Education
TOLLYGUNGE WOMEN IN NEEDEducation
The programme was started with children who are first-generation learners. Education is modern India’s greatest leveller. It is the tide that lifts every boat. We are all prisoners of birth but education has the power to snap the meanest bonds of economic and social enslavement. It is the route out of the caste ghetto, the path out of the slum and the road to high table. Of these, those who do manage to study, many struggle due to poor facilities and poor teaching and end up remaining unemployed. Initially, in the programme, the mothers and adolescent girls, who had to work, were educated with the basic knowledge of reading and writing, through adult literacy classes and vocational training. The objective was to improve the quality of life through persuasion, counseling and support and by imparting knowledge of basic healthcare to prevent diseases and malnutrition, thus enabling them to acquire personal hygiene, family planning and social awareness, culminating in self-confidence.
The programme for children was designed in such a way that they could go on living with their families and at the same time got a chance to pursue their education. The programme also centres on those children who have to work from a very young age, due to poverty. These children otherwise would not have health and mental care or any surveillance during day time. At the same time they would have suffered malnutrition owing to availability of insufficient food.
Pre-school Day Centre
The education programme for children is carried out through daycare centers and kindergarten in Montessori method, for children of age group between 3 and 6 years. The programme also takes care of their mid-day meal and nutrition. Mainstreaming these children into formal education is also done by providing school fees, books, stationery and uniforms, etc.
Coaching Classes
Since these children come from families with no educational background, they need monitoring and hand-holding at every step. Therefore, once the children get admitted to regular schools (mostly in Govt. schools), we support them with Coaching Classes throughout the week on regular academic subjects such as Maths, Science, Bengali, Social Studies, to supplement their learning processes at schools.
Skill Development Classes
In addition, the programme includes skill development classes such as Spoken English, Computer, Dance & Drawing. These classes are aimed at helping these children develop their communication abilities, and IT skills and grow a sensibility of pursuing meaningful careers.
Education Projects in the country face the challenge of universal admission to schools, dropouts in primary and secondary stages and deficiency in learning and attaining employability. TWIN, in its humble way, has been able to ensure that all the children under its care, go to school and complete their Higher Secondary (Class XII) education and learn their lessons fairly. However, on the issue of employability, TWIN needs to pursue more students to pursue skill development training to improve their employability. TWIN has facilitated many skill development courses for its beneficiaries under the National Skill Development Council like Peerless, Rama Krishna Math and Mission (R.K.M.M.) Training Institute.