This section is intended to be a brief description of our projects for academic year 2016-17. For more detail on partner schools/organizations at which the projects were executed, please click on the paragraph headline links below. For simplicity, project grants are quoted in USD, though a given project may have been funded solely by USD, by INR, or by a mix.
Vidyarambam Easy Learning English and Easy Learning Mathematics: Vidyarambam's ELE and ELM classes were conducted with OPEN funding at 11 Government schools in Chennai. Principals at these schools welcome the extra help from Vidyarambam teachers towards meeting their educational outcome targets. Vidyarambam conduct diagnostic, mid-year, and year-end tests to measure the efficacy of their instruction.Total cost: $29,500. Number of children benefited: 1700.
IGNITE Post-Secondary Scholarships: This scholarship program for Vocational Polytechnic, Engineering, and 3-year Degree (B.Com, B.Sc, BCA etc) students is completely executed by OPEN. Number of students supported in 2016: 120. Cost: $18,200. We conducted a set of Communications development classes over 6 weekends in Sep-Oct 2016 that were attended by 80 students. These classes are geared towards soft skills such as public speaking, verbal communication in English etc - skills that are not formally taught in college curricula but are essential for students to obtain jobs.
Ganapathy Iyer Girls’ High School: This is a Government-aided school run by the Gopalapuram Educational Society. OPEN continued its scholarship program at this school by funding scholarships for 100 under-privileged students for books/fees. We also fund operational expenses for after-school classes that teach students the Arts, Karate etc. The total cost of this program is $14,000 and it benefits 200 children.
Ashraya Trust: OPEN supports libraries at 6 schools, and Arts and Science clubs at 3 schools, run by the Ashraya Trust in rural Karnataka. The libraries aim to improve reading levels of schoolchildren by giving them the opportunity to borrow books at an appropriate reading level. The librarians monitor the number and reading levels of the books borrowed by each student. The bottom 20% of readers are given remedial reading instruction twice a week by a dedicated teacher. Top students in Science learn scientific principles through teacher-led experiments, and Arts students learn sketching, charcoal drawing, and mural painting from a local artist. Total cost of program: $7,200. Students benefited: 600.
Jaigopal Garodia Girls' School, Virugambakkam, Chennai: A stage for assembly at this school, and classroom furniture, were badly damaged by the floods that occurred in Chennai in late 2015. OPEN provided $10,400 towards repair and repainting of these infrastructure at this school.
Single Teacher Schools, Vivekanda Educational Society: “If children cannot go to school, then the school goes to the children” – claimed Swami Vivekananda. The Rural Development Society is the implementing agency of this unique project in Tamil Nadu. OPEN funds operation of 5 schools in Tiruvallur district. After completion of Class 8, students are supposed to move to larger schools in neighboring towns. Cost: $2,700. Number of students benefited: 180
Samridhdhi Trust, Bangalore:Samridhdhi supports the education of the children of migrant workers and slum dwellers in Bangalore. They specialize in running bridge schools, which provide remedial instruction for these children so that they may catch up in education to their age-appropriate level. They also provide scholarships for children who graduate from these bridge schools to mainstream schools. OPEN provided $1,000 for scholarships and living expenses for 8 children.
Turning Point Trust, Chennai: OPEN provides $2,900 towards after-school programs for slum children in Kannagi Nagar. The aim is to provide the children a safe space so that they may do homework and study after school. Number of children benefited: 100
Somasundaram school, located at Siravayal, Kallal Taluk, Sivagangai, Tamil Nadu, has a total of 90 students in classes from 1 - 8. The school has 4 teachers who are paid by the Government. OPEN pays for the salary of an additional staff member to teach English and Computer Classes. Cost: $500
Malleswaram Shishu Vihar, Bangalore: OPEN provides scholarships for 10 children at this school, which takes in slum children from Malleswaram, Bangalore. Cost: $2,900.
