Bridge School The Concept

Aims & Objectives 1. Provide basic education for the migrant out-of-school children 2. Admit them in mainstream English medium schools in age appropriate classes 3. Evening tuitions and Guiding them to higher studies

No Fee Bridge schools give basic education to outof-school children of migrant labourers in a multilevel and multilingual atmosphere

Prevent at least handful of Children from getting in to Rag Picking & Provide Decent Education

Bridge Schools Why?

There were and still are many children in the adjoining area of Brookefields, picking rags and simply whiling their time playing and roaming Their families (coolies & construction workers) are migrants and have come from villages of Bengal, Bihar, Orissa, Andhra, Tamilnadu and North Karnataka.

Normal Schools Do not meet the Complex Needs

Kannada is the medium of Education in Local Government schools The children are of various ages, speak different languages Need:A tailor made Bridge school to suit their diverse linguistic needs with a multilevel classroom structure accommodates children of all ages and regions

Bridge School Enrolling & Hygiene

School Enrolling Campaign at nearby slums housing migrant families with large number of out-of school children Teach hygiene through regular brushing, bathing routine at school

Actual site conditions and school premises Photos taken by: Ravi Ramarao

Bridge School Food & Clothing

Provide nutritious breakfast of multigrain porridge and regular nutritious lunch Provide them with uniforms, stationeries, books and other necessary items
Dining Hall & Class room Photos taken by: Ravi Ramarao

Bridge School Basic Academics Academics include English, Hindi, Mathematics, science, social science and mother tongue (Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada) Extracurricular activities include Dance, Music, Sports, Games, Computers, Trips to zoo, biscuit factories, museums A large number of subject/program specific volunteers (local housewives, working or retired professionals) help as teachers to run the school effectively

Class room: Photo taken by: Ravi Ramarao

Bridge School 4 Levels Education Model

Currently the Bridge school is divided into 4 levels. Students study in each level for a period of 3 months to one year and are promoted to the next level as soon as the capability grows: 1st Level : Children, irrespective of age, learn to identify alphabets of English, Hindi, Kanada, Mother tongue and English numbers & basic communication using English and Hindi words 2nd Level: Start writing alphabets and numbers along with spellings of 3-letter and 4-letter words and communication in small sentences 3rd Level: children are taught to write sentences in all languages and they do basic 4 operations of Maths with introduction of Social Studies and Science 4th Level: the Normal academic ICSE syllabus of various standards (I IV) are taught

Class room: Photo taken by: Ravi Ramarao

Bridge to Mainstream School The Transition

Out of the Bridge Schools the qualified students get admission to Mainstream Schools through proper admission tests:
Evening Tuition

While the other half (INR 6000) is arranged through individual sponsors

The children who are admitted to mainstream The parents are counseled to invest schools from the bridge half (INR 6000) of their Mainstream school attend evening School admission fees (Subsidized tuition between 4 PM and fee of INR 12,000 per annum) 6PM

Other local students from Government Schools also As an incentive to keep the children attend the evening tuition in the Mainstream School, the Bridge School pays INR 250 on a monthly program
basis to the parents of the children as reimbursement from the admission fees

The evening tuition is largely run by volunteers

Eventually, the parents pay only INR3000 per annum towards the kids education

Bridge School Healing Touch supports:

Location: Shri Sathya Sai Kundalahalli Seva Kshetra, Opposite Ryan International School,Brookefields, Bangalore

Present number of students:90 Years in operation: 4 years

Healing Touch & The Bridge School:

To make the School more Effective: We have appointed 5 full time teachers 3 assistant teachers & 1 helper

Our Commitments: 1. 3 Lakhs INR per Annum; Paid on a quarterly basis: 2. Identify Sponsors to support as many Childrens education as possible @ INR 6000 per annum

Bridged to the conventional school: Kid in Uniform . Our Aspiration: Motivate many others to follow the role model

Our Inspiration: A kid from this shanty getting ready to go to proper school

Kindness All is Well

In Kind Books Functioning Computers School Bags Condiments for food Teachers ( You can Volunteer) Health Practitioners Doctors can offer Medical Check-ups for the children Pharmacists Can offer medicines at subsidized pricing

Sponsors Kids education Teachers Salary Assistant Teachers Salary Helper salary Food

Many Thanks

Sporting Champions Be there with the children Spread the message Wish them Well

OLD IS GOLD The School accepts used books, schoolbags, clothes, stationeries etc