Research across several educational communities upholds that children learn most in the development years of 0-5. However, learning in these crucial years is a remote luxury to most children in low-income communities. If school readiness is a crucial beginning to formal learning, then we believe that all must have it, irrespective of their economic standing.
The Udaan Kindergarten provides pre-school learning to children from low-income communities, equipping them with a strong educational foundation to take on the rigour of formal schooling with confidence. Classes of happy children experience the joy of learning under the gentle care of trained teachers in a safe, loving and vibrant environment.
Kindergarten is the year of basics. Thus, the curriculum focuses on the essentials of all: languages, numerical literacy, development of fine and gross motor skills, awareness of self and environment, social skills and respecting of routine and discipline. The teaching methodology adopted to achieve the learning objectives is a combination of drill and reinforcement learning which facilitates memorizing and acquiring of habitual skills of writing and reciting and a play-way approach which allows for learning through doing, exploring and discovering.
Teacher observations, student talk, classwork and orals help teacher assess the progress of the student on a continuous basis. Formal assessments are conducted twice in an academic year in a child-friendly manner. A thorough record of observations of each child enables teachers to give constructive feedback to the parents and suggest reasonable tasks to support the child’s learning at home.
At the end of the Kindergarten year, our children are ready, both on an academic and social level, to enter Grade 1 of a formal school.
An Insight
At 9.30 am toddlers between the age of 4 and 6 step out of their homes, sometimes with their parent, sometimes alone, and sprint into the colourful and vibrant space of the Udaan Kindergarten located in a construction workers’ basti in Powai, Hiranandani. After a greeting to the teacher and a short prayer followed by a healthy snack, the children are ready for the day. Giggling, laughing, crying, and sulking, the little ones get lost in the world of flashcards, worksheets, games, puzzles, playdough, crayons and toys and all too soon it is time to go home. When their teachers bid them goodbye, they walk home with a smile on their face taking back home the joy of a safe and happy childhood - one of the most significant objectives for Udaan.
The Udaan Kindergarten provides pre-school learning to children from low-income communities, equipping them with a strong educational foundation to take on the rigour of formal schooling with confidence. Classes of happy children experience the joy of learning under the gentle care of trained teachers in a safe, loving and vibrant environment.
Kindergarten is the year of basics. Thus, the curriculum focuses on the essentials of all: languages, numerical literacy, development of fine and gross motor skills, awareness of self and environment, social skills and respecting of routine and discipline. The teaching methodology adopted to achieve the learning objectives is a combination of drill and reinforcement learning which facilitates memorizing and acquiring of habitual skills of writing and reciting and a play-way approach which allows for learning through doing, exploring and discovering.
Teacher observations, student talk, classwork and orals help teacher assess the progress of the student on a continuous basis. Formal assessments are conducted twice in an academic year in a child-friendly manner. A thorough record of observations of each child enables teachers to give constructive feedback to the parents and suggest reasonable tasks to support the child’s learning at home.
At the end of the Kindergarten year, our children are ready, both on an academic and social level, to enter Grade 1 of a formal school.
An Insight
At 9.30 am toddlers between the age of 4 and 6 step out of their homes, sometimes with their parent, sometimes alone, and sprint into the colourful and vibrant space of the Udaan Kindergarten located in a construction workers’ basti in Powai, Hiranandani. After a greeting to the teacher and a short prayer followed by a healthy snack, the children are ready for the day. Giggling, laughing, crying, and sulking, the little ones get lost in the world of flashcards, worksheets, games, puzzles, playdough, crayons and toys and all too soon it is time to go home. When their teachers bid them goodbye, they walk home with a smile on their face taking back home the joy of a safe and happy childhood - one of the most significant objectives for Udaan.
LEARNINGS
A regressive sequence of lack of quality education leading to school dropouts creates a mass of uneducated and unskilled youth, which is responsible for the vicious cycle of illiteracy and poverty in low-income communities.
The Udaan Learning Centre is an after-school programme, which aims to provide a solid and holistic educational foundation to children from low-income communities to bridge the learning gaps and ensure the children stay in school. Following the principle of empowering through education our teaching does not focus only on academic education but also on non-academic learning to mould and nurture confidence, self-esteem and self-awareness among our students.
