• Field Study

We conduct field studies in urban slums to assess the need of the slum and to select our project areas. The study include cover the socio-economic & educational status of the people in general and educational status of children in particular. Availability of space , cooperation of the people in the community , NGOs working in the slum and other resources like educated women or youth etc are also part of our study. Once the resources and the needs are identified, we identify ‘out of school children’ in the age group 6 to 14 . The findings of the study are discussed with the community. Our follow-up actions are indicated below:-

1. Identify an educated youth or women and conduct ‘ Play & learn’ centers / study centers for the identified children. The identified teachers are given training.
2. Motivate and help the parents to enroll the ‘out of school’ children in regular school. If necessary we intervene during their school admission process.
3. Sponsorship support is offered to continue education of children who have left schooling after class 7.

• Play & Learn centers.

IDEA runs these centers in slums where there are many ‘out of school children. These centers focus on ‘ school readiness’.

This is a start-up program where the children are taught the basics with the help of poems, games and activities, thereby creating an interest in them towards schooling. These children are enrolled in school as early as possible.  In addition to the mainstream education, they continue to attend the ‘ Play & learn’ centers run by IDEA  so that a close monitoring of their progress is possible.
The beneficiary children get medical care, supplementary nutrition, school materials, opportunities for their overall development through play and age appropriate art & craft activities.  Through regular meetings parents are informed about the progress made by the children.

• Activity oriented study centers.

School going children (6 to 14 years)   get the benefit of these centers supervised by a teacher. The centers operate for about 3 hours in two batches. These centers run within the slum community itself, help children in inculcating regular study habits as well as help them understand the concepts with the help of activity oriented learning. Focus is to improve the reading, writing and comprehension skills of children. This helps the children to have a sound educational foundation. The children also get various opportunities for developing their creativity and imagination.
Once a week and during holidays, IDEA conducts hobby and craft classes for the children who regularly attend the study centre, to sustain their interest in academics. The children also get opportunities to express their hidden talents by taking part in competitions on drawing, essay writing, singing, dancing and ‘Rangoli’ and ‘ Mehendi .
All the beneficiary children received school bag, note books & other school stationary.

It is mandatory for the parents to attend the monthly meeting conducted in the centre.  We use this as a platform to conduct sessions  on child development / parenting . Display of the work done by their children are arranged occasionally .

Extra-curricular activities are conducted in the centres to create opportunity for children and for their all round development.

• Vocational guidance.

Vocational guidance is provided for drop out children and those who have completed school education so that they can select an appropriate job oriented course based on their interest. 

• Adolescent Health Care and  Education.

IDEA on a regular basis, conducts health education sessions for adolescent girls in the community, in coordination with the ICDS workers and partnering with other NGOs specializing in this field.  The topics covered are general health and hygiene, nutritional needs and the physiological changes during adolescence, awareness on HIV/ AIDS , issues on gender equality  etc.

• Health check-up  and support for women.

In association with Samvedana- a trust formed by the Sahyadri group of hospitals in Pune,  women above the age of 40 years from all our project locations  get health screening facilities.

• Formation of Youth Group

Formation of youth group of beneficiary children is with an objective to involve them in peer education on various topics like child rights , gender sensitivity etc.  They also train other children in art & craft and other skills they have acquired through the skill development programs of IDEA.  Around 20 members are there in each youth group. They are also actively involved in various developmental activities undertaken by IDEA in their community.