India journal - Great Lakes Leadership Academy - Michigan State ...

BALA SHANTI KENDRA VISIT
FEBRUARY 24, 2012
The Bala Shanti program was started 15 years ago. It
reaches hundreds of rural children. As a result of
the program, the school enrollment rate of Perur
Block as well as childhood development indicators are
higher than the national average. We visited two
schools -- one that was only a week old and one that
had been established for five years. The schools
follow a Montessori framework and work with
children ages 3 to 5 years old. At the age of five, the
children are eligible to attend public schools.
In addition to standard educational opportunities, the
schools serve as a locus for other programs that reach
the entire family and village, such as childhood
immunization; nutrition education and supplementation;
and personal savings education (supported with
individual savings banks). We learned that it costs
Shanti Ashram $5000 to start a new school and $1000
to continue operating the school each year. Shanti
Ashram works with local contacts and interested parents
to identify opportunities for the establishment of new
schools.
ELLEN KOHLER, PHOTOS BY JEFF SANDBORN
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