Virtually an impossible task because of implicit indiscipline and instability of railway platform life; daily, seasonal and permanent migration of the children; community and frequent ousting by police could successfully be realized. At the end of 2004 the project successfully admitted some more than 500 children from urban areas from 24 Pgs. North into formal school and retained them over there. After completion of the project period in 2004, OFFER continued its support for education of the said school going children at its own. Huge support from the local stakeholders enabled to carry forth the mission. The project got a huge boost in 2005. The project, now named as Sahajpath (Easy to Learn) by then, extended its activities to remote rural areas of 24 Pgs. South and reached out to some more than 2000 children all-total. Framing an Apt Intervention Reinstating the State policy “Education for All” being the prime objective of Sahajpath, it focuses more on needs in micro level, that is of each individual child. Both from urban and rural areas, children here are coming from families parented by rickshaw pullers, green sellers, unskilled labors, wage earners, share croppers and likewise.
The economic position of families coupled with attitude towards the children is pivotal point to determine direction of Sahajapth in macro level. Even after admission to formal schools, the difficulties children face here as it is found, i) denial of uniqueness of each child, ii) failing to assess individual educational need of child. Especially by virtue of being first generation learner, children find the education and related systems pretty boring and sometimes unacceptable. Lack of assistance in home along with further psychological reasons enhances children's possibility of being dropped out from formal school education. Instead of delimiting education in its much-practiced technical sense, Sahajpath looks towards finding the gravity of the term 'education' in expressing a child's life in its full. Evening educational sessions comply with the regular studies in formal schools. A keen eye to righteous teaching learning method is an attraction for the children here. Sometimes the experimentation goes to the level where children are given lessons according to their knowledge instead of following the gradation from formal school. Authentic and wide participation of the teachers and children of evening sessions creates space for inventing methodologies suitable for children with different need. Education centers the project activities while taking care of health and nutrition; opening up towards art and culture, practical demonstration and experimentation in different branches of science, participation in recreational activities is not optional but compulsory for each child. in micro and macro level is other frequently practiced strategy to shape up an environ best suited for our target childhood. Present Threat With chunk of children approaching adolescence, the wide practiced trend to marry off the girl children and sending boy child for work is now being a profound threat to retain children into education. Dialogues, negotiation, sharing with parents, community people, formal school teachers and local administration are periodically taken up as strategy to bring about normalcy of the situation. Some of other practical tools are upon anvil to meet need of the moment. Other Community based initiation by OFFER.
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