Annual Report 2014 -15

“Empowering youth through education”

An initiative to support underprivileged, bright youth pursue higher education leading to

raised levels of literacy and employment

FRIENDS OF CHILDREN, PUNE

Plot 497, Sector 28, Pradhikaran, Pune 411044

www.focpune.org

Table of Contents

Vision & Mission

Beliefs

Aims & Objectives

Founders Speak

Accomplishments

Student distribution regionwise

Student Details

Highlights of the year

Success stories

Annexure I - Individual Donors for ( 2014 - 15 )

Annexure II - Identification Process and Selection Criteria

Annexure III - Trustees, Working Members and Volunteers

Vision

Every meritorious student regardless of religion, caste, gender, or socio-economic background must have the opportunity to have the right education equipping him / her

to lead a successful life.

Mission

To provide every student with effective, high-quality guidance, learning experiences, monetary support instilling the right values to make a good citizen of India.

Beliefs

Education is a right in democracy and provides the tools to create a more egalitarian and just society.

All children and youth have a right to a high-quality, comprehensive education. We model what students learn — by what we say, what we do, how we treat each

other, and how we organize and run our programs & workshops. To learn effectively, students need their basic needs met— Academic fees, books,

food, shelter, clothing and respect for their individuality.

Aims & Objectives

Monetary support to meritorious students who are unable to continue their higher education due to financial difficulties.

Motivate’ people participation ‘ at large to contribute for development of education. Enable students achieve academic excellence and raise the platform giving equal

opportunities to generate greater employability. Promote volunteering for the cause of society.

The journey so far………

What began as a dream in 2002 to lend a helping hand to society… for the two

of us ….has reached over 2800 students in the past twelve years. The objective

was to reach out to deserving youth using education as a medium and help them

grow as strong individuals with an opportunity for a sustainable livelihood.

This twelve year span, now includes focus on financial support, libraries with

reference & textbooks, Life skill workshops and residential programs in three

regions of Greater Maharashtra.

We have an extensive workshop schedule spread over Pune, Narayangaon and

Sangli each month. Topics range from Life, Behavioural and Recruitment skills.

Our sincere thanks to all the trainers who willingly volunteered their time and

weekends towards the success of this project.

Our core objective is still the same – “Empowering through Education”. The

means to achieve the same have extended to a larger umbrella of activities and

the success of our project is shown in the range of students who pass out ,

acquire jobs and return to us as donors and volunteers !!

From 23 students in 2003 we now have 221 students across the Greater

Maharashtra region.

We continue to grow and evolve with your unstinting support.

Vani Aparna

Nurture Merit programe In the course of the past decade, FoC has reached out to more than 2854 students and assisted them with scholarships amounting to Rs 140 lakhs. We began with 23 students in 2003, within Pune city, but we have now moved our focus to the rural areas where the probability of a needy student getting assistance is minimal. We have students sponsored in Pune city, Rajgurunagar, Manchar, Ghodegaon, Narayangaon, Ale, Junnar, Sangli, Miraj, Kavalapur, Soni, Someshwarnagar and Saswad. FoC sponsored 280 students for the year 2013 -14.

Student distribution regionwise (2014 -15)

Region Students %

Pune 42 19

Sangli 71 32

Manchar 18 8

Narayangaon 14 6

Junnar 14 6

Ghodegaon 13 6

Rajgurunagar 7 3

Ranjani 2 1

Dhamani 6 3

Ambegaon 0 0

Ale 13 6

Someshwarnagar 15 7

Saswad 6 3

Total 221

Student Details (2014 -15)

Highlights of the Year

Workshop program –“ Umeed ”

We at FoC, believe in the holistic development of our students. With this in mind, we have divided our sponsored students into smaller groups depending on the course / year at college for attendance to workshops. We cover various Life skills and facets on personality development through these sessions. Rural students have no exposure to any such platform and through the past 5 years, our workshop schedule has been reaffirmed by the positive feedback and the higher level of confidence our students display.

20 Workshops 3 Locations 11 Trainers

850+ students

4 Residential Programs in Pune

12 days 76 students

Workshop schedule covered for 2014 -15

Residential Program ( Pre recruitment skills )- “ Unnati “

We conduct a rigorous residential program for our senior students, preparing them for the professional world. Students are called into Pune for 3 days at a time and exposed to various sessions covering Resume Preparation, Facing Interview Tips, FAQs in Interview, GDs, corporate and email etiquette and requisites that raises the platform for them in this competitive world.

A panel of members are invited from various IT and manufacturing companies who conduct mock interviews and give individual feedback to our students , thus giving them exposure and preparation for the real test !

“Unnati “program schedule (2014 -15)

Program -1: 1st-3rd Aug 2014

Program-2: 19th-21st Dec 2014

Program-3: 13th-15th Feb 2015

Trainers who facilitated this program:

Harshad Joshi- Director, SUNGARD Solutions

Manoj Sharma- Asst. Manager, Bajaj Auto Ltd.

Priyanka Mahapatro- Sr. Executive HR, Wipro Technologies

Nikhil Vidyasagar- Delivery Head, Tech Mahindra

Surbhi Desai-Training Coordinator (HR), Extentia Information Technology

Unnati - Outreach

We have also initiated a project where the same sessions are held in other colleges. Our volunteers have conducted seminars/Introductory sessions for over 100 students each in the below colleges.

