Vasant Vihar, New Delhi

 

 

Actualizing the Potential of Disadvantaged Children

Programs at ‘Rejoice,’ Arpana’s Community Centre in Vasant Vihar, New Delhi

 

Gyan Arambh 

Arpana set up Gyan Aarambh in Rejoice, Vasant Vihar, with a mission to provide effective educational support to underprivileged children. Identifying the gaps in learning that these students grapple with at their regular schools, this program offers tools and resources to address their most urgent learning needs. Our goal is to help them develop into wholesome adults and responsible citizens.

 

Due to the COVID-19 crisis, Gyan Aarambh adopted online teaching. Teachers designed lessons in an audio-visual format, and distributed printed worksheets to the students. Lack of universal access to online classes, especially for students returning to villages, were challenges. Through the persistent efforts of our director, Mrs. Meenakshi Mathur, our highly motivated and diligent volunteers, as well as all the teachers and staff, we achieved our target of supporting students through online classes.

 

 Digital Learning

The academic session started on 1st of July 2020, using digital learning, for classes 1-9.

  • Teachers formed WhatsApp groups for their classes including audio aids.
  • Teachers supported and motivated the students to complete assignments on time.
  • Online Teaching was modified to 2 days per subject, per class, since students had to complete their school work.
  • Weekly Zoom meetings for teachers were held for planning and evaluation.
  • Personalized tutoring for weak students was implemented from October.
  • 50 -60% students attended classes despite lockdowns & inaccessibility to digital tools.
  • Teachers enhanced their skills with CBSE & NCERT webinars and English courses.
  • Online classes requested by class 10 students in English and Science for our previous students who are studying for their Class 10 CBSE Board Exams.

 Physical classes resumed from 15th January, 2021, until 30th March 2021.

Other Provisions

  • Arpana provided hygiene and nutrition kits to children which were distributed on 13th and 14th of April.
  • A scholarship program function was organized to acknowledge the meritorious students in January, 2021.
  • On Diwali, cash prizes were given to students, along with story books and gifts. This was based on their performance in the online classes and also to motivate them for further hard work.
  • The Gyan Aarambh teachers and volunteers enthusiastically and whole heartedly raised Rs.25,000 for the families of the children.

  

Help from our Patrons

  • Masks and socks were donated.
  • Our director provided several sumptuous and nutritious meals for the children.
  • Rajma and chana dal for the student’s families.
  • Rs.10,000 for reference books, notebooks, whiteboard etc.
  • Rs.10,000 for scholarships.

Many of our donors came forward to facilitate the recharge of data and provide several mobile phones from July to September 2020, enabling students in their digital learning process.

Rations distributed to students’ families 

New Frontiers: Resilience and Learning

The pandemic taught all of us the values of resilience and responsibility, and the importance of keeping our morale high with optimism, self-reflection, and gratitude. Our efforts have instilled a routine and discipline for the children as well as for ourselves, all of which has opened up new frontiers of learning and has proved vital for surviving these unprecedented times.