Wednesday, 16 February 2011

Introduction to Aarohan

Since September of 2009, College du Leman’s primary school has supported Aarohan, a children’s educational charity in New Delhi, India. 

The city of New Delhi has a population of 6 million. Many of these people live in sub-standard housing in shantytowns and slums.


The conditions in the slums are deplorable. The majority of people live without access to medical facilities or clean drinking water.


A quarter of the population lives on less than 1 chf per day.


Most children in the slums do not go to school but instead work to earn money for their families.  Born to mainly illiterate parents who see education as an obstacle to making money (and therefore survival), these children are destined to live unbearable lives.


During time not spent rag collecting, begging or worse, children play in the slums -- but do not have playgrounds or parks.  Instead, they are forced to make do with garbage dumps as recreational spaces.


Rani Patel, founder of Aarohan, felt that if these impoverished children could get into -- and stay in -- school, they would aquire the necessary tools to ascend (the meaning of the Hindi word "aarohan") from the slums.  Thus, Aarohan was born. 


Aarohan identifies children who have not been able to go to school and offers them educational assistance and tutoring.  When they have caught up with their peers, Aarohan helps these children earn places in local public schools.

Once the children are in school, Aarohan provides further tutoring to help them keep up with their classmates.


In addition to educational assistance, tutoring and guidance, the children are given nutritious meals and snacks.


Aarohan also helps families recognise the long-term importance of education.  As one can imagine, impoverished families living in the slums look at schooling as a hindrance to their immediate need for money; a child who attends school is a child who cannot earn! Aarohan helps family members understand the opportunities that an education will provide their children, their family and the greater community.

  
To date, Aarohan has helped more than 700 children.  They would like to reach more -- and can, with our help.


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