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SAJEEVTA: living with energy, intelligence and exuberance - a full life.

Highlights: January February March

An inspirational talk from a Business Development

Manager who visited us from Germany, he explained the

story of his learning which began in rural Gandhinagar.

The children taking notes as they watch a

short video showing the journey to Gliese 581D,

a planet that is similar to Earth.

English Speaking Classes, started in January,

have been running one evening every week.

Learning how to plan and structure an interesting

letter with paragraphs that communicate clearly.

Our learning initiative is being registered as a not-for-profit

Company by the following Members and Directors:

KAVERY NAMBISAN Rural Surgeon and Novelist

DEVIKA DEVAIAH Innovation Consultant

REBECCA REUBENS Sustainable product design Consultant

SHRUTI GONSALVES Development Professional

VASANT MAKWANA Education Professional

KRUTIKA PATEL Volunteer at Home Learning Centre

GAUTAM PATEL Volunteer at Home Learning Centre

LogokindlycreatedbyLilyGreenwood

www.lilygreenwood.co.uk

APRIL 2012UPDATE

To promote equality for

disadvantaged groups by

pioneering new ways to

providecontextual learning

experiences for children

sothat they gain and express

the knowledge, abilities and

attitude required

to live a fulfilling life.

http://www.kaverynambisan.blogspot.in/http://www.kaverynambisan.blogspot.in/http://www.kaverynambisan.blogspot.in/http://www.kaverynambisan.blogspot.in/http://www.kaverynambisan.blogspot.in/http://www.erehwonconsulting.com/8/devika-devaiahhttp://www.erehwonconsulting.com/8/devika-devaiahhttp://www.erehwonconsulting.com/8/devika-devaiahhttp://www.erehwonconsulting.com/8/devika-devaiahhttp://www.erehwonconsulting.com/8/devika-devaiahhttp://www.linkedin.com/pub/rebecca-reubens/7/80/264http://www.linkedin.com/pub/rebecca-reubens/7/80/264http://www.linkedin.com/pub/rebecca-reubens/7/80/264http://www.linkedin.com/pub/rebecca-reubens/7/80/264http://www.linkedin.com/pub/rebecca-reubens/7/80/264http://in.linkedin.com/pub/shruti-gonsalves/18/278/ab0http://in.linkedin.com/pub/shruti-gonsalves/18/278/ab0http://in.linkedin.com/pub/shruti-gonsalves/18/278/ab0http://in.linkedin.com/pub/shruti-gonsalves/18/278/ab0http://in.linkedin.com/pub/shruti-gonsalves/18/278/ab0http://www.pratham.org/M-40-5-Gujarat.aspxhttp://www.pratham.org/M-40-5-Gujarat.aspxhttp://www.pratham.org/M-40-5-Gujarat.aspxhttp://www.pratham.org/M-40-5-Gujarat.aspxhttp://www.pratham.org/M-40-5-Gujarat.aspxhttp://in.linkedin.com/pub/krutika-patel/4a/49a/576http://in.linkedin.com/pub/krutika-patel/4a/49a/576http://in.linkedin.com/pub/krutika-patel/4a/49a/576http://in.linkedin.com/pub/krutika-patel/4a/49a/576http://in.linkedin.com/pub/krutika-patel/4a/49a/576http://in.linkedin.com/pub/gautam-patel/15/a46/1b2http://in.linkedin.com/pub/gautam-patel/15/a46/1b2http://in.linkedin.com/pub/gautam-patel/15/a46/1b2http://in.linkedin.com/pub/gautam-patel/15/a46/1b2http://in.linkedin.com/pub/gautam-patel/15/a46/1b2http://in.linkedin.com/pub/gautam-patel/15/a46/1b2http://in.linkedin.com/pub/krutika-patel/4a/49a/576http://www.pratham.org/M-40-5-Gujarat.aspxhttp://in.linkedin.com/pub/shruti-gonsalves/18/278/ab0http://www.linkedin.com/pub/rebecca-reubens/7/80/264http://www.erehwonconsulting.com/8/devika-devaiahhttp://www.kaverynambisan.blogspot.in/

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Learning that is Designed for the DisadvantagedIn low-income families, children often have limited time with adults for developmental interaction.

Parents have to work long hours and household tasks require greater time as they do not have

facilities like 24-hour water supply, electrical appliances and personal vehicles. Home Learning is

additional to school hours for children who live with the least, giving them a regular chance to

experience the best learning.

Details of the Learning SessionsSix times a week, 15 children aged 3 to 15 years, arrive for early morning classes at 7:30am for 2-3

hours, as well as for one-hour English Speaking evening classes.

COOPERATION A shared expectation that we all will work hard together to learn.LEARNING GOALS Clear guidance and regular specific feedback to guide progress.

PASSION Freedom to follow individual interests and inquiries.FOCUS Small groups work with an adult to focus on Maths, Science and other subjects.

DISCUSSION Group discussion with newspapers, magazines, queries and presentations.INCLUSIVE LEARNING

One child has serious learning difficulties and behavioural issues, we work toinclude him in the group and sensitively differentiate his learning.

HEALTH, HYGIENE

AND NUTRITION

Regular snack of milk and oats with a nutrient supplement. Basic first aid and care for personal health and hygiene.

Seeing progress in their learningEach day they should work on something more difficult

than before, and we look to see if their work is offering an

increasing level of challenge as well as being understood.

We try to see with the eyes of the student, and regularly

take their feedback to understand how they are building

their learning, and to check the effectiveness of our

teaching. As a group we review our progress and take decisions on changes to make. We all want

the children to pass school examinations, improve their abilities and skills and be happy and

excited about learning.

About the LearnersThe children and their families live in one-room staff quarters attached to a house or in huts

without electricity and water connection. Their parents are mostly illiterate and are employed as

cleaners, auto-rickshaw drivers and shopkeepers. There was a problem in enrolling girls and

keeping them engaged in learning. In July 2011 we only had 1 girl attending; with the childrens

help in recruitment we now have 6 girls. We have selected three other groups of vulnerablechildren in Gujarat to support, whom we visit in the year to provide with high quality learning

materials, according to needs.

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Developing the learning experienceWe are in regular contact with experts in India and other Countries, and we experiment after

studying new research and teaching resources. Recently, after making learning visits to other

institutes, we enhanced our learning environment with specially designed bamboo classroom

furniture.

Visit to SHREYAS FOUNDATION MONTESSORI SCHOOLAhmedabad, Gujarat www.shreyasfoundation.in

Shreyas was founded in 1947, with Maria Montessori as the first

President. We learnt about the Schools approach based on the

principles of Maria Montessori, Rabindranath Tagore and Mahatma

Gandhi. The experimental school does not use formal examinations in

the early standards, and works to motivate children positively and not

with punishment. The learning experience is broad including stage

performances, art classes, carpentry and learning visits.

Visit to Muktangan Schools Worli, Mumbai www.muktanganedu.org

The initiative began in 2003 and now Muktangan runs 7 Government

Schools with over 250 local women trained in their one-year intensive

course. The curriculum of the Maharashtra Government is used, with an

emphasis for the children to collaborate and be active learners. We

learnt about Muktangans plans to establish a Teacher Training Centre

offering a 3-year teacher education program based on guidelines from

the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE).

Innovative Sustainable Bamboo Classroom Furniture

Modular shelving units made of

laminated bamboo are stacked individually

to organise books of all sizes.

Expandable peg system to arrange the

childrens individual cases for speedy

self-identification.

Bamboo Desk designed for

comfortable writing.

Display Boards to make teaching and learning visible

and to attract feedback.

Classroomfu

rniture

was

produced

by

Bamboo

Canopy

through

a

synergistic

relationshipb

etween

threecollaborators.Tapini

BambooDevelopmentCenterisa

pioneeringbamboo

socialsectororganization.

The

design

wasby

Rhizome,a

sustainabled

esign

firm.TheEklavya

Foundation

isasocialsectororganization,

hichensuresthedesignsareproducedbylo

-inco

etribalcraftspeople.

http://www.rhizome.co.in/http://www.rhizome.co.in/http://www.rhizome.co.in/http://www.rhizome.co.in/http://www.rhizome.co.in/http://www.rhizome.co.in/http://www.rhizome.co.in/http://www.rhizome.co.in/http://www.rhizome.co.in/

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How the learning initiative developed

FEBRUARY

toDECEMBER

2010

The centre began with 5 boys of the neighbourhood reading and drawing with us, which

quickly expanded to over 30 children attending irregularly. We provided books and

materials and asked the children to self-teach. We realised that by giving little guidance

meant that progress in learning was not clear. We then experimented with approaches

being used by alternative and experimental learning centres.

JANUARY

to DECEMBER

2011

We gained the regular support of expert advisors in India and the UK. With professionaladvice we structured the learning sessions with more types of learning activities to suit

the needs of the different children. We secured attendance of 15 children through

creating regular engaging and meaningful learning experiences and through working with

the parents to ensure the children attend learning sessions with positive aspirations.

JANUARY

toAPRIL

2012

The children collaborate in their learning and have a strong commitment to progress and

enjoyment. We have introduced a number of learning tools including mind-maps,

planning work in advance, and making story-paths. We have completed the first part of

the company registration process that will allow us to expand the work to support the

learning of many more children.

Funding and expensesFunding has been kindly and generously given by many individuals who have come to know about

the initiative. We have been operating on approximately Rs.100,000 per year (1300) which has

mainly been used to purchase books, stationery and the daily breakfast snack. The investment has

resulted in a wonderful and diverse collection of over 1,400 reading books in Gujarati, Hindi and

English. To initiate the programme we have volunteered our time and home so we have avoided

rent and human resource costs. Itemised accounts have been completed and can be requested.

Estimated future funding requirements To establish more home learning centres we will need at least Rs.100,000 per centre, per year.

Funding is also needed for building up a team to operate the centres with the approach we are

using and developing.

We are considering a partnership withChaitanya SchoolGandhinagar, managed by Sree VidyaNiketan Trust (a registered charitable Trust) which is generously offering to enrol some of our

children in their School, if we continue giving the home learning support. This Trust would

cover the school fees for the children, but Sajeevta Foundation would need to fund the non-feecosts of transport, uniform and books which is approximately Rs.10,000 (150) per year, per

child. We see this as an amazing and unique opportunity for the children to have a far higher

quality school learning experience.

To know moreIf you are interested in knowing more about the initiative or if you want to share your

ideas and support we would be very happy to hear from you. Please do email us:

Krutika Patel: krutika.sajeevta@gmail.com

Gautam Patel: gautam.sajeevta@gmail.com

Please click here to view an online album of images:http://flic.kr/s/aHsjyFFK3G

http://chaitanyaschool.org/http://chaitanyaschool.org/http://chaitanyaschool.org/mailto:krutika.sajeevta@gmail.commailto:krutika.sajeevta@gmail.commailto:gautam.sajeevta@gmail.commailto:gautam.sajeevta@gmail.comhttp://flic.kr/s/aHsjyFFK3Ghttp://flic.kr/s/aHsjyFFK3Ghttp://flic.kr/s/aHsjyFFK3Ghttp://flic.kr/s/aHsjyFFK3Gmailto:gautam.sajeevta@gmail.commailto:krutika.sajeevta@gmail.comhttp://chaitanyaschool.org/