Major Projects on Education & Literacy

Non-formal Education Centre for SC Children - HOPE for Children, UK provided a short term grant to the organization in 2007-08 to run a non-formal education centre to provide basic primary education to SC children. 100 non-school going SC children in the age-group of 6 – 14 years of Lufullichak village of Nalanda District were given free education at the Centre. After one year of education in non-formal set up parents were motivated and children were facilitated admission in regular mainstream school.

School for SC Girl children – OMAXE Foundation, New Delhi sponsored a non-formal school for SC girl children in Mehandinagar village of Nalanda District. Advocacy and motivational activities were conducted in SC dominated panchayats for parents/guardians to send their girl children to the school. 208 SC girls were given education in the school and mainstreamed in regular schools. Advocacy with local administration was done which resulted in opening of a anganwadi Kendra and a primary school in the village.

Condensed Course for Women – Bihar State Social Welfare Board under Central Social Welfare Board, New Delhi sponsored a project of bridge education for adult women in Nalanda District. Purpose of the project was to provide bridge education to those girls/women (above 15 years) who did not go to school or dropped out after initial schooling. 120 girls/women in three panchayats of Biharsharif Sadar Blocks were identified and provided education from 2002-03 to 2005-06.

Kauahakini Project - Sponsored by OMAXE Foundation, New Delhi; the project was conducted ‘to generate awareness and sensitize SC people for education and prepare an environment conducive for promotion of female literacy. The Project activity included sensitization and rapport building in villages for girl child education, survey on status of girl education in SC villages, screening of a specially made documentary film, ‘Kauahakani’ and gathering feedback on impact of the film for DC girl child education. Shantidoot implemented the project in eight districts of central and north Bihar, namely, Patna, Bhojpur, Kaimur, Nalanda, Nawada, Vaishali, Begusarai and Sheikhpura.

Continuing Education (CE) centres - Two CE Centres were run in minority populated slum areas of Biharsharif Block for women in 2007. Centres were organized as it was found that a large no. of married illiterate/semi-literate women was not interested in vocational training. Two special literacy centres were run for 60 married women from minority class to give them basic education in a little over three months period, in two hours’ daily sessions.

Major Projects on Women & Child Development

Swayamsiddha Project - Previously known as Indira Mahila Yojana, the Project was implemented in Asthawan block of Nalanda district with the support of Women Development Corporation, Bihar between 2004-05 and 2009-10. 102 women Self Help Groups (against the target of 100), having 1141 members, were formed and nurtured in 48 villages of the block. About 90% of SHG members belonged to SC/BPL category. In later part of the project period, reorientation of SHGs, formation and capacity building of clusters and formation of cooperative of SHG members were done.

Behaviour Change Communication Project – The project was implemented in Asthawan Block area under the guidance of UNICEF Bihar with financial support from WDC Bihar. Activities were conducted to inform, educate and motivate community members, especially women to change their generally followed behaviour on breast feeding, complete child immunization, hand-washing & sanitation, girl child education and HIV/AIDS. SHG members formed under Swayamsiddha Project were main work force/change agents for the project. The project successfully completed in 2009-10.

Crèche Centres, Koderma (Jharkhand) under Rajiv Gandhi National Crèche Scheme – Five crèche centres were run in Koderma Block. The centres were run with the help of Jharkhand State Social Welfare Board, Ranchi. The Centre provided day care, dietary support, general health check ups and pre-school education to 25 zero to six year old children in each centre. The scheme was implemented for three years, from 2007-08 to 2009-10.

School for SC Girl children – OMAXE Foundation, New Delhi sponsored a non-formal school for SC girl children in Mehandinagar village of Nalanda District. Advocacy and motivational activities were conducted in SC dominated panchayats for parents/guardians to send their girl children to the school. 208 SC girls were given education in the school and mainstreamed in regular schools. Advocacy with local administration was done which resulted in opening of a anganwadi Kendra and a primary school in the village.

Condensed Course for Women – Bihar State Social Welfare Board under Central Social Welfare Board, New Delhi sponsored a project of bridge education for adult women in Nalanda District. Purpose of the project was to provide bridge education to those girls/women (above 15 years) who did not go to school or dropped out after initial schooling. 120 girls/women in three panchayats of Biharsharif Sadar Blocks were identified and provided education from 2002-03 to 2005-06.

Kauahakini Project - Sponsored by OMAXE Foundation, New Delhi; the project was conducted ‘to generate awareness and sensitize SC people for education and prepare an environment conducive for promotion of female literacy. The Project activity included sensitization and rapport building in villages for girl child education, survey on status of girl education in SC villages, screening of a specially made documentary film, ‘Kauahakani’ and gathering feedback on impact of the film for DC girl child education. Shantidoot implemented the project in eight districts of

Major Projects on Livelihood Promotion

Typing & Shorthand Course for SC Youths -

Supported by Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Govt. of India; exclusive centre for SC youths was run between 2002-03 and 2007-08. Training was provided in Hindi and English to educated, unemployed/under-employed Scheduled Caste youths of Nalanda district. Each year 80 SC youths were trained. Follow up support were also given to trainees for getting a job or any gainful employment.

