Vanavasi Ashram
Location
Vanavasi Ashram, Ullannoor, P.O. Periya, Wynad
District, Kerala 670644, INDIA. The organization founded in 1994 is
working with the adivasis (tribals) of Wynad district of Kerala.
Ullannoor is an isolated forest area with very low levels of literacy.
This group started functioning from 1994 and periodically surveyed the
forest area and the adivasis. They studied their normal life pattern and
their customs and habits. What the study revealed was rather shocking. The
adivasis were not even aware of the welfare benefits made available by the
Government and other agencies.
Objectives
The major objective of this project is to implement
the programs and actions for the educational, social and economic
development of the minorities and backward classes and poor people,
especially the tribal people - to run a school for the tribes. There were
no schools worth their name in the vicinity of this entire area. The only
higher primary school was situated nearly four km away from this forest
area. As there is a wide river without any bridge over the same, the
adivasis found it difficult to cross this river in order to send their
children to this particular school.
The School
The Trust has started a school by name
"PAZASSI RAJA VIDYALAYA" at Ullannoor. They started the work by taking
loans from the people involved. At the moment there are only three
classes, namely, Nursery, First and Second Standard. There are in all 41
students. Out of these, ninety per cent are drawn from the adivasi
community. As a rule, the Trust is not collecting any fee from the
students. Out of the total number of students, only three students pay the
nominal fees (Rs.25/-) because they are non-tribals and they are able to
pay the same.
The medium of instruction is Malayalam but these children are also
taught the English alphabet and other regular lower class subjects. The
school is following a slightly modified version of the CBSE syllabus. The
children are being provided with free mid-day meals. In order to cultivate
the habit of raising kitchen garden in their homes, these children are
made to set up various gardens in the school campus. At times, their
parents do take part in this social work. The vegetables thus grown are
used in the school mess for the mid-day meals.
The trust wants to introduce 3rd and 4th std. in the next two years.
the objective is to eventually have a school upto 12th std.
Asha's Role
Vanavasi Ashram is a small group working
in a remote area. Since it has started recently, providing necessary funds
is important for growth of the group. Asha NYC-NJ has committed $2000/year
to Vanavasi Ashram for the next three years. The funds will be utilized
for expansions and for covering the costs of day-to-day activities. Asha
is jointly funding this project with AID. This is an "Asha stars" project
where the funding is provided by a group of Asha members.
