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After School Enrichment Program
The Piyali Learning Center (PLC) operates within a collection of rural villages located about 30 miles east of the city of Kolkata, India. The village of Piyali Junction has an estimated population of 50,000, living on less than $5/day. PLC, now in its eleventh year, was developed in response to child trafficking, poverty, and adverse health conditions in the area. The school enrollment is currently 216 girls and is expected to increase to about 250 girls when the new nursery/pre-K class is enrolled.
After School Enrichment Program (ASE) is designed to provide PLC students with the opportunity to participate in co-curricular activities in arts, athletics and life skills. The significance of this program lies both in keeping the students physically safe during the most vulnerable evening hours, as well as in developing communication, teamwork, and leadership skills. Student participation in ASE fosters a sense of confidence and self-worth. This program contributes directly to their success as students, but more importantly, to their development as healthy and happy young girls. ASE currently serves 50 students from Class VI-XI.
This portion of the grant ($4,000) will fund ASE for six-months. Funds will be used for two Life skills Instructor, one Yoga Instructor, one Dance Instructor, one Music Instructor, one Athletic Instructor, Snacks, Transportation, two Field trips, Athletic equipment, and Athletic kits (sports bra & shoes) for 50 girls.
Mukta Tailoring Program
Mukta, meaning independent or self-reliant, is the name of PLC's women's empowerment program. Mukta has 2 primary components: (1) literacy and (2) vocational training. Within the vocational training section PLC provides skills development in tailoring and jewelry making. The tailoring program offers 3 different courses: (1) beginner (2) advance and (3) practical. The training provides women with the skills to not only manage their household needs, but also engage in income generating activities. Mukta - Tailoring Training serves approximately 30 trainees per year.
The request ($1,045) will fund five additional "double" sewing machines, two large wooden work tables (for measuring, cutting, ironing and theory-based learning), and ten work trays. The tables and work trays, would double up for Mukta-jewelry making.
Panchayat Elementary - compound wall
Panchayat Elementary is an elementary school, located in Valayankuttai, on the outskirts of Coimbatore. The school has 31 students in classes from 1st to 5th (14 boys and 17 girls). These children come from the neighboring villages where the parents work as laborers earning daily wage of $2.00/day. The school has the basic infrastructure such as two classrooms, a kitchen and toilet facilities equipped with furniture, a computer and TV.
Located in the foothills of the Western Ghats, this school is frequently threatened by wild elephants passing through the premises. Right now the school is protected by an old damaged barbed-wire fence. Wild Elephants are not only a threat to the safety of the children but also damage the property, during the rainy season when elephant intrusions are frequent. This portion of the grant ($7,000) will fund the construction of the compound wall.
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