Service Sector Training for Females from Low Income Families – Supported by Women Development Corporation, Bihar; Shantidoot conducted vocational training programme for women/girls from families having annual income of less than Rs. 60,000/-. Women/girls having average education (secondary/intermediate) were trained in three job-oriented, skill building courses – Sales management, House-keeping and Computer application. The courses ranged from three to six months. 120 women/girls took training in the courses. The organization linked/empanelled agencies like marketing agencies, hotels, hospitals, consumer goods’ supply agencies, professional placement agencies, etc. for placement/linkage of trainees. Agencies also organized interview for campus selection of trainees. 96 out of 120 trainees were successfully placed after completion of training. The Project was conducted in 2009 -10.

Basic Computer Training (for BPL Youths in urban area) – Supported/funded by Bihar Urban Development Authority, Urban Development and Housing Deptt. (UD&HD), Govt. of Bihar; basic computer training course of three months’ duration was organized for 80 BPL youths living in Biharsharif Municipal Corporation area in Nalanda District. CCC Course of DOEACC was followed and after completion of the course all the trainees appeared in the exam, for certification, organized by DOEACC. The organization’s trainees achieved 100% success in DOEACC Examination. 57 (73%) trainees got ‘S’ Grade (above 85 marks), 10 (13%) trainees got ‘A’ grade (above 75 marks), 7 (9%) trainees got ‘B’ grade (above 65 marks) and 4 (5%) trainees got ‘C’ grade (above 55 marks). 47 trainees have got engagement in private offices or business concerns while 26 trainees joined training programmes for more advanced courses.

Skill development trainings for IGA (Income Generating Activities) of SHG members – SHG members of Swayamsiddha Project were given Tailoring & Embroidery Training, Make up & Hair Care Training, Jute & Coir articles making, Candle & Decorative wax items making training, Agarbatti-making training and Small-scale Dairy maintenance training, as per choice, to start their business or income enhancement enterprise.

Other Important Projects/Programmes

Apart from projects on focus issues, the organization has conducted/implemented various other projects affecting common people and as per organization's Mission, Vision and Objectives.

Flood Relief Programme – To help and support people badly affected by devastating flood of Kosi river in north-east Bihar (in 2008-09), Shantidoot organized two camps for distribution of relief materials – one through own sources and another through funds provided by OMAXE Foundation, New Delhi. 2000 flood-affected families fro four villages of two blocks in Saharsa District were given clothing kit. Each kit contained a blanket, a saree, a dhoti, a towel besides candle and match-box.

LDOE Programme (Capacity-building of CBOs) – As a partner in LDOE (Leadership Development & Organization Effectiveness) Programme with support from ICOMP. Malaysia and technical guidance of Xavier Institute of Social Sciences (XISS), Ranchi (Jharkhand); Shantidoot conducted a no. of programmes for strengthening and capacity building of grassroots level organizations (CBOs). Under this, a series of training programmes were organized on modifying organization structure & objectives as per changing environment, planning, programme implementation & management, resource mobilization and developing good governance, accountability and transparency in the organization. Such training courses were organized for different level of organization functionaries. CBOs were also helped/facilitated to bring about necessary modifications in their Bye-laws and rules & regulations.

Awareness Generation among SC/ST against violence/discrimination – Supported by Tribal Commissioner, Jharkhand; Ranchi; Shantidoot conducted awareness generation activities in all blocks of Koderma District, Jharkhand. The Project involved generating public awareness and particularly information disseminating and motivating SC/ST, extremely backward, illiterate/semi-literate and women members of society to raise their voice, act and fight as per the rights provided to them through ‘Atrocities (Prevention) Act 1995’ and ‘People’s Security Act 1989’. The programme also involved traditional Panchayat members, Sahiya, Anganwadi Sevikas, SHGs and youth clubs (where existed). Block level officials (BDO/CO) were also part of the programme.

Evaluation & Research Projects – The organization has developed good experience and expertise to evaluate projects implemented. Such evaluations have been done mainly on request of smaller/grassroots level organizations. Such evaluation exercises have been conducted mainly for education & literacy and health & hygiene projects. Survey, analysis and studies have been conducted by the organization on various issues of health, education, livelihood, etc. Survey for assessment of injecting drug users, awareness of drug addiction and HIV/AIDS, vocational training needs of rural youths, etc. and studies on impact of literacy awareness programmes, school dropout cases in Muslim weaver families, violence against married women, etc. have been done by the organization in different socio-cultural and economic settings

National Integration Camps – Organization has organized National Integration Camps at different places of Nalanda District, in partnership with Nehru Yuva Kendra, Nalanda, with support from Ministry of Youth & Sports, Govt. of India. The objective of organizing such residential camps was to motivate youths and inculcate in them the spirit of national unity, integrity, communal harmony & solidarity. The organization has also provided technical assistance to DRDA Nalanda in organizing workshop for functionaries of its rural partner agencies.