Provided a $755 grant to the Kutch village schools of Balasar, Versara, and Sirani for library books, educational kits, and school supplies for underprivileged children. This desert region of Gujarat was hard hit by a 7.7 magnitude earthquake on January 26th, 2001. The school shown in these pictures were rebuilt by the Gujarat State Bharat Scouts and Guides (GSBSG) 11 months after earthquake. Initially, they provided search and rescue assistance to the villagers and then made a long-term commitment to rebuild village schools.
Because many small village schools only teach through the 7th grade, children must travel to larger villages for further schooling. In response to this problem, REAL provided a grant of $660 to support underprivileged children from small villages who seek to receive an education above the 7th grade level. These children use the aid for school supplies, school uniforms, travel, and other educational materials. This grant was made possible by a generous $300 donation from the student body at the Oregon Episcopal School in Portland, Oregon.
In order to encourage the true understanding of scientific concepts, REAL promotes exploration by using objects to learn abstract science and technology concepts and theories. This "hands-on" approach encourages visualization and solid understanding of principles (vs. a text-book only approach). REAL purchased $700 of science equipment for hands-on science for rural schools.
^ topREAL volunteers, while visiting family in India, distributed school supplies to rural village students in the State of Maharashtra. The supplies were donated by the students of Columbia River High School in Vancouver, Washington.