Vikahar Paribar Bikash Kendra (VPBK)
Aim:To enable local girls to improve their lifestyle and economic prospects.
To ensure spread of primary education among 125 girls (11-14 years) belonging to tribal communities in Malda district of West Bengal, India, who have dropped out of main school. They will learn basic literacy and health issues to enable them to re-enter school, and also to spread awareness of health issues such as HIV in their tribal community.
Background: Vikahar Paribar Bikash Kendra (VPBK) is a grass-roots level development organization established in 1987 in the village of Vikahar in the Tapan Block of the district of Dakshin Dinajpur, West Bengal. Its efforts have been concentrated on integrated development for women and children.
This project is working in tribal communities in Malda district of West Bengal. Some of the girls participating have already been leading a “drop-out” lifestyle. They may not be motivated to see the benefits of achieving better education as they may have already been introduced to drugs or prostitution.
Programme: VPBK have identified 125 girls who can benefit from the programme. VPBK will develop and run five “alternative schools” which will enable a total of 125 “drop-out” girls to benefit from basic literacy training and special “camps” where they will learn about health issues including HIV awareness. The girls will then be able to enter normal schools and hopefully progress their education
Partners: VPBK was recommended by, and has close links to, established Tzedek partner, ERDS (Economic Rural Development Society). They are also a member of a local ‘credibility alliance’ promoting transparency and good governance. They have received funding from Indian NGOs and local government, and have been funded by Tzedek before. They are conscientious in their approach to developing and executing project proposals.
Outcome: 125 girls may be able to attend normal schools to progress their education, and ultimately supporting women’s livelihoods by enabling the girls to have a better chance to gain employment and income.
The project will mobilize and motivate the parents of the targeted girls in such a way that they will then feel the need to send their girls to school regularly. Families of the children will also gain from improved awareness of health issues.
The project is sustainable in that the school buildings and books would be available for other students in the future.
Evaluation: A beneficiaries’ committee will be formed and headed by a member of VPBK. The beneficiaries’ committee will monitor the project every month and evaluation will be undertaken every six months and sent to Tzedek. The first six month’s evaluation reported that the girls had already learned valuable lessons in health and cleanliness. They have been taught basic literacy in English and Bengali, and also basic numeracy.
Funds needed: £4.287.
If you would like more information about VPBK or make a donation towards this project or another similar project please click here or call 020 7443 5121.
