Deccan Despatch (January - April 2010) - CII

and were given more opportunities toshowcase them in these ten days. By theend of this phase, our mission to makeall kids comfortable was accomplished!The third and ongoing phase, startedon 7th May, consists of providing the kidswith some basic learning lessons. A notebook drive was organized to provide thekids with notebooks and other stationaryfor them to use during this phase. Thekids were divided into groups based ontheir knowledge levels. Accordingly, thesyllabus was framed, mainly consistingof English and Math. Volunteers visitthe camp thrice a week and spend twoto three hours in teaching the kids. Inthis process, every child’s interest andgrasping power is observed and suitablemethods of teaching are incorporated.Sanitation Facilities toRural Govt SchoolsLack of proper toilet facilities in schoolshas a definite and significant impacton the dropout rate of girl children,particularly around the time they reachClass 6th to 8th. Barely 10% of thegovernment schools in India have toiletfacilities -- and where they do, they arehopelessly inadequate. As Infosys Alwaysbelieves in Inclusive growth, IWIN alongwith Sneham has join hands togetherto help schools in Chennai especiallyin remote rural areas by improving thesanitation facilities.To start with we have constructed toiletsin Paranur School near M City. Thisschool did not have any toilet facilityand now, with this initiative the 100+girl students are benefited. Currentlythe construction is happening in anotherschool in Mahindra City.Water tank toAvanippoorGovernment SchoolIn addition to toilet construction,water facilities in the schools was alsoidentified as one of the basic needs forgood sanitation. Sneham provided waterfacility for Avanippoor GovernmentHigher Secondary School, located about120 kms from Chennai. The schoolcaters to over 1000 students from thesurrounding villages.Sneham donateswheel chairsAs a part of World disability day, Snehamdonated 10 wheel chairs to deservingphysically challenged ones through anNGO – Snegithan. All the beneficiariesare Polio affected ones and had been inneed of Wheel Chairs for quite a while.The total cost was Rs. 45,000.“SNEHAM ConductsReading Sessionfor visually impairedSneham has been associated withNethrodaya for over two years now.They provide free boarding and lodgingfacilities for the visually impaired. Theywere in need of volunteers for readingout the books to the visually impairedinmates on a regular basis, during theweek ends. A team of 6 people fromSneham visit Nethrodaya every Saturdayfor 3 hrs.Nethrodaya - SouthIndia sports festival forvisually challengedSneham volunteers have been conductingreading sessions for the children duringthe weekends for the six weeks. And alsohelp with volunteers for sports festivalorganized by Nethrodaya for the visuallychallenged from South India on July 25and 26. Eight teams from Tamil Nadu,Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradeshparticipated in the event. Adaptedversions of cricket, volleyball and chesswere played. Sixty members fromSNEHAM volunteered for the event.SNEHAM member received a mementofrom Nethrodaya for his services.SNEHAM Starts SpokenEnglish Center at NethrodayaSneham has started a spoken Englishcentre at nethrodaya and it has beenoperational from July 2009 onwards.All visually impaired people (Both theInmates and Non Inmates) will benefitfrom this. The Idea of starting thisSpoken English centre is to make themmore sellable. The spoken English centretrains visually impaired people 5 days aweek. Sneham’s gives out Rs 4000/- fromits kitty every month for this initiative.45