This section is intended to be a brief description of our projects for academic year 2015-16. For more detail on partner schools/organizations at which the projects were executed, please click on the paragraph headline links below. For Projects' description for other years, please use the menu on the left. 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. Vidyarambam conduct diagnostic, mid-year, and year-end tests to measure the efficacy of their instruction.Total cost: $17,500. Number of children benefited: 1700. Results: The vast majority of children in the Easy Learning English and Easy Learning Maths programs went from C grade in the diagnostic test to A grade in the final test.

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 2015: 130. Cost: $23,000. We conducted a set of Career Counseling classes over 6 weekends in Jan-Feb 2016 that were attended by 50 students. These classes are geared towards soft skills such as public speaking, resume writing and interviewing - skills that are not formally taught in college curricula but are essential for students to obtain jobs. These students come from poor backgrounds, and completing college is an achievement.

• Number of final year students: 36
• Number of students graduated: 30
• Students who obtained a job or admission to higher education programs: 21
  

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 and provide a meal during the class. The total cost of this program is $21,400 and it benefits 200 children. Results: All 47 girls who wrote the Class X board exam passed; 19 of the 47 scored above 400/500; and the highest mark obtained was 473.

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. 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: $7,000. Students benefited: 600. Results: 33% of children improved their reading by at least one level over the course of the year, and Ashraya have hired a dedicated Kannada teacher to provide remedial instruction to the bottom 20% of readers.

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: $2,800. Number of students benefited: 180

APR Charitable Trust: OPEN funds $1,600 for a math teacher to provide after-school instruction at schools supported by the APR Charitable Trust in Bangalore, India.

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 6 children.

Let's Do Some Good Foundation, Bangalore: OPEN provided $3,300 towards the education and boarding expenses of 15 children.

Turning Point Trust, Chennai: OPEN provides $3,000 towards after-school programs for slum children, run by the Turning Point Trust of Chennai. Number of children benefited: 50

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. OPEN also sponsored windows replacement at this school. Cost: $1,200

Malleswaram Shishu Vihar, Bangalore: OPEN provides scholarships for 10 children at this school, which takes in slum children from Malleswaram, Bangalore. Cost: $3,000.