Project Chalaang

OBJECTIVE
To enrich the lives of under privileged children and adolescents of the Vaidu Communities of Jogeshwari East and Marol by providing a comprehensive intervention for excellence in education, life-skills and career awareness among tribal children and adolescents of the Vaidu Communities of Jogeshwari East and Marol through contextualized ECCE, quality primary education, life skills and career awareness.

BACKGROUND
The Vaidu people are a nomadic tribe of Maharashtra. They go from village to village selling medicines; hence they are called Vaidu. They are mainly to be found in the districts of Nashik, Pune, Ahmednagar and Khandesh. Some Vaidu tribe people are also found in Karnataka. The Vaidu community, one of India’s denotified tribes, have long been suspicious of conventional education. So, children are either not enrolled in schools or made to discontinue their studies midway to meet the economic needs of the family. Chalaang was initiated in a hope to change their view and pave a better path for future generations. A team came together and began work with the help ofthe community leader Durga Gudilu. There was intensive interaction to understand the type of community that this is and the need of the hour. A survey elicited results on the number of children eligible for Balwadi as well as remedial classes. Teacher Training: Teachers were trained to use their talent and stick to a schedule to continue all their classes. Balwadi visits: To allow the teachers to see and understand what a community balwadi looks like and how the teachers manage students and the teaching. Parent meetings: To build trust and request their corporation. Enrollment: 80 students for the remedial class and 85 students for the balwadi class were enrolled by the teachers in both the centres (Jogeshwari and Marol). All the necessary material was provided by the organisation and classes have begun with the balwadi teachers taking different activities and Patang teachers (remedial) continuing their DT (Diagnostic Test). Adolescent Intervention: A survey of youth between 14 to 18 years was conducted.