By Mr Valerian Rosario for BISMumbai

30 supportive classes for the school children attending Classes I to V are being conducted in the villages of Jawhar and Mokhada blocks of Palghar district by Bosco Samajik Vikas Sanstha (BSVS), Walvanda. This project is financially supported by BoscoNet, New Delhi.

Earlier this year, village-to-village surveys were conducted to understand the education status and to identify places where there is a need for educational classes. Educated village youth were identified and provided a five-day residential training from 14 to 18 September 2022 in the BSVS campus prior to the commencement of the classes.

These supportive classes commenced in the 30 villages on 19 September 2022. Altogether 934 students are attending the classes. In order to understand the current level of learning of the children, a baseline test was conducted. Daily attendance is maintained by the animators. These classes are monitored by the Director, Coordinator and other team members of BSVS. Monthly meetings along with refresher training are being conducted for the animators on the last day of every month.

Children from the remote rural areas benefit a lot from these classes. BSVS has noticed an improvement in their studies and also in their confidence level. The students also gain proficiency by participating in various school competitions.

In the month of October, a Children's festival celebration was held during Diwali holidays in which around 600 students participated. Cultural programs were performed by the children from these 30 classes in the morning hours. After lunch, various games were organized for the children.

Every month, an input on child rights is conducted for each class; a total of 30 such trainings are conducted by the consultants every month. Through these trainings, rights pertaining to children are taught and children will be mobilized and formed into a group to address the issues related to the children in the villages.

These supportive education and empowerment classes are getting a good response from the children, villagers, animators and from the local government. All the team members of BSVS play active role to make the program very successful. Besides the Project coordinator, other team members also visit the classes and provide guidance and monitoring. People from this area are very much aware about the importance of education and they are looking for all the possible ways to get affordable quality education to their children.