Access to education is limited in the tribal villages of Rajasthan. This is largely due to three main factors: lack of facilities, domestic responsibilities, and economic pressure. As a result, one third of village children aged 6 – 14 years old in Rajasthan do not attend school and therefore do not possess even the basic numeric and literacy skills needed to cope with the challenges of contemporary life. Although in recent times the number of schools in the region has increased, teachers are frequently absent, teaching methods questionable, and materials and resources hard to come by – all resulting in poor education.
To combat this problem, the Indian non-profit organisation Seva Mandir has established education centres in 583 villages in Rajasthan. These centres operate in rooms donated or rented out by villagers. Children are then taught by young men and women from the village, who have been trained by Seva Mandir and possess the skills needed to teach young minds. At these centres, children receive basic numeric and literacy instruction, as well as learning good habits, participating in creative activities and also benefitting from excursions to the city, zoo, and library.
For 40 years Seva Mandir has worked with rural, predominantly tribal communities in the Udaipur district of Southern Rajasthan. Seva Mandir’s work focusses on bringing together fragmented communities through a wide range of initiatives across diverse sectors, both addressing people’s immediate development needs and empowering them to create a better future for themselves, their families, and the community in general. Seva Mandir enables children to read and write independently, generate community demand for quality education, and ultimately teach young people to become responsible citizens and a catalyst for change.
Currently, Seva Mandir is looking to expand the number of education centres in Rajasthan, giving more children the chance to broaden their horizons, increase their future prospects and have a rewarding classroom experience.
ICEF donated US$ 1 560 to this project which supported two education centres for an entire year, benefiting up to 40 village children. Education is extremely important for the future of tribal villages and the well-being of rural communities. Please join ICEF in supporting this important project to educate children in rural India.
