It was a monsoon morning in the last week of July; a persistent overnight drizzle had turned torrential. Despite being a Sunday, that too with inclement weather, close to 40 children and some of their parents had gathered at the Dishari Welfare Society school hut to meet the Amplo Global CSR team. The plastic covers on the bamboo slats supporting the rudimentary structure flared in the wind, barely holding up to the lashing rain. Yet, there was a buzz of excitement among the students who seemed oblivious to the natural calamity unfolding outside.
Amplo Global CSR team was on a site visit to review the after-school program run by Dishari Welfare Society. It’s a partnership that has strengthened through the past year along with the ups and downs of the journey. The NGO, still in its nascent state, had recently received essential funding arranged by Senco Gold, a valued sponsor brought in through the relentless efforts of Amplo Global CSR team. The visit was also an opportunity to plan the fund utilisation for the year ahead.
A mixed year of success and challenges
The past year was tumultuous for Dishari, plagued by the lack of funds. Standing up in the face of adversities, the after-school program could continue uninterrupted only due to their sheer grit.
Presently the school boasts an enrolment of over 70 students with an impressive 70% regular attendance. Classes are held in two separate rooms catering to primary and secondary students. As part of the initiative to build the community, Amplo Global CSR had recruited 4 local youths from the village a year back and trained them as teachers. Compared to the situation a year ago, when the after-school program saw only 10-15 regular students, the increase in attendance is a massive 5 times jump. The impressive numbers show the important sector Dishari is working in. The construction of a toilet with sponsorship from Apollo Hospitals ensured adolescent girls didn’t shy away from school. Simultaneously, individual sponsors chipped in to help children get a nutritious breakfast every morning.
A much-needed sponsorship
Despite the moments of success in the past year, the struggle for regular funds threatened the existence of the school program. The intervention of Senco Gold hence is a prized opportunity for Dishari.
During their site visit, the representatives of Senco Gold could appreciate how relevant the after-school program was to the community of Jogeshganj and its adjacent villages. The program not only helps the children to keep pace with their studies but also provides a safe space that keeps them away from child labour and the threat of trafficking. Unfortunately, the economic situation of the community and its geographic location make the children extremely vulnerable to these perils.
Senco Gold successfully advocated for Dishari Welfare Society, resulting in the acceptance of the program by P C Sen Charitable Trust and a swift disbursement.
The journey ahead
With fresh funds pumped into the program, the monthly stipend of the teachers is ensured for now which will help them find financial stability. Electrical connection to the space can be funded, which has allowed evening classes to commence for those unable to attend in the morning thus extending the reach of the program. A sportsperson from the village conducts regular physical education classes, a forward step towards their holistic development.
As the villagers take note of the progressive teaching methods used by the Dishari teachers, enrolments continue to rise, With the growing number of students there is a need for a larger space that the present classrooms are incapable of providing. In the true spirit of the community coming together, a retired headmaster from the local government school has offered to donate a part of his ancestral land for the construction of a school building, a humble two-room space to start with as the conversation on funds continues.
The collaboration between Dishari Welfare Society, Amplo Global CSR, Senco Gold and P C Sen Charitable Trust is a quintessential example of what progress looks like when people with the similar intentions come together as a team with the judicial utilisation of funds. In the end, it is the children and the community who win.
