Aasraa Trust

Under this programme, Aasra Trust is working to enhance the quality of education in six Government schools in Dehradun, Uttarakhand. It facilitates the setting up of enabling infrastructure, better methods of teaching, lesson planning, improving teaching/learning materials and using computers to aid the teaching of underprivileged children.

Under its Education on the move initiative, Aasra has set up six mobile learning centres and two mobile computer labs for underserved children. These children who come from families that make them work for financial reasons are introduced to colourful, quality teaching programmes that are designed to attract them and impart education in a fun way.

These buses equipped with modern teaching devices, drive and park in remote slums where the children are imparted learning. Aasra plans to provide these poor children with education, nutrition, medical care, clothing and skill training to prepare for their entry into mainstream schools.

As the children of migrant labourers find it difficult to get admission in mainstream schools in addition to being age-inappropriate, Aasra applied to the NIOS(National Institute of Open Schooling) to get accredited as an OBE(Open Basic Education) study and exam centre.

These centres accept children who are not enrolled in any school and basic education using the play-way method is imparted along with basic hygiene information.

Volunteers ensure that the children regularly attend classes besides conducting assessments to plan for their mainstreaming into formal schools.

The NIOS centre also equips these children with skills in computer education, sewing & tailoring, carpentry and computer data entry to enable them to access better livelihood opportunities.

Underprivileged children with learning disorders come from troubled backgrounds. These children who have gone through abuse and exploitation, are brought to Aasra through Child Welfare Committees and Childlines.

Realising that these children need additional support other than just education, the Trust started its special needs centre which prepares individual development plans for each child. Special educators counsel and teach them with care and compassion while connections with parents and the community are also established to create awareness and facilitate the children’s safe and productive future.

This programme strives to provide children who rag pick and beg on the streets with basic education and art therapy. Special teacher training is given to the teachers who teach these children to enable them to engage them and spark an interest in education.

Its activities also include transportation of the children to and from slums to the centres, basic literacy and bridge courses, computer and music education, music classes, clothing, nutritious meals, medical services and vocational training and counselling.

Vocational training is conducted for older children in block printing and sewing to give them a decent livelihood and come out of poverty.