CFL

Annual Update 201312/11/2013

Mission

• To help people discover the difference between education and schooling.

• To discover how education can lead to self-determined, self-disciplined and self-realizing members of society.

• To discover how learning can be made personally meaningful and socially responsible.

• To support individuals to address the problems of modern day living - critically, creatively, and compassionately.

History

• Founded in 1982 by Gurveen Kaur• Started with ~6 children• Current number of children: 13 (last year:

29)

Organization Structure• Staff/Paid Positions

– Principal/Administrator: Gurveen Kaur– Teachers

• Amit• Dhanesh• Jayasree• 1 Part time teacher (for dance)• Down from 5-6 teachers last year

– Housekeeping/cooking• One employee

– Flat organizational structure; teachers share all other tasks around the school as well

• Board Structure– 13 board members– Full board meeting once a year when the annual report is presented– More informal meetings as necessary (2-3 times/year)

Location

• Hyderabad, India (Secunderabad)

• In a residential area• The majority of their free

students come from the migrant labor families that live in the area

• They have their own school building with class rooms and a small open area for lunch, outdoor activities, etc.

Activities

• Children's Education Centre, catering to all sections of society – Primary Activity

• Studies in education and related areas.• Publication of Edu-Care, a forum for concerns about

education and society• Adult Learning Network – catering to all ages and sections

of society• Teacher training (consultancies), Creation of educational

resources• Working with government institutions for curricular

reforms

General Partner Updates

• Challenges– Right To Education enforced changes

• Significant change for 2013-2014: – Home schooled children’s center – ages 7-14– 14+ learning center – 2-5 yr program

• Large drop in number of children– Will take time to ramp up 14+ student count

Changes from 2012• Home-schooling group about 15-20 students between 7 years and 14

– We welcome children whose parents have decided to home-school their children and are open to enrolling them into our alternative education centre - aware that we are not a recognized school.

• 14+ group about 12-15 students initially and subsequently 15-20 students. – Teenagers and young adults who opt for and whose parents consent to an

alternative form of education - with some understanding of what the choice entails. – We would be happy to accommodate some of the dissenting youngsters labeled

‘misfits’ or ‘rebels’, ‘problem children’ , ‘failures’ as well as drop-outs and opt-outs by the formal, mainstream education system - provided the teenagers and their parents take the effort to understand are open to our philosophy and willing to abide by our rules.

– We will work towards a ratio of 60% girls and 40% boys and 30% Privileged and 70% under-privileged children - though initially we will not be in a position to choose and ensure that ratio but we will move towards as soon as we have the numbers.

14+ Program - Concept• The core components of the program will be:

– Self: Learning to be more self-aware, self-realizing, self-regulated, self-critical, self-disciplined and responsible.

– Society: Examining values, norms, standards, prejudices, biases, rights and responsibilities, rules and regulations, the power equations within society…

– Foundational knowledge & skills: Acquiring proficiency in foundational skills of language and math and the ability to reason /think independently and critically, develop basic practical skills and acquire foundational knowledge (or the basics of science and socials).

– Exploring personal interests and different career/livelihood options through link-up with different academic, professional or vocational professionals and work-places that will enable the teenagers to make informed and fulfilling career choices

– Plus certification (if desired) through distance education courses by enrolling and appearing as private candidates at recognized state and national boards/universities

14+ Program - Plan• Stage One: Year One

– Evolve an improved and meaningful education program and work out the detailed curriculum along the considerations listed above for the 14+students.

– We will continue to work with the -14 age group as we’ve done so far and work out an integrated approach across the two age groups.

– Identify core team members and link up with resource groups/persons we can work with for exploring career and/or apprenticeship options.

– Reach out to parents and enroll children into the program – work out ways of doing this.

• Stage Two: Year Two, Three, Four– Run the pilot program for the first batch – After the first trial run for a group of 12-15 students effect changes/corrections

in curriculum design. – Decide about recognition/affiliation at this point.

• Stage Three: Offer the program for batches of 14+ students

14+ Program - Budget• Core team salaries • Assisting staff salaries • Resource persons and/or mentor/partner organization compensation• Rent (+water, electricity, furniture and fixtures…) • Services (phone, internet access, etc.)• Facilities (library, computers, workshops… )• Travel and conveyance for core team and students • Material costs (paper, art & craft material, some gardening and carpentry

tools, computer peripherals,…)• Scholarships/stipends for deserving students – especially girls• Board and lodging for deserving students • Administration costs• ???

14+ Program - Outcome• Immediate benefit/impact:

– An education model for the 14+ that is stimulating, personally meaningful and socially responsible.– A syllabus that is holistic, integrated, not alienating and therefore invokes a higher motivation and

better attitude to learning. – Better informed choices and more realistic career options/aspirations – Improvement in basic academic skills and acquisition of basic practical skills– Reduction in dropouts amongst under-privileged students – particularly girls– Option/Direction for the ‘stragglers’ and the opt-outs

• Expected Outcomes:– Teenagers and young adults would be relieved from a relentless regimen of tedious, torturous

tutorials/tuitions following the day long classes studying seemingly boring and meaningless syllabus

– Preparing students who are more self – regulated and self-disciplined, who are competent, self-motivated individuals and who are also responsible, concerned citizens

– Parents would be comforted that their children are happy, better motivated, capable of making informed career choices regarding their future and get a recognized certificate

– There will hopefully be less un-motivated, incompetent and unemployable workforce and apathetic, indifferent citizens in society and this will then have some ripple effect in transforming education of teenagers in the country.

Current Enrollment

• 14+ - 3 students• 14- - 10 students• 2012 – 29 students (down from 55-60 in prior

years)

Budget

• Refer to Budget xls

Audit Report

• Refer to Audit report

Asha, Seattle Involvment

• Our chapter’s support – Rs 2,20,480 per year– Funding has been recurring since 2007 – ~25% of their annual expenses– Goes towards teacher’s salaries– Provides them stability of funding (we are the

largest donor and 2nd largest source of funds)– Sole Asha chapter funding them

Site Visit Report

Asks for Asha Seattle

• Approve 2013 amount including maximum allowed inflation increase– 4% = Rs 2,29,300

• Re-evaluate project funding needs (including a potential increase) in 2014– Based on changes in how they function as a school

and organization, enrollment, etc.

Asks for Asha Seattle

• Approve sending additional personal donation via Asha Seattle to support the organization– Will contribute $1000 (+$1000 match) annually

above current contributions to Asha Seattle

Process ChecksItem Status

Approved Budget 2,29,300

Approval Type Recurring

Amount(s) disbursed last fiscal year 2,20,480 (+2000USD personal donation)

Amount Utilized by the project last fiscal year

2,20,480 (+2000USD)

Last Site Visit 12/11/2013 (Sridhar)

Current Primary Steward Vamshidhar Kommineni

Current Secondary Stewards None

Status of the web page Will update by 12/20/13

Status of AshaSeattle.net db Will update by 12/20/13

Questions?