Greetings from OPEN. It is time for another quarterly update on our projects, and we are excited to give you an update on the next OPEN event in India at the same time.
Upcoming Event –
OPEN and IGNITE jointly present RAGA & RHYTHM on Sunday, December 11, 2011
at 6pm at Sir Muthu Venkatasubbarao Concert Hall, Chennai. The special evening will bring maestros Ustad
Zakir Hussain, Percussionist Trilok Gurtu and Violin Duo Ganesh Kumaresh on the
stage together.
All net monies from this event go towards funding OPEN operations. Join us at this wonderful event and support our deserving children.
For tickets, contact:
Sujatha: 98412-88631
Arvind: 95000-39518
Meena: 98407-58870
And now to updates on our projects.
The Pudiyador center at General Cariappa school, Saligramam, Chennai has been successfully running an after school program, with 41 students visiting the centre on a daily basis. Students are taught using activity based learning, and do daily home work with the help of the teachers. Computer education is provided and refreshments are served. On August 15, Independence Day was celebrated by hoisting the Indian flag. The children were taken to Police Boys Club centre near Besant Nagar. They performed some acts emphasizing national integration. On Sept. 4, Teacher’s Day was celebrated. Children performed a cultural program highlighting the Right to Educate a GirlChild in the form of dance, skit and songs. The children then honored the teachers. Following that, tree planting was held on the school campus.
OPEN supports the centre in meeting operational expenses and infrastructure development both for the centre and for the school. Speak Easy Classes are being conducted in the same school for classes 6-9 to enhance spoken English skills of the students.
The Hope Foundation runs a school at Kannagi Nagar slum area near OMR, Chennai. The slum area predominantly consists of people from the fishing community and others who are economically backward. The school operates classes up to Class Five, and doesn’t collect fees from its students. The medium of instruction is English. OPEN has supported the foundation in constructing two class rooms. The school has submitted a proposal for its funding requirements for operational expenses. This proposal is under evaluation.
Hope School Construction
EAC - The Educate a Child program, jointly run by OPEN and IGNITE, continues to fund deserving students who secure good marks in Higher Secondary education and are unable to continue their studies. Scholarship recipients are selected after stringent screening at regular counseling sessions. Selected students are supported financially for their college fees for Polytechnic and Engineering.
We had a counseling session in Chennai on Sep 4, 2011. More than 80 students (old and new) attended the session. 72 new students were enrolled in the 2011 batch (5 in Engineering, 57 in Polytechnic and 10 in 3-year degree programs). A total of Rs. 6,71,124 was provided in tuition reimbursements to 84 students across all batches.
Siragu Montessori
School - OPEN continues funding Rs. 1.3 lakhs per month ($2200) for
operational expenses, which include tuition fees, salaries, maintenance of the
school van, boarding and lodging. OPEN also funded two sets of uniform for 392
kids at a cost of Rs. 3 lakhs. About 120
children are given residential care. Activity
based learning system is used in teaching. The school continues to operate two buses to
pick up and drop off children who come from nearby villages.
Siragu Students
Single Teacher School
- “If children cannot go to school, then the school goes to the children” claims
Swami Vivekananda. Rural Development Society is the implementing agency of this
unique project in several villages of Thiruvallur District, TN, benefiting the children
in education and health. In a country
that rightfully aspires to be a shining star in the comity of nations, it is
unthinkable to achieve that goal by leaving a section of its own people way
behind. Yet for thousands of children living in far-flung areas – in forests,
hills and coastal fishing villages in India, basic education remains a
distant dream. Educating these children is not just a wonderfully humane cause
but a national necessity.
OPEN is collaborating with the Society and is considering
supporting proposed project expansion to other new villages.
Jaigopal Garodia
Foundation Schools - OPEN continues our long partnership with this foundation by by providing 100 benchand desk sets for three schools: Virugambakkam School - 43 sets, Manali School -
43 sets, Tambaram School - 14 sets.
Somasundaram Middle
School was started way back in 1947, with the aim of providing free primary
education to poor rural children from all sections of society. The school operates at
Pilayarpatti, Madurai District. OPEN
provided Rs. 44,000 towards appointment of a teacher and infrastructure
development.
OPEN Needs You
OPEN has been registered as a non-profit charitable foundation in India and the U.S. Contributions in both countries are tax-deductible. As always, our ability to fund these projects depends on your generosity. We request that (tax-deductible) contributions payable to OPEN Inc. be sent to Kumar or Ramprasad at:
Kumar Thiagarajan, 25470 Gimbel Dr, South Riding, VA 20547
Ramprasad Santhanakrishnan, 810 Graywyck Dr, Seven Fields, PA 16046
If you would like your contribution to go towards the Educate a Child program, please mention it in your check memo section.
Tax-deductible contributions may be sent to Sriram or Arvind in India in favor of OPEN India Charitable Trust: