‘Chaupaal Chowkdi’ (Pilot done at Sarai Allavardi. Project
planned for 2009-10)
In a safe and familiar atmosphere of the basti/village ‘chaupaal’,
providing children with a rich menu of out-of-school learning
opportunities that put quality and the needs & wishes of children
and families first. The Chaupaal Chowkdi program initiative will
offer a variety of rich content-based activities to support multiple
domains of child and youth development. Apart from academic tuitions
and homework help for the elementary-middle school children, the
program will offer team sports, performing & visual arts and crafts
activities of high quality. To the district’s school-less children,
it will provide coaching to keep them abreast with the relevant
academic curriculum and preparing them for the ‘open school/board
examinations’. The initiative would also provide training in
vocational skill building.
Fact file
Quality of children’s time spent away from school and from the
watchful eyes of their teachers and parents is a growing social
concern, for families and communities of all types. Children benefit
most when they have access to variety of quality activities suited
to their interests and needs not addressed in school or by parents.
A large population of school-less children, have never attended
school due to inequities such as not possessing, ration card, are
being additional wage earners or have dropped out of school.
Unstructured after and out-of-school activities of especially 7-14
years old who are prone to being enticed into anti social activities
or aimlessness.
Strategy
Unlike in-school program, attendance in out-of-school-time programs
is almost always voluntary. Fun forms an important part of the
structure. The program also aims at cultivating in the child’s
interest towards a fulfilling vocation. While awards help
institutionalize this program, student incentives through their
micro-cooperatives gives them a sense of belonging and ownership of
the program and gives them hands on experience about fundamentals of
management & commerce.
The major resources will be garnered through critical Alliances.
Infrastructure, in location and space of the Gram Panchayats, HUDA (Haryana
Urban Development Agency), Builders will be approached to offer
vacant, unused buildings for the project instead constructing new
ones. ‘Manage by optimizing resources’ would be the buzz line.
Faculty, committed to ‘Masti ki Paathshala’ will also reach out to
the children ‘Chaupaal Chowkdi’ program.
Outcomes/ Objectives
Introduce school-culture to the school less children and
motivate them and their families to opt for regular school
education.
To make ‘out-of- school’ time matter to both school going
and school-less children.
To develop outreach programs, that fills up the void in
sports, art and aesthetics in day to day life.
To educate children with different learning experiences
including environment, social and health in secure environs.
