SAATH NEWSLETTER V OLUME 1, I SSUE 2 M AY, 2011 Dear Friends, It has been an exciting few months as Saath moves into some radical changes. A pioneering move on the part of Rajendrabhai and the Saath Board to introduce new leadership, has heralded a new team. We wish him and his new venture Empower Pragati all the very best! We would like to warmly welcome Dr. P.K. Ghosh (CERC) and Dr. Darshini Mahadevia (CEPT) on to our Board of Trustees. Two months into the new financial year and the teams are done with their annual planning and raring to go. New projects include vocational training with Apollo Tires in Vadodara and Support My School Campaign. The Child Friendly Spaces programme is showing tremendous potential and promise with developers and so far 4 construction site classes have been started, there are plans to develop many more in the coming year. The Child Rights for Change campaign moves into the 3rd year and has been bringing many children back to school! I would also like to welcome and thank all the volunteers and interns who work with Saath and have done such wonderful work! This newsletter is also an initiative of one such untiring volunteer and researcher, Simea thank you! Looking forward to a packed, exciting and innovative year. Inclusively, Keren. Up to date Urban Governance • R weaves, a platform for rural Health & Education artisans. Saath’s Urban Resource Centers • Urmilla, a home-managers Saath’s health and education (URCs) offer one-stop solutions for training and placement initiatives provide healthcare and the Urban Poor. There are 3 centers programme. Currently this basic education for the urban poor. in 3 wards in Ahmedabad. Services programme is being transferred Currently there are 5 programmes: Balghar: Pre-school education in include information and assistance to Empower, a new • Juhapura. with certification, livelihood, credit organization. • Child-friendly spaces: 3 centers in & savings and more. Juhapura, Behrampura and Vasna. MFI Through the URCs approx. 100 • TB-dots & RCH households bought an apartment in The Saath Savings and Credit • Youth Development Umang Lambha with a loan through Cooperative Society Ltd., with 6 Recently, Saath initiated child- DBS Micro Housing Finance branches in Ahmedabad, has: friendly spaces on four different Cooperation Ltd.. Umang Lambha is • expanded its reach with new construction sites in Ahmedabad. an affordable housing project for projects in Vadodara and in rural Ahmedabad EWS and LIG families. Human Rights • established a new funding association with Shivia Livelihood Services Microfinance (UK). The Child Rights for a Change Saath’s Livelihood Services (SLS) • introduced ‘Credit term life programme is implemented in 120 insurance’ in April 2010 with offers 4 programmes: villages in the Viramgam and Dholka Kotak Mahindra Old Mutual Life. • Umeed/Udaan, for youth blocks. • conducted a one-day workshop Next to the regular activities to employability with Gender@Work (New Delhi) create awareness about Child • Saath launched self-sustainable for the MFI staff on the impact Rights, the team conducted training centers. In, in of micro finance support on the partnership with AIF, the center status of women. voluntary vocational trainings. runs the Yuvamast programme: a • purchased new software for In April and May a total of 622 one-month course for smoothing the MFI operations youths participated in courses for underprivileged youth. New tie- and conducted internal checking electrician, beauty parlour, ups have been made with Apollo systems in the last quarters for stitching and more. all the MFI branches. tiers for vocational training. SAATH Charitable Trust An experience with Child-friendly spaces Valeria is doing a research internship with Saath, as a part of her master’s program at a Dutch university (Universiteit Utrecht). The topic of her research is on Saath’s non-formal education program Child-Friendly Spaces for Child Laborers (CFS). She conducted 34 interviews with children from all three CFS centers in Vasna, Behrampura and Juhapura. When the school gave us a list of all NGOs willing to host us as interns, Saath was my top choice. Not only was the research topic interesting, but most important I shared Saath’s approach to do development. I have not been disappointed! I was able to see first-hand how the CFS program is making a palpable change in the lives of these child laborers by educating them and bringing them back in formal schools. CFS plays a vital role in helping these children realize their academic capabilities, and showing them that education is fun but also very important. This is my first time in India and also my first time doing scientific research. It has been an enriching experience in every sense. I learned how to make questionnaires, do pilot studies, deal with a language barrier and culture differences, as well as working in a team with my research assistant. In every step, I had Saath’s full support. The best part of my experience in Saath, however, has been making a personal connection with these children, who have all my respect and admiration. They daily overcome obstacles and manage their workload, so that they can go to school. They have high expectations and are working hard in order to achieve their dreams of becoming the next doctors, teachers or police officers of Ahmedabad. Support My School Support My School is a campaign initiated by Charities Aid Foundation India (CAF) and is supported by NDTV and Coca Cola India. The campaign supports schools to improve the infrastructure at their sites. There are five main components: • improve water facilities • improve sanitation facilities • provide rain water harvesting • improve facilities for sports • facilitate landscaping Saath identified 8 schools (4 urban and 4 rural) in the district of Ahmedabad, to participate in this campaign. The Support My School campaign started in April and will last for 6 months. Saath will ensure its sustainability with conducting a follow up after 6 months of implementation. Visit the website at: www.ndtv.com/micro/supportmyschool/default.aspx Ways to donate: www.giveindia.org www.saathdonation.org Cash or in-kind donations are welcome as well! SAATH Charitable Trust .