Asha Insights: Q2-Q3

Asha Zurich is happy to present to you our second newsletter for 2017.

Asha volunteers set up publicity stalls and gave presentations at the IAGZ Mela and the Infosys Diwali celebration in August and October, respectively. Our efforts were appreciated and several people at the Infosys event expressed interest in volunteering to provide support for organizing site visits and other help in India. We thank Doris, Deepika and Rajesh for organizing the events.

Teacher`s Day was celebrated in collaboration with the `Giants Club'. MLA of Shirpur Taluka, Mr.Kashiram Pawara, who is an ex-student of VMS, was the chief guest of the program. Giant`s club honored two senior Palas teachers, Mr.Bansila Pawara and Mr. Tarasingh Pawara for their contribution to VMS.

Lok Biradari Prakalp is a school for tribal children, started by Dr. Prakash and, his wife, Mandakini Amte in 1973 in the forests of Hemalkasa, a remote region located between Maharashtra and Chattisgarh. It offers a sanctuary of peace in a region inhabited by wild animals, venomous snakes, and Naxalites (ultra-left rebels).

The school serves 650 students from 600 neighboring villages and provides education up to 12th standard with boarding, lodging, and medical facilities. It is aided by 14 teachers and 6 volunteers. The students performed well in the 10th standard examinations: of the 46 students who appeared in the exam, 39 passed. 4 students passed with first division, 17 with second and 18 with second division.

The world`s indigenous peoples` day was celebrated on 9 August. The children planted trees and learned about environmental and forest conservation.

Independence day and Janmashtmi were also celebrated enthusiastically in the school.

The Francois Meyer Matriculation School (FMMS), which changed its name from Francois Meyer Nursery and Primary School (FMNP), has been operational for six years now and is run by the Boy`s Town Society (BTS).
The aim of the school is to provide high-quality, English-medium and value-based education to rural children, especially first generation learners, from poor socio-economic backgrounds around Tirumangalam, a municipality near Madurai in Tamil Nadu. In this academic year, the school had 297 children, from LKG (lower Kindergarten) to 6th standard.

The academic year was filled with academic, co-curricular and extra-curricular activities. Independence day and Children`s day were celebrated enthusiastically with entertaining cultural programs. A one-day trip to Madurai was also organized for the 4th and 5th standard students of the school on 5 April. They were taken to Thirupparankundram Temple, Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple, Rajaji ECO Park, Gandhi Museum and Thirumalai Nayaker Mahal. The children enjoyed the trip very much.

Parent-teacher meetings were held in July 2016 and March 2017, in which the school correspondent Dr. P.N. Narayana Raja envisaged a glorious future for the school, highlighting the various upcoming facilities in the new school building. Additionally, to reward the staff of the school, a two-day tour with their families to Coimbatore was arranged. This was a unique and enriching experience for all.

At FMNP, the health and well-being of the students is always a priority. In accordance with the government`s mission of eradicating measles and rubella, a vaccination program was conducted in the school on 9th February. Furthermore, a national de-worming day was also observed in August by the Ministry of Health and Family welfare. The nursing staff from T.Pudupatti Primary Health Centre came to the school and gave medicines to all students.
Yoga is also taught at the school to promote fitness and concentration. As part of the ``Swachch Bharat Abhiyaan'', students cleaned the school on 16. October. All students celebrated ``International Yoga day'' on 21 June by performing Yoga during assembly prayer.