The Learning Centre follows a structured curriculum for English, Math, Hindi, Science and Social Sciences from Grade 1 till Grade 10. A vertical progression of learning objectives for each subject ensures a steady and logical unfolding of learning at each level. Upholding the principle of holistic learning, the curriculum is implemented through a dual approach of ensuring conceptual understanding through lecture, demonstrations and experiments as well as experiential learning through celebrations, events, field trips and workshops. From moments of sheer joy at riding the fire brigade truck at the fire station to learning opportunities of understanding the vast universe at the Nehru Centre, from wearing new, festive clothes during Diwali to understanding constitutional rights through special assemblies, every exposure is about providing opportunities.
Assessments are conducted on a regular basis with the purpose of adapting the curriculum to meet the students’ needs. This allows us to record students’ performances on monthly intervals on an assessment matrix. An analysis of the student’s performance indicates the gaps in the teaching-learning spaces and the cycle of curriculum management is revisited so to teach students the way they learn best. It is such analysis that enables us to identify students with remedial needs; students with learning disabilities and students who need a teacher’s stern eye and create solutions within the environment of the Learning Centre such that each student achieves their true potential.
The Udaan Learning Centre is an effort towards instilling the faith, belief and culture of “empowerment through education” in the minds of children from low income communities to ensure that they pursue the path of knowledge, skills and values needed in order to break the restraints of Illiteracy.
An Insight
Children in their crisp green-checkered uniforms, proudly wearing their Udaan ID cards and carrying their school bags wait at 2.30 pm every day for the Udaan bus to arrive and take them to the Udaan Learning Centre at Gopal Sharma School, Powai Vihar. Learning moments start with an assembly where all the children pray together and teachers share the news of the day. This is followed by a healthy and nutritious snack to ensure the children get energized to take on the lessons. After the assembly, teachers and volunteers armed with lesson planners and worksheets lead the students to their classroom. For the next two and a half hours students and teachers are seen pouring over books and concentrating, sharpening pencils and writing, discussing and debating. At 6 pm, the tired but happy children are dropped back to their homes, where hopeful parents park their dreams of breaking the cycle of poverty through their child’s journey of empowerment.
The Udaan Learning Centre is an after-school programme, which aims to provide a solid and holistic educational foundation to children from low-income communities to bridge the learning gaps and ensure the children stay in school. Following the principle of empowering through education our teaching does not focus only on academic education but also on non-academic learning to mould and nurture confidence, self-esteem and self-awareness among our students.
The Learning Centre follows a structured curriculum for English, Math, Hindi, Science and Social Sciences from Grade 1 till Grade 10. A vertical progression of learning objectives for each subject ensures a steady and logical unfolding of learning at each level. Upholding the principle of holistic learning, the curriculum is implemented through a dual approach of ensuring conceptual understanding through lecture, demonstrations and experiments as well as experiential learning through celebrations, events, field trips and workshops. From moments of sheer joy at riding the fire brigade truck at the fire station to learning opportunities of understanding the vast universe at the Nehru Centre, from wearing new, festive clothes during Diwali to understanding constitutional rights through special assemblies, every exposure is about providing opportunities.
Assessments are conducted on a regular basis with the purpose of adapting the curriculum to meet the students’ needs. This allows us to record students’ performances on monthly intervals on an assessment matrix. An analysis of the student’s performance indicates the gaps in the teaching-learning spaces and the cycle of curriculum management is revisited so to teach students the way they learn best. It is such analysis that enables us to identify students with remedial needs; students with learning disabilities and students who need a teacher’s stern eye and create solutions within the environment of the Learning Centre such that each student achieves their true potential.
The Udaan Learning Centre is an effort towards instilling the faith, belief and culture of “empowerment through education” in the minds of children from low income communities to ensure that they pursue the path of knowledge, skills and values needed in order to break the restraints of Illiteracy.
An Insight
Children in their crisp green-checkered uniforms, proudly wearing their Udaan ID cards and carrying their school bags wait at 2.30 pm every day for the Udaan bus to arrive and take them to the Udaan Learning Centre at Gopal Sharma School, Powai Vihar. Learning moments start with an assembly where all the children pray together and teachers share the news of the day. This is followed by a healthy and nutritious snack to ensure the children get energized to take on the lessons. After the assembly, teachers and volunteers armed with lesson planners and worksheets lead the students to their classroom. For the next two and a half hours students and teachers are seen pouring over books and concentrating, sharpening pencils and writing, discussing and debating. At 6 pm, the tired but happy children are dropped back to their homes, where hopeful parents park their dreams of breaking the cycle of poverty through their child’s journey of empowerment.
