Nalamdana

Blog

  • Working with Adolescents

    Working with Adolescents

    Funded by World Education, Boston, through the Strooks Grant -U.M.A.(Using Media to reach Adolescents about Reproductive Health and HIV) is a special project for young girls and youth, using the arts to deliver reproductive health and HIV & AIDS information linked to sex education. Field testing of innovative training tools – some sources created by Nalamdana and some created by the organization. This is a three year funded project, started in May 2009 and will continue through 2010 and 2011, until April 2012. Starting with 4 sites, 2 schools, one college and one teacher’s training institute, this project field tested a new flip chart story, Penin Perumai created by adolescent girls, to disseminate information about puberty, reproductive health, and gender. The results were very encouraging, and in year two, further copies of this flip chart are being made and Nalamdana hopes to be able to distribute it to school teachers and others, along with a user guide to enable them to explain these issues to their students and other adolescent girls. This flip chart has now been made into a short film, which is going to be field tested now, in the second year of this project. The adolescent boys at some sites are being given the same information in 2010-2011 (year two), of this project. Nalamdana’s already existing materials like the Azhage Va training film, the HIV & AIDS jigsaw puzzles, etc., were used, along with one on one interactive sessions, to share basic information on HIV and AIDS. (Ways in which it spreads, ways in which it doesn’t spread and ways in which it can be prevented) Girls created an audio tape of ten songs – on rights, importance of education and hygiene. The tape was used to create dance competitions among target peer groups – and prizes were given to best teams. Learning through music and dance was fun! An audio CD on health issues, by adolescent girls, created under the South India Girl Child Initiative, (SIGCI) project, is being used at some school sites for dance and song competitions, there. By singing and performing to these songs, the girls learn and understand the lyrics and the messages behind them better. In 2010-2011, a one year post evaluation for message retention is being carried out with the same sites, as well as the field testing with an Indian Audience of an animation film on gender by Insituto Promundo, Brazil. This film called “Maria, Once Upon a Girl” has been used in Latin American countries successfully but needs to be tested in India to see if the audience here can relate to the context and issues, in the form that it is shown in this film, or if a new film with Indian context needs to be made.
  • Youth Education and Leadership

    Youth Education and Leadership

    Since 1995, Nalamdana has been supporting students from economically challenged backgrounds, to help them complete their high school, under Nalamdana’s Youth Education and Leadership Program. The funding for this Youth Education and Leadership Program comes from individual donors, as well as from foundations and corporate organizations. Asha for Education, U.S. Chapters, have supported students on this program continuously, from 1999 to 2009! Deserving students are selected through a rigorous selection process, which includes interviews with the child as well as their families, screening of the student’s school performance records and a house visit to verify the facts. Students, who come from financially challenged backgrounds yet, show good interest in education and signs of good communication and leadership skills are selected. Beyond providing monetary support, this program also strives to contribute to their holistic development as young adults. Different skill building workshops are conducted during their school holidays. These range from carpentry skills, arts and crafts, to spoken English and computer skills. The students are also taken on a field trip/camp every year. Career guidance is provided where possible. These students are also encouraged to give back to their communities in some way while keeping their school grades up. The Youth Education and Leadership Program has been running successfully for 15 years now, and many of the supported students have gone on to become professionals in their chosen field. Some of the students who are well placed have now come forward to support scholarship students.

    Scholarship Recipients

    Some of our Former Scholarship Recipients… John Ebenezer received a full scholarship from a very reputable institute in Malaysia, and is now studying Marine Biology there. He has already been offered a job that he can take up as soon as he completes his course. Selvarani is now a dentist. Suchitra Mohan is now working at Livingston in the U.K. as a Business Systems Analyst with BSkyB. R.R. Manojkumar is now studying at the University of New Mexico. Most of them remain in contact with Nalamdana and are vocal about how the scholarship programme built them as individuals. Some actively give back to Nalamdana and society in one way or another. Manikandan is now working in a very well reputed I.T. company, and earning well. However, he still keeps in touch with Nalamdana, and spends time talking to and inspiring the current scholarship students. Ramaswamy, a former recipient of Nalamdana’s Scholarship, is now working as an Assistant Engineer at Tata Consultancy Services, Chennai, and gives back a part of his salary towards this program to support another student like himself! Ramaswamy’s letter to Nalamdana

    Support and Endowments

    Between 30 and 35 students are supported annually by Nalamdana under this program. The funding for this Youth Education and Leadership Program comes from individual donors, as well as from foundations and corporate organisations. Asha for Education, U.S. Chapters, have supported students on this program continuously, from 1999 to 2009! Other than sponsoring a student on a yearly basis, there have been specific endowments established to ensure continued support for some students annually: The Rani Chandran Memorial Fund, is an endowment set up by former students and colleagues, of the late Mrs.Rani Chandran, an extraordinary English teacher and an inspirational individual and mentor. The interest from this fund supports spoken and written English classes for all the scholarship students, every summer. The Kaveri Mani Endowment, was set up by her family members, in her memory. The annual interest from this endowment supports one girl student studying in an English Medium School, from 8th through 12th grade. When that girl finishes her 12th grade, another deserving 8th grade girl, in an English Medium School is taken on by this endowment. Nassim Manji Endowment and Vinod and Vasu Sanchania Endowment: The collective annual interest from these two endowments supports the high school education of two girl children each year. The Sudha Jain Memorial Endowment was set up in 2010 by her family members, friends and former students in her memory. Sudha Jain dedicated much of her life to teaching. Improving the situation of the lesser privileged segment of society through educating girl children was particularly close to her heart. The annual interest from this endowment supports four students from financially challenged families, right from the time they are selected to the time they complete grade 12. When each of the four children finishes 12th grade, another deserving child is taken on by this endowment. The Vinodh Srikanth Memorial Endowment was set up in 2010 by his family members and friends, in his loving memory. Vinodh’s zest for life, generosity of spirit, care for others and love for children will be sorely missed by all who knew him. The annual interest from this endowment supports one student from the time they are selected to the time they complete grade 12. When each child finishes 12th grade, another deserving child is taken on by this endowment.

    Kalvi Trust and Nalamdana

    From 2010, The Kalvi Trust, an independent NGO, (with 80G tax exemption), has been identified to run this program, in partnership with Nalamdana. This is through a special resolution passed by the Nalamdana Board. If you are interested in supporting a student, setting up an endowment or supporting any aspect of the program, please contact us at info@nalamdana.org. Please address your email to Mr. M.Sampath, Programme Coordinator, Nalamdana Youth Education and Leadership Program

    Approximate Program Cost

    The cost of supporting one student from standard 8 through standard 12 (continuation of funding for each student for all 5 years however, depends on the results of the yearly assessment conducted, of the student’s performance and need) Rs.7000 ($152 USD) per student, per year, + 10% towards admin charges = Rs. 7,700 ($168 USD) Rs.7,700 x 5 years = Rs.35,000 ($760 USD) for all 5 years This covers the school fees, uniform and books cost for the student as well as other activities organized by Nalamdana for skills building. Cost of setting up a Endowment to keep supporting one student every year (this is put in a fixed deposit, and the interest is used to support the student’s education) Rs.1,00,000/- + 10% admin charges = Rs.1,10,000/- (approximately $2400 USD)
  • The Top To Toe Program

    The Top To Toe Program

    Top to Toe, as the name indicates, addresses all aspects of health and rights of children (between the ages of 10 and 15 years), by creating illustrated booklets that they can take back with them after they finish with the interactive health sessions on the same topics by Nalamdana.

    In many field interventions, once the funded program is over, there is often no material left with the target audience to remind them of the issues discussed or learnt. Over time, issues get confused, and the information retained is inaccurate.

    The “Top to Toe” series of booklets aims to serve as a simple, illustrated reminder and also as a resource, that they can use to educate their peers.

    The development of these booklets follows Nalamdana’s philosophy of audience participation, where the booklet illustrations and layout evolved from interactive workshops with the target audience. Using the visuals and information that struck a chord with the target audience, a professional book designer and illustrator put together the booklets.

    These booklets have been field tested with the target audience of students, as also with teachers and parents who interact with them.They have also been checked by experts in each topic to review and edit the content. Every care has been taken to make them accurate and relevant to the target audience.

    Copies are available against sponsorship of the printing.

    This material has also been the inspiration for Nalamdana’s training tool kit for peer education among 12 to 14 year olds. (See other materials like Kuyilum Mayilum audio cd and Penin Perumai flip chart story on puberty).

    This is very unique short term, material development project, made possible by funds from a small family foundation in the US, routed through the Friends of Nalamdana.

    This project created a set of 6 reminder booklets on the topics of

    Health & Hygiene
    Nutrition
    Child Safety
    Puberty
    Reproductive Health
    Goal Setting
    These booklets are available in English as well as in Tamil. For copies or more information, contact us!

  • The Goal Project

    The Goal Project

    Funded by Standard Chartered Bank, UK, in partnership with Naz Foundation, N.Delhi – GOAL is a Standard Chartered Bank, U.K. Initiative, which is executed by the Naz Foundation in New Delhi. It has been successfully running for 7 years in Delhi, and 4 years now, in Mumbai. Naz Foundation has partnered with Nalamdana to roll out this project in public schools and communities, in Chennai since 2010 January.

    This project uses Netball to empower girls from challenged backgrounds – local schools and communities. Netball is similar in many ways to basketball, but with restrictions for each player, making team play and communication crucial to being able to score.

    Girls are taught Netball alongside special sessions involving life skills.

    The entire curriculum spans ten months and covers four life skills modules:

    Be yourself
    Be healthy
    Be empowered
    Be money savvy
    These modules cover self image, health and hygiene, communication and leadership skills, and financial literacy.

    Promising players are encouraged to perform and play for their districts and maybe even on state or national teams. Those who show leadership skills and other talents are linked with opportunities and skills building workshops to facilitate further education and job opportunities.

    Goal Chennai

    Bama Jayabalan from Nalamdana coordinates this program for Chennai. In 2012, Prem Kumar who has coached for netball at the State level, has been appointed as Senior Coach. He is assisted by M.Kavitha, who is herself a netball player at the state level. Other than the three of them, there are two part time staff on the program.

    In 2010 around 120 girls graduated the program.

    In 2011, close to 260 girls completed the basic program, while another 35 girls from the first year’s batch went on to implement the peer education module of the program as Goal Thozhis, and another 15 Goal Champions worked as assistants, and 35 Goal Stars assisted the coaches.

    The numbers and the number of sites have increased even more in 2012, with one of the Goal Chmpions from year two, coming in as part time staff and 4 of the other Champions and Stars being put into job oriented courses.

    Additional project information at http://www.goal-girls.com

  • Gender Sensitive HIV-TB Program

    Gender Sensitive HIV-TB Program

    Project funded by World Health Organization (WHO) – Nalamdana had applied for a short term grant and was approved by World Health Organization/ South-East Asia Regional Office (WHO/ SEARO) to create a gender sensitive programming through participatory, innovative communication at their on going project site – the largest Government Hospital where free ART and TB treatment is given to men, women and children at Tambaram, on the outskirts of Chennai, Tamilnadu.

    The Are You Well program’s main objective was to: strengthen the women’s component of the program by connecting the TB women’s wards that are were unconnected to the cable radio; create a special gender-curriculum of messaging over the cable radio to specially address the practical and psycho social issues faced by women and include FGDs and support group meetings for women on campus; and continue with direct interpersonal counselling, which will help to empower them and bring women on par with the men receiving these programs.

    The project was a unique one and helped Nalamdana create special messages and program through role plays, drama’s and daily cable radio to reach newly connected wards where TB and HIV infected women were being treated on campus. This project was funded for a short term of three months (Oct – Dec 2009).

