ICDE-INDIA - ICYE

Code: 02• NAME OF THE PROJECT Advaith Foundation• LOCATION Bangalore, Karnataka• CONTACT PERSON Ms. Aparna• THEME OR TYPE OF PROJECT Education• AIMS OF THE PROJECT The Mission: To help underprivileged children overcomethe handicaps they face in the educational system byproviding a comfortable and hygienic home, a nurturingand character building environment, and quality educationfrom kindergarten through high school and beyond, basedon individual interests and capabilities.Our Dream: To transform the lives of thousands of poorand deprived children in to lives filled with health,happiness, promise and achievement• PROJECT’S ACTIVITIES Facilities: The facilities at Ankur include two bright, airy,cheerfully furnished hostel blocks, each with three dorms,studies and recreation rooms, in-house libraries,launderettes and spotless bathrooms. Between them, thetwo hostels can house 100 children. Sharing the extensivegrounds of The Samhita Academy, the Ankur hostels haveeasy access to the school and playgrounds. A healthy diet,planned by a trained nutritionist, is cooked in the canteenon the premises, and served in the dining hall thataccommodates 64 people at a time. There is also arecreation complex with an auditorium and provision forvarious indoor games, television, Computers and so on.The facilities include quarters for the residential staff,including a Boarding In-charge, Supervisor, AdministrativeOfficer and Teachers. Nurses, House-mothers and theirassistants care for the children and look after all theirneeds, and a doctor is on call in case of emergencies.Efforts are made to preserve the cultural heritage of thechildren. Festivals are celebrated in the hostel. Equalimportance is given to all religions and children are free tofollow the faith of their parents. Morals and values aretaught through stories. Plays enacted by the residential staffat the weekly programmes in the recreation centre reinforcethese values in an atmosphere of fun.Education: At Ankur, we try to make education a joyfulprocess. The children attend classes at The SamhitaAcademy, which provides excellent teaching and qualityeducation. Ankur children are on par with the fee-payingstudents of the school.Due to their backgrounds, the children usually need a highlevel of priming before they begin schooling. Afteradmission, remedial classes and special coaching are alsorequired to bring them up to speed with their peers. Thisone-on-one attention is provided by the resident teachers,house mothers, tuition teachers and volunteers. Afterschool hoursSports and other extracurricular activities in the evenings,weekends and holidays are organized through a network of