ssalary and subsidizing economically backward kids educational expenses.Budget – Rs. 1.35 Lakhs.
9. Support “Speak easy” program(Spoken English classes) at General Cariappa School. Budget – Rs. 65000 per year
10. Hope school at Kannagi nagar, Chennai which primarily caters for Kannagi nagar slum area. Sponsor 2 class rooms for their new school in the land provided free by slum clearance board. Budget – Rs. 3.6 Lakhs.
11. Somasundaram School, Madurai – Sponsor teacher’s salary for teachers to conduct the ENGLISH and COMPUTER CLASS. Budget – Rs. 45000 per year
As you see, needs are endless for needy…
1. IGNITE program – Supported 70 students in yr 2009-10 and grew to 99 students during 2010-11. We expect this to grow to about 130-140 students for 2011-12. Budget for 2011-12 – Rs. 13 Lakhs
2. Proposal to sponsor Pudhiyadhor center at General Cariappa School. Pudiadoor center will be fully sponsored by OPEN. Budget – Rs. 10 Lakhs/year
3. Santosh Charity home – Currently OPEN is supporting 6 children which includes their living and educational expenses. Budget – Rs. 45,000/- per quarter for sponsoring 6 children.
4. JaiGopal Garodia schools, Chennai – OPEN committed to provide year over year support for benches/desks for their schools in Chennai. Budget - Rs 5 Lakhs.
5. JaiGopal Garodia School, Bangalore school needs support for buying equipment for their science lab and also some text books for very economically backward kids. Budget – Rs. 3 Lakhs.
6. Ganapathy Girls High school, Chennai – Yearly scholarship support for 150 students for books, uniforms, shoes etc. Budget – Rs. 1.76 Lakhs per year
7. Siragu – Support for their operational expenses for the school. Budget – 13.5 Lakhs. Also provide additional support to buy uniforms for 160 children. Budget – Rs. 96000/-
8. Malleshwaram shisu vihar – We would like to provide yearly support for their operational expenditure. This will include part of their teacher’ssalary and subsidizing economically backward kids educational expenses.Budget – Rs. 1.35 Lakhs.
9. Support “Speak easy” program(Spoken English classes) at General Cariappa School. Budget – Rs. 65000 per year
10. Hope school at Kannagi nagar, Chennai which primarily caters for Kannagi nagar slum area. Sponsor 2 class rooms for their new school in the land provided free by slum clearance board. Budget – Rs. 3.6 Lakhs.
11. Somasundaram School, Madurai – Sponsor teacher’s salary for teachers to conduct the ENGLISH and COMPUTER CLASS. Budget – Rs. 45000 per year
As you see, needs are endless for needy…
