Shertha Village (2003)

REAL has been able to grant $8,233 to the Shertha Kelavani Mandal Projects. This grant was made exclusively by generous donors. The group support for this school is inspirational and we hope to trigger a similar evolution in rural education for more villages across India.

The Shertha village elementary and high school is 25 km north of Ahmedabad in the Ghandinagar district of Gujarat. The Shree Shertha Kelavani Mandal is made up of local villagers and outside supporters of the school. It was formed 50 years ago. The mandal has weathered rough times, even to the point of possible closure of the school. Fortunately, with kind and generous support from many individuals over several decades, the school made it possible for many of its students to become successful engineers, doctors, industrialists, businessmen, and good citizens. Currently the school educates 1,500 students from Shertha and surrounding areas. Most of the children are from farming families, mainly poor laborers as well as a few landowners.

Wishing to meet the needs of the students in a more effective way, the trustees of the Shertha Kelavani Mandal would like to carry out the following projects:

Technical and Vocational Training Center where students can learn skills in trades that can provide a real income. Students who can not go on to college would have life-long income earning opportunities from this program.
Hostel (residential space) for students from other remote villages.
Discovery Center: To encourage hands-on science learning for local and surrounding village students, (recently the school held a science fair and students were distributed science kits.)
Mobile Exhibition and Training Program: A van would take technology, science, and other educational materials out to remote village students.
Teacher's Residence: Village schools have a hard time attracting good teachers. Providing a teacher's quarters would make it easier to attract qualified teachers from the city.
Excellent Teacher's Award Fund: To encourage and support good teachers.

This school is fortunate to have trustees who have a vision and are dedicated to improving rural education. Mr. Mihir Patel, Mr. Ishwarbhai Patel, and Dr. Vital Patel (a retired math professor from the U.S.) have approached friends, family and acquaintances to support the above-mentioned undertakings. Currently, they are in the planning and fund-gathering stages. As projects are implemented, we will update REAL’s website with current developments to keep donors informed.

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Mobile Van Project Summary

Goals:

To arouse interest in school children in areas such as Science, Mathematics, English, Technology, Engineering, Agriculture, and other fields so that their education contributes to their development and community progress.
To give practical training to adults in Agriculture, Handicraft, Trade, Health, and other areas so that they are able to employ themselves and others.

Objectives:: Mobile Van is to reach rural areas on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, where children and adults will gather for the following types of activities:

Scientific experiments with commonly available items
Demonstrate technological innovations like computer, mobile phone, calculator, etc.
Explain concepts used in developments of planes, bridges, buildings, automobiles, etc.
Explain application of science/technology/engineering/mathematics/English in day to day living
Distribute written material in local language for detailed study
Make video presentations to assist in the teaching of Mobile Van concepts

Challenges:

How can we organize/manage so that we can reach to a large number of beneficiaries?
How can we make our operations low-cost, yet effective?
How can other willing volunteers contribute to this effort?
How can we design van so that it has necessary storage space, power outlets, etc.?

Resources Needed:

Teachers/Volunteer Teachers
Maruti Van
Laptop or Computer
TV
Science Kits
Written Material/Booklets in local languages