V.S.E.I. PROJECTS

	VSEI
	VOLUNTEERS IN SERVICE TO EDUCATION IN INDIA, INC.
	A nonprofit, tax-exempt organization working to help education in India

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SUMMARY OF SELECTED V.S.E.I. PROJECTS

VSEI was started in late 1968. Over the years, we have received many requests and have taken up various types of projects in different parts of India.We summarize below a few selected VSEI projects, which will give you an idea of the types of projects we assist, and the kinds of help they need. In addition to the projects summarized below, VSEI has assisted several other projects in different parts of India, including rural and semi-rural areas in Gujarat, West Bengal, U.P., M.P., Bihar, Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

K.L. Institute for the Deaf, Bhavnagar (Gujarat)
This school was started in 1960 by a group of social workers and parents of deaf children in response to local needs. Starting with limited resources, it slowly expanded its facilities and educational programs. Their program emphasizes the following: Providing education and training for the deaf and integrating them in the normal school; Detection of deafness; Promoting preventive measures; and related services which would help in the total rehabilitation of the deaf community. VSEI has assisted them since the early 1980's, with educational materials, scholarships, sponsorships of children, equipment for science teaching, and funding for services such as getting a part-time specialist for testing children.
Stree Seva Mandir, Madras (Tamil Nadu)
This institution is devoted to activities for the welfare of women, esp. long-term programs for providing education and vocational training. Started in 1949, Stree Seva Mandir has been dedicated to the cause of the poor and socially backward women and children, and offers education, vocational training, and a variety of services for their benefit. Its activities include vocational training and employment centers, schools, hostels and other services such as Mobile Creches, Day Care Centers, and Maternity Centers. Our assistance to them since the mid-1970's has been well-utilized towards the welfare of women, which is one of the most important needs in India.
School for the Deaf and Mentally Retarded, Hooghly (West Bengal)
This was started by the Welfare Society for the Deaf and Retarded in Hooghly. The scope of this project includes (a) A School for the Deaf and a School for the Mentally Retarded, of which the first has been functioning for about five years; (b) a Diagnostic Clinic; (c) a Parents' Guidance Clinic; (d) a Speech Training Clinic; and (e) a Workshop Complex for Vocational Training for Handicapped.
VSEI has been assisting them with funding for educational and training aids for teaching hearing impaired persons.
Rashtriya Vidyalaya Educational Consortium, Bangalore (Karnataka)
This project started with the teacher training institution R.V. Teachers College, whose activities include many aspects of education -- teacher training, developing new methods and materials for teaching at different levels of school, conducting workshops and training sessions for teachers, and advising and guiding schools and teachers in their area. In the 1970's they started an Educational Materials Center, which has resources that may be used by interested teachers from schools in that area.
Their needs include resources -- materials for use in Computer Education; teaching materials in all areas of education, especially the sciences; & audio-visual materials ( videotapes, audiotapes, films, overhead transparencies and slides). VSEI has been working with them since the early 1970's. Assistance given to them includes periodicals and books for the teaching of science and mathematics, small equipment for their Educational Materials Center, grants for educational materials and programs, and scholarships for children in schools under their supervision.
Blind Men's Association, Bombay & National Association for the Blind (NAB), Bombay
The Blind Men's Association (BMA), Bombay, established in 1947, is a unique organization exemplifying the ideal of self-help. It later pioneered the growth of other organizations, the chief among them being the NAB, India. Some of the major schemes being operated by the BMA are : Scholarships; Home Teaching and Counseling; Library; Braille Reading and Writing Competitions; a Book Bank; and other projects for the welfare of the blind.
The BMA Scholarships project and the Book Bank project together constitute the assistance for education provided to blind children as well as the sighted children of blind parents. These projects are specially designed for the benefit of the blind persons who earn a meager income and hence find it difficult to meet the cost of educating their children. The Book Bank project includes free distribution of textbooks, notebooks, school stationery, school bags, water bags, lunch boxes, etc. to children in the lowest five classes.
VSEI has assisted NAB, Bombay in the past with educational aids and equipment for their direct use, as well as for use in developing similar materials appropriate for India, and now assists the Scholarships and the Book Bank projects.
Prerana Shishu Vidyalaya, Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh)
In 1985, a group of young people in Kanpur formed this organization "Prerana", in a predominantly working class locality "Choti Gutiya". Realizing that ignorance and lack of awareness were the root causes of the social iniquity they saw around them, they made education the focus of their efforts. In 1987, they started the Prerana Shishu Vidyalaya (Prerana Children's School) to serve the poorest of the poor in their area, by teaching the children of the daily wage earners like the rickshaw pullers and maid servants. The classes were held under trees in a park nearby, and a room was rented to keep books, blackboards and equipment. Starting with nursery and preparatory classes, they slowly increased the scope of their activities year by year, adding four teachers in four years, and increasing the number of children to well over a hundred. The major need of Prerana is for facilities and funds to enable them to continue their basic work.
VSEI Scholarship Scheme
In this scheme, needy & deserving children are given scholarship awards, which have been found to be very helpful by the recipients. Donors have helped by contributions to the Scholarship Fund which enable more scholarships to be awarded every year, and by establishing specific scholarships in someone's name. We invite well-wishers to establish scholarship awards for needy children, perhaps in the name of someone you wish to honor or commemorate. [ The suggested amount is $ 100 to $ 200 for each scholarship award. ]
VSEI Sponsor-a-Child Plan
In this program, VSEI helps find sponsors for needy children in India. A sponsor makes a commitment for a year at a time; however, most sponsors have continued supporting a child for several years, typically until the child has completed school. For many of the sponsors, the objective is to help a child get educated through high school, and perhaps also through College, to enable the child to grow up as a self-reliant person. The sponsor and child communicate directly after VSEI has set up the sponsorship. A sponsor typically donates $ 100 to $ 200 per year towards the partial support of the child.

There are several projects, in addition to those outlined here, which VSEI is assisting in different parts of India. The projects outlined above give an idea of the types of needs of the different projects. We would appreciate your interest and help in getting support for VSEI projects. We appeal to well-wishers to help by donating in benefit of projects such as those outlined above.

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Last Update: March 7, 2002