GIRI NAGAR
It all began with Manu, a physically and mentally challenged boy, and the need to provide him a dignified way of living. To give Manu a home, Project WHY had to be accepted by the community he lived in and the only way to do so was accede to its demands: teach English to their children. The English classes began in Giri Nagar in 2000 with only a hand full of children. Manu was taken care alongside. Giri Nagar became Project WHY’s testing ground for all its programmes: after school education and special needs.
PRIMARY LEVEL
High drop out rates in municipal and government schools and extremely poor performance of children prompted us to start our first after school education support programme. Our main objective is to enhance school performance, contain drop out rates and ensure access to secondary school. Children coming from urban slums are unable to cope with their studies. This is often due to poor teaching conditions within the school, and lack of help from home as parents are often illiterate. Moreover children have no place to study, no access to books or tutors. Project WHY bridged all the gaps by providing a child friendly space, caring and dedicated teachers and fun filled activities.
SECONDARY LEVEL
Our Senior Secondary Project began on the roadside in the dead of the winter 2001 to answer yet another deafeningWHY. A bunch of class X students from our Spoken English class had been beaten in school. This was inadmissible to us and a visit to the school brought to light the contempt with which children from poorer homes were held in. The Principal sneered at them, calling them gutter snipes that would never be able to pass their Boards. The body language of the children compelled us to throw a challenge stating that they would ALL pass! They all did and there was no looking back!
TAILORING COURSE
For years, primary and secondary level after school education was imparted to children in this centre. Today, it is a skill development hub where nearly 100 women pursue certification course in tailoring and beauty culture.
Two six months certificate courses – basic and advance are offered free of cost to women and girls to equip them to be financially self dependent. Nearly 100 women are enrolled each year and a professional trained dedicated instructor supports learning. While some trained women are employed in nearby factories and boutiques, many of them prefer to work from home.
BEAUTY CULTURE COURSE
A six months certificate course is offered to women and girls. Mostly, younger girls are enrolling for the course with an ever increasing demand for beauty services. A very elaborate and well planned curriculum preparers the trainees for both employment in salons and self employment.