Bridge Programs
Bridge Programs are Samridhdhi’s flagship project. These are no-fee, tailor-made, need-based preparation schools for out-of-school children (OoSC).
In 2019-20, Samridhdhi Trust is running 3 Bridge + Montessori Projects in Bangalore and 2 in Delhi NCR.
The Need
Many out-of-school children aged 6-14 years belong to migrant labour communities and un-notified slums across Bangalore, Pune and Delhi NCR. Their families are often engaged in waste picking and waste segregation, construction labour, domestic work, begging, street vending, petty shops and other menial jobs.
Being interstate migrants (speaking Hindi, Bengali, Assamese, Oriya, Nepali, Telugu, etc.), the children do not relate to the local language and cannot integrate into government schools. Instead, the children take care of their younger siblings (babies and toddlers) while their parents are at work or manage household chores. Some are caught up in in rag picking, drug abuse, violence, illegal and harmful activities.
They are afraid to travel even a couple of kilometres to reach school. Many have never been to a school.
Objective of Bridge Programs
Provide access to basic education to out-of-school children (up to 14 years of age) in a multilingual and multilevel structure that is irrespective of age groups.
Admit them in mainstream English medium private schools or Government Kannada / English medium schools in age-appropriate classes.
Dent the vicious circle of poverty through education and employment.
The Process
- Before an academic year begins, we conduct a survey of un-notified slums to identify out-of-school children.
- We set up Bridge Programs inside the slums or in unutilised spaces of nearby government schools.
- We enrol the children in Bridge Programs. The children are educated as per their learning capabilities as well as age-appropriate grade-specific requirements.
- The Bridge Schools run for 6 hours every day for one year.
- At the end of the year, the children are integrated into age-appropriate classes in regular formal private (English medium) and Government schools. (The parents are encouraged to pay half of the annual school fees of the children in private schools, while the other half is mobilized from Individual or corporate sponsors by Samridhdhi.)
- Before we start Bridge classes in the following year, we conduct several workshops for our facilitators to ensure quality sustenance.
Outcome
Achievements
Identified 4000+ out of school children and enrolled them in Bridge Programs.
Formulated a curriculum through which 2-5 years syllabus is compressed and successfully delivered in 1 year.
Current Bridge Programs
Nallurahalli Bridge Project
(Launched in 2015)
- Govt. Primary School, Nallurahalli, Behind Hanuman Temple, Nallurahalli, Bangalore
- +91 9110817048
Kasavanahalli Bridge Project
(Launched on 05-09-2015)
- Govt. Primary School, Opp. BRS Global School, Jail Road, Kasavanahalli, Bangalore
- +91 8971347707
Dasarahalli Bridge Project
(Launched on 01-06-2016)
- Plot 8, 9th cross, Maruthi Layout, Dasarahalli, HA Farms Post, Bangalore 560024
- +91 9071973624
Indirapuram Bridge Project
(Launched on 28-04-2016)
- Government Primary School, Judges Enclave, Ahinsa Khand 2, Indirapuram, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh 201014
- +91 7042552300
Noida Bridge Project
(Launched on 01-09-2012)
- House No.78, 3, Gali Number 3, Near Garg Medical Store, Village Chhalera, Chhalera, Block D, Sector 44, Noida, Uttar Pradesh 201301
- +91 9891129239