4. JEEVAN SHALA
4.1 INTRODUCTION
Literacy Programme: Jeevan Shala
(Life
School)
SEWA have been operating Jeevan
Shala in the rural area to
build the capacity of poor self-employed women to manage
their own micro-enterprises and so as to manage her family
too. “Jeevan Shala”
is an informal school started by SEWA members facilitates
education and imparting of knowledge to the adult members
between the age of 15 to 45.
Such a school usually referred to as ‘life school’
has been designed on the basis of what the members want
to learn so as to develop their interest, confidence and
self-esteem. Those members who are seeking knowledge in
the Jeevan Shalas
are called “Aksharas” and
members who guide and provide the training are called “Vidhya Gauris”. The
members as per their convenience fix the timings and also
pay fees for attending the Jeevan
Shala classes.
Vidhya Gauris are trained for 5 days to train the members.
This training covers introduction of SEWA, role of
Vidhya Gauris, modulation of primer-1, how to prepare and teach educational
tools.
| “After joining Jeevan Shala I learned reading and writing. Once I went to get birth certificate of my daughter
in Panchayat. Talati (government
officer) refused saying that you have not registered. I asked him to check books. While he was checking I was also looking into
it. Where I found
out my daughter’s name and I got the certificate.
I regularly read honshila
nu paanu and gain knowledge.
My daughter had cough, I found tips from honshila
nu paanu and by using
it, she was cured.”- Vimalaben Chauhan – Nana Vaga Village,
|
Achievements of
Jeevan Shala
-
In the current
year the members celebrated 5 “Akshara
Mela” at village level in Patan(1), Anand(2), Surendranagar(2) districts.
The members also participated in different educational games
that were organized during the fair.
Such fairs encourage more women to learn and join
Jeevan Shala.
-
The members
of Jeevan Shala
not only learned to read and write but also learned to read
various kinds of books which helped them in their daily
lives and also increased their knowledge and awareness.
-
It is through
the Jeevan Shala
that the members are now able to recognize words, write
their names and signatures and have also learnt to see the
time on the clock.
-
During the
year 5 Jeevan Shalas
were started in 4 villages of Kutch
district covering 150 Akshara
women.
-
This year alternate
employment trainings like preparing vermin compost, drying
vegetables, manufacturing washing powder and computer training
were also organized for women who have learned reading and
writing properly in Jeevan Shala. 53 members
were imparted training through different training programmes.
-
Workshop on Teaching Learning Material was organised for Vidhya
Gauris of Anand.
This workshop was to make them understand and learn how
to prepare educational tools and their compulsory usages
in the Jeevan Shala during they teach.
-
Workshop on
Poster Developing was undertaken which aimed at training members to prepare effective posters and reach out the
message to the villagers for different activities with the
right message.
-
An annual examination
is conducted every year to assess and review the knowledge
of members, this year 267 women appeared for the exam out
of which 259 women passed the examination and got the certification.
The monitoring mechanism of the Jeevan Shala is an
important factor in making the Jeevan
Shala successful.
4.2 STATUS OF SEWA’S JEEVAN SHALA PROGRAM -2004
| District |
No. Of Jeevan
Shala |
No. Of Villages |
No. Of Vidhyagauris |
No. Of Aksharaben |
No. Of Core Team Members |
| Surendranagar |
23 +3 (stopped) |
14 |
23 |
571 |
1 |
| Patan |
15
+ 3 (stopped) |
26 |
26 |
695 |
3 |
| Kutch |
5 |
4 |
10 |
150 |
|
| Anand /Kheda |
25 + 3 (stopped) |
18 |
35 |
556 |
6 |
| Total |
77 |
62 |
94 |
1972 |
10 |
|