1. Al Ameen College of Engineering, Koregaon Bheema 2. Jaihind Institute of Technology,Kuran 3. B D Kale College ,Ghodegaon 4. Government College of Engineering and Research, Awasari 5. D R Kakde College ,Ghodegaon 6. VJT, Sangli 7. MDJIT,Sangli 8. PVPIT ,Budgaon Sangli

Student Volunteer Initiation – “ Udaan ”

Since we found that many of our students would like to volunteer and assist with activities and events, we have been conducting residential programs for selected students in Pune once a year. These programs focus on sessions which hone the skills of volunteering, with topics ranging from Sympathy & Empathy, Communication, brainstorming on new projects etc.

By initiating this program for the past 3 years, we now have over 40 student volunteers, across various regions, assisting in various activities and also spearheading volunteering in their respective areas.

Student Volunteer Activities

1) Gram Swacchta Abhiyaan and Tree Plamtation at Bhimashankar (27th-28th Dec-2014)

2) Vrudh Seva Ashram Visit and Tree Plantation Aactivity Sangli (27th-28th Dec-2014) 3) Cleaning Activity at Budgaon Sangli (4 Jan2015)

4) Kavalapur Primary Health Center Cleanup and Tree Plantation Sangli ( 1 Feb 2015) 5) Sangli-Balsudhargruh Visit (22 Feb 2015)

6) Social Activity in Soni High School Sangli (8 March 2015) 7) Trekking Activity at Hadsar fort Manikdoh Junnar ( 8 March 2015)

Student Volunteer Activities

Friends of children - Alumni Association

Post the initial meeting in December 2013, we now have an active Alumni group who meets on the first Sunday of May and December each year. The meeting usually consists of regrouping, sharing experiences of their times in FoC and what they could do to help. They also have an active Whatsapp group to share all updates.

The decision was made in Dec 2013, that all Alumni members would donate a small amount to FoC each year, as a token of appreciation for past assistance.

With the amount collected in May and Dec 2014, a 32 “ tv was bought for the Eklahare Primary school, Ambegaon where 40 students from Classes 1 to 3 study. The school has kindly given FoC a room to house a library and an office for the sponsored students of that region.

Some success stories of FoC

Annexure I - Donors for 2014 – 15.

Annexure II: Identification Process, Selection and Monitoring Criteria

Identification Process

In every case, fee disbursement only after rigorous process of identification and verification by physically visiting dwelling units of shortlisted students.

Applications received from school contacts, volunteers and well-wishers. Volunteers interviewed all shortlisted candidates and visited every short listed applicant’s

household. Selected new student beneficiaries inducted for the year. Detailed documentation of each deserving case with photo shoots of house / applicant prepared

Selection Criteria

We have followed two different modules for selection of students in the city & villages. The criteria which has driven us to follow this particular pattern is as follows

Cost of living is much higher in the city. More awareness in the city compared to the village. Availability of resources mainly volunteers.

Criteria Urban Rural

Identification & Home visits

Done through our volunteers Teachers from the local schools identify and do the home visits.

Income <60,000 P.A <50,000 P.A

Cut off % X *

Cut off % XI

Cut off % XII

>85%

> 70%

> 80% for professional courses and 70 % for degree courses

>80%

>70%

>80% for professional courses and 70 % for degree courses

Cutoff %Degree First Class First Class

Fee Distribution A fixed amount depending on course taken is paid, depending on marks scored, participation and general proficiency

A fixed amount depending on course taken is paid ,depending on marks scored, meetings attended and general proficiency

Meeting /workshop Schedule

Once a month Once a month through local Coordinators and volunteers

Monitoring criteria (renewal of sponsorship on an evolved credit system)

Students are expected to keep up their mark score to the required percentage and renew their sponsorship each year.

Attendance to workshops / residential programs are mandatory

Extra curricular activities and extra academic projects are encouraged and given extra weightage

Self supporting students are given preference

Students are encouraged to volunteer for FoC in their regions, or volunteer in any organization of their choice.

Annexure III: Trustees, Working Members and Volunteers

Friends of Chi ldren, Pune was i nit iated and registered under Maharashtra Societies Registration Act (1960), India in 2003 and as a Regd. Trust in 2004.. .

Mrs. Shantha Suryanarayan –President, Trustee

Mrs. Nalini Ramchandra –Trustee

Mrs. Vani Subramanyam –Trustee, Working member

Ms. Aparna Pardeshi–Trustee, Working Member

Mr. Venkatesan.N - Trustee

Mr. S. Subramaniam – Trustee

Regional Volunteers Our Student Volunteers

Aparna Pardeshi Trustee, Working Member aparna.foc@gmail.com

98900 93187

Vani Subramanyam Trustee, Working Member vani.foc@gmail.com 98232 70046

Friends of children has tax exemption under 80 G of the IT Act 1961. Our FCRA Regn. no. 083930612

Donations can be made online to our Canara Bank a/c, Koregaon Park, Pune-01. Friends of children, a/c no. 0263101018900. Please inform us if you donate online for us to issue a receipt

Sr. No. Name & Region

1 Mr. Kanade (Narayangaon)

2 Mr. Upar (Manchar)

3 Mrs. Katekar (Junnar)

4 Mr. Kale (Narayangaon)

5 Mr. Vidhate ( Dhamini )

6 Mrs. Chavan ( Rajgurunagar )

7 Mr. Santosh Nalawade (Sangli)

8 Mr. Prashant Chavan (Sangli)

9 Mrs. Sujata Deshpande (Sangli)

10 Mr. Balgude (Nira, Baramati)

11 Mr. Hrushikesh Gaikwad (Saswad)12 Mr. Sagar Jadhav (Ale)

13 Mr. Nilesh Jagtap ( Pune )

14 Mr. Manoj Sharma ( Working member, Pune )

15 Mrs. Archana Joshi ( Working member, Pune )

16 Mr. Harshad Joshi ( Working member , Pune )

17 Mr. Patkar ( Ghodegaon )