    This grant not only helped connect four TB wards, where women patients were interned, but also helped the core team at Nalamdana create special tools based on collected feed back from target women, which was again made possible due to the support group meetings. A counsellor was identified and appointed exclusively to run these support group meetings which happened twice a week.

    The intention of the support group meetings was to address the specific emotional issues women face and create an inclusive environment to bring them on par with men, so that they may return to their communities with the confidence and knowledge to live life positively.

    Baseline questionnaire was administered to both TB & ART interned patients and based on the needs assessment from the FGD – a gender specific radio programming (including jingles & radio talk show) was developed and relayed from December, 2009 to all the connected wards.

    New scripts for ART & TB role plays were created and enacted during this project period

    Informant interviews conducted with Doctors, Nurses and Counsellors regarding specific case studies of women patients, helped in the development of an Audio CD containing basic info and songs on adherence for women patients.
    These specially developed and delivered gender sensitive HIV-TB programs; role plays, drama scripts as well as recorded radio programs will be shared with various stakeholders such Positive Networks and women’s colleges where Nalamdana holds training programs. Indeed, all programs and theatre workshops run by Nalamdana will benefit greatly from these newly created and evaluated gender-sensitive scripts.

    Are You Well programming at the Government Hospital of Thoracic Medicine has been very successful in educating TB and HIV patients about proper care and in creating a nurturing environment conducive to healing. Eliminating gender disparities in health and harnessing the transformative power of art, the Gender sensitive HIV-TB Are You Well program envisions creating a hospital environment that is more than just a treatment center, but transforms into a holistic healing abode.

  • Rural Toilet Project

    Rural Toilet Project

    Funded by UNICEF Chennai – There is a huge taboo in most Indian households, especially in the villages, to build toilets. In the rare event of one being built, the skill on how to use them, keep them clean and where and how the waste from it is treated or cleaned, is never quite understood. Even simple acts such as washing hands thoroughly has never been explained to any of us very well, and few people are aware that well washed hands can prevent diarrhea, dysentery, and a whole host of other diseases that prove fatal for many children in India, every year.

    UNICEF Chennai funded Nalamdana to train about 100 village volunteers (young men and women) through 2008 and 2009 in the Krishnagiri District of Tamilnadu state, on passing on key messages on hand washing, toilet use, and the safety, and advantages to building and using toilets.These trained teams performed plays in their village taluks from August through December 2009.

    In connection with the previous theatre training and performances, UNICEF had requested Nalamdana do a short term project (September to December 2010) addressing the same WES issues focusing on the Thally block of the Krishnagiri District.

    Toilet humour and quirky characters acted in filmy style have the audiences laughing and cheering while they get key messages on these health issues.

    The Nalamdana team did their homework as always, to asses the practices in the area, meet with the Block Development Officers and the Cultural team members of the Krishnagiri Cultural Society at the Thally Panchayat office, and based on their findings, they planned the refresher theatre training and the 50 theatre performances. As a result, that year, these trained performers staged these plays at the 50 Pancahyat villages of the Thally block.

    From 20th to 23rd September 2010, Nalamdana conducted a refresher theatre training workshop for the 30 select UNICEF volunteers from Mathur, Bargur, Vepanampalli, Kelamangalam, Oothangarai, Thally and Krishnagiri blocks.

    New plays addressing the key issues:

    safe water practices
    importance of hand washing
    construction and usage of toilet
    were developed and practiced during the workshop.

    These trained volunteers were split into three groups and each group was given specific dates to perform the role play in the 50 identified villages of the 50 panchayats in the Thally block.

    The results of these performances were beyond anything that Nalamdana or UNICEF had hoped for. Several houses have built toilets just outside their homes, and a few people have even built the toilets attached to their houses. It is now seen as a status symbol, and those who had toilets they weren’t using, are now using them regularly!

    UNICEF has sourced a subsidy and at least a part funding for the construction of these toilets.