Padipu

The PADIPU Project

As per the UDISE Report 2021-2022 the dropout rate in the primary level and the upper primary levels have almost doubled compared to the results observed in 2020-2021.

Though access to Primary Education is free throughout Government Schools in Tamil Nadu, certain factors such as food, living standards, access to educational resources, guidance, and primary school necessities such as books, stationery, uniforms, bicycles etc., are still keeping children (especially children from poor communities) out of schools. The school dropout rate is exceptionally high in these sections.

Thus the “PADIPU” Project is an initiative of Nourishment for Needy which aims to address this issue by fulfilling their needs.

More than 500+ Children of marginalized communities have benefited from the PADIPU project, and NFN aims to expand its reach all over India.

Whom does PADIPU Impact?

As mentioned earlier, PADIPHU targets to increase the chances of marginalised children accessing education by fulfilling their needs such as Text Books, Note Books, School bags, Stationery, Uniforms etc. But now a new question arises “Who are these marginalised children?”

Well, marginalised children are those who suffer from poverty, are traumatised, emotionally and physically abused, and do not have a healthy environment to prosper. These children require additional support compared to children with a normal upbringing.

NFN focuses on children from marginalized groups such as,

• Children of Rag pickers, Street dwellers, household workers, prisoners etc.
• Mentally and Physically challenged Children
• Mentally and Physically abused Children (Parents who are prison inmates, prostitutes, substance and alcohol abusers etc.)
• Children from Rural Villages.
• Children from Tribal Communities.
• Children from discriminated Communities
• Orphan Children etc.

We help these children by distributing Educational Kits (School Bags, Notebooks, Stationeries etc.) every year, conduct vocational trainings, spoken English classes, offering one on one mentorship, and giving career guidance & counselling.

Our Current Endeavours in “PADIPU”

For 2023, our Nourishment for Needy Team has planned several projects that focus on uplifting the poor and discriminated children by providing them with the necessary tools, resources and guidance to complete their education and become competent and fully functional adults in Society. We have scheduled two major events for 2023 and are actively looking for donors to help towards the cause and make the education dreams of these children a reality. They are

• Mugaiyur School Renovation Project.
• Mugaiyur School Renovation Project.

Mugaiyur School Renovation Project

Mugaiyur is a small rural village located on the outskirts of Chennai. Most of the people in the town belong to the fishermen community and other daily wage labourers. Most of the children in this village study at the Mugaiyur Government Higher Secondary School.

The School currently educates 221 Students (125 Boys + 96 Girls). But these numbers are rapidly decreasing due to the lack of proper infrastructure facilities in the School. Since most of the parents of these children are daily wage workers, they cannot admit their children to Private Schools. This situation is majorly affecting the level of education received by these children. In some severe cases, children are forced to drop out and join their parents in providing for the family.

When our Nourishment for Needy team approached this village and tried to understand the plights of these children, we were deeply moved by the voices of these children and decided to do something to address this problem ASAP.

When our volunteers visited the Mugaiyur Higher Secondary School in person and tried to assess the situation we were dealing with, the condition of the School was far worse than we had anticipated. The School was literally on the verge of falling apart. Even the basic amenities like blackboards, tables, benches etc., have been neglected to the point it is rendered unfit to use. No proper sanitation facilities took the plights of these children to exponential heights. In addition, the roofing, the windows, doors and even the electrical fixtures were partially or, in some cases, completely damaged.

Upon inspection, our team quickly understood the urgency of addressing this issue and brought in an Engineer for further examination and to develop an estimated budget for renovating the Mugaiyur Government Higher Secondary School and providing all the amenities for improving the quality of the education in the School.

Renovation of the MUGAIYUR Government High School.

As per our analysis and the report from the Engineering Consultant, the following things must be done to make the Mugaiyur Government High School fully functional.

Infrastructure Requirements

• Classroom Building Repair work.
• Construction of Student toilets
• Electrical Wiring Repair Work
• Repair and replacement of Electrical Fixtures (Fans, Tube Lights etc.)
• Provision of Drinking Water Dispensers
• Provision of Common Washbasins.
• Construction of Prayer Dais
• Existing toilet renovation
• Building Interior and Exterior Painting Works
• Repairing and Repainting Blackboards

Student Equipment requirements

• Procurement of Microphone and Speakers (for Announcements and Prayer Assemblies)
• Procurement of Racks, Bureaus and Cupboards.
• Procurement of Student Writing and Sitting Desks
• Procurement of Teacher Tables and Chairs
• Procurement and installation of Smart Board (1 No. for the entire School)
• Procurement of Laptop (1 No. for Office use)
• Procurement of Colour Printer (1 No. for Office & Student use)

Estimated Budget for the Mugaiyur School Renovation Project.

The Estimated Cost and the type of work have been mentioned in the following table for the reference of donors like you. At Nourishment for Needy, we are flexible with our donors and their contributions. You can contribute to our cause through donations and other financial support.

At Nourishment for Needy, we also warmly welcome and accept material donations from our donors. You, as a donor, can freely choose the mode of contribution you want to donate.

Budget Proposal for Mugaiyur Government School Renovation Project.

Distribution of Educational Kits 2023

Every Year our Nourishment for Needy Team identifies students of downtrodden or Marginalised communities or children from rural Government schools and provides them with an Educational Kit to boost the morale of these students and motivate them to continue their education and pursue higher studies.

This Educational Kit Distribution initiative has been in function since 2019 in Nourishment of Needy, and more than 1000 students have benefitted from this scheme.

For 2023, we have decided to provide Educational Kits to 500 Students (of all standards) in the upcoming months. The cost incurred to provide Educational Kit to one student is discussed in detail in the following table.

Cost Incurred Per Student: ₹ 710.00

Total Cost of the Educational Kit Distribution Initiative: ₹ 710.00 x 500 Children =₹ 3,55,000

We request donors to contribute towards this cause and help us in put a smile on the hopeful faces of these children.

How can you contribute to the PADIPU Project?

From its inception, the PADIPU project has impacted over 1000+ Students in improving the quality of education they receive. This achievement was possible only because of the valuable contributions of these individuals and institutions such as working professionals, activists, schools, colleges, universities, businesses and corporates.

If you want to make a change in the lives of these children, you can contribute by,

Individual

• Making a one-time donation or monthly donations towards the PADIPU Project
• Volunteering your time in conducting tuitions, mentoring these students and offering moral support.
• Adopt a child by sponsoring all his or her educational needs throughout their educational journey.
• Sponsor a child’s education for a year.

Educational Institutions

• Admitting students free of cost in your institution and sponsoring their studies.
• Conduct regular vocational classes steering these children on the right path.
• Conduct free skill development classes such as Spoken English, Spoke Hindi, Vedic Maths etc.
• Offering free resources such as books, notebooks, stationeries, laptops, bicycles etc.
• Sponsoring Education for 50+ Orphaned Children (Including Physically Challenged students)
• Volunteer your staff and teaching professionals to tutor and mentor these students free of cost.

Corporate Institutions

• Offering Financial Support to the PADIPU Project through your CSR funding.
• Volunteering your employees to regularly tutor these students in their Maths, Science, English and other subject courses.
• Spread awareness about these children your employees and encouraging them to make monthly contributions to the project.

Want to make a difference in the lives of these CHILDREN?