INDIA: IMPROVING LEARNING CONDITIONS FOR DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN
India is an extremely diverse country: a billion people of different religions live there, 23 languages are officially recognised, and there are innumerable regional and linguistic distinctions. Economically speaking, the country has been making progress for several years. Large companies are investing massively in its economy, the middle class is becoming increasingly affluent, and the standard of living continues to rise steadily. But unfortunately, many people are left behind. As there is little scope for upward social mobility, the lower castes often have no choice but to accept their destiny. The economic boom in their country almost completely passes them by. This is why CSI Lëtzebuerg is supporting children from difficult social backgrounds through a project designed to improve learning conditions.
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Our project in Pondicherry
The project in brief:
The St. Anthony's School in Pondicherry, southeast India, hosts 663 children from poor families. The parents often have very low-paying jobs in the informal sector (porters, rickshaw drivers, etc.) which makes the family budget very tight. The school employs 30 teachers, including 6 special educators who are trained to work with disabled children.
The school receives government subsidies but has to cover the costs of the infrastructure itself. Therefore, CSI finances certain acquisitions to improve the teaching conditions.
During the last Framework Agreement, CSI paid for the equipment of the computer room and the purchase of a large tank for drinking water. In addition, a meeting room for parents' meetings was set up and benches and tables for the new library were purchased.
For this new Framework Agreement, there will be, among other things, improved conditions and equipment for the kindergarten section, equipment for the science laboratory and the acquisition of adapted material for the different classes. A new sewing workshop will also be established for students wishing to learn new skills.
In addition to the infrastructural support, children with psychological disorders are taken care of throughout the project by professionals specially trained for this task.
The school also wants to contribute to a sustainable environment through this project by installing solar panels and a rainwater collection system.
Project budget:
Total project cost (2021-2024): €109 190
60% of this amount will be provided by the Luxembourg Foreign Ministry. The rest (€43 676) will be covered by CSI together with the partner organization.