SKILL PROGRAMME
Much has been written and spoken about the problem that is plaguing our ‘developing’ nation: the volume of educated, unskilled, unemployed youth losing faith in the significance of education. Every citizen, bureaucrat and politician is aware that the future of the country lies in creating a “skilled workforce” for the problem facing our country, which is not that of unemployment but of unemployability.
The Udaan Skills Enhancement Programme (SEP) aims to equip the youth with theoretical knowledge, practical skills and a positive attitude to seek meaningful employment and take them towards self-sufficiency. Thus, the emphasis of the SEP is on enhancing the employability level through 4 segments:
At the Udaan Computer Centre we run a NIIT accredited programme, where students are introduced to the basics of computer literacy that build a foundation to take on higher level computer skills at a later stage in their professional lives. The focus of the curriculum is on learning practical computer skills along with a theoretical foundation of computer science. The course that covers Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Internet is divided into two stages: the preparatory stage and NIIT first level, to ensure a gradual and thorough assimilation of studied material. At the end of the programme, a NIIT evaluation certifies successful candidates.
The Udaan Spoken English course aims to impart basic English language skills to support the youth in achieving their higher educational goals, equip them to do well in their future jobs and confidently converse in social situations. The course follows the Yuva English curriculum designed by the Centre for Learning Resources specifically for learners in the age group of 16 – 25 years who have completed their secondary education in a vernacular medium. Yuva English is an interactive course with a bilingual and learner centric approach that focuses on learning the application of language tenets rather than assimilation of mere language concepts. Language games, conversations, discussions, drill, functional writing exercises, mock interviews – all aim at shaping a confident youth empowered to accomplish basic social and business communication.
The Vocational training programme imparts working know-how and practical skills for a specialized discipline of knowledge to take up careers in fields such as Retail, Automobile, and Hospitality. Udaan collaborates with different agencies of vocational training who implement the actual training sessions after a thorough audit of the curriculum, implementation and monitoring systems. Udaan has collaborated with such agencies as Rustomjee Academy of Global Careers (RAGC), Youth Career Initiative and Skills Academy.
Sessions on Soft Skills conducted by corporate volunteers prepare the participants to confront the professional work place with the desired set of values, attitudes and behaviour. Sessions on grooming, goal setting and time management focus on getting them ready to take on the future with confidence.
The ultimate goal for SEP is to yield self-sufficient, compassionate and responsible youth, who are meaningfully employed.
An Insight
Self–motivated youth walk into the SEP sessions with great hope and dreams for the future. After the initial formality of screening and admissions, gradually each student is gently encouraged to share their dreams. Udaan teachers, the educational partners and the volunteers, discreetly note down these aspirations and start guiding the youth through the chosen path. While the training on specialized skills enhance their expertise, the sessions on personal grooming, time management and goal setting shape their personality. In a span of 3-4 months, the participants starts expressing their concrete plans for the future. Thus, armed with content, capability, confidence and faith, each youth is ready to walk the journey of self-sufficiency and end the cycle of poverty for himself and his family.
The Udaan Skills Enhancement Programme (SEP) aims to equip the youth with theoretical knowledge, practical skills and a positive attitude to seek meaningful employment and take them towards self-sufficiency. Thus, the emphasis of the SEP is on enhancing the employability level through 4 segments:
- Computer literacy
- Spoken English
- Vocational training
- Soft Skills
At the Udaan Computer Centre we run a NIIT accredited programme, where students are introduced to the basics of computer literacy that build a foundation to take on higher level computer skills at a later stage in their professional lives. The focus of the curriculum is on learning practical computer skills along with a theoretical foundation of computer science. The course that covers Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Internet is divided into two stages: the preparatory stage and NIIT first level, to ensure a gradual and thorough assimilation of studied material. At the end of the programme, a NIIT evaluation certifies successful candidates.
The Udaan Spoken English course aims to impart basic English language skills to support the youth in achieving their higher educational goals, equip them to do well in their future jobs and confidently converse in social situations. The course follows the Yuva English curriculum designed by the Centre for Learning Resources specifically for learners in the age group of 16 – 25 years who have completed their secondary education in a vernacular medium. Yuva English is an interactive course with a bilingual and learner centric approach that focuses on learning the application of language tenets rather than assimilation of mere language concepts. Language games, conversations, discussions, drill, functional writing exercises, mock interviews – all aim at shaping a confident youth empowered to accomplish basic social and business communication.
The Vocational training programme imparts working know-how and practical skills for a specialized discipline of knowledge to take up careers in fields such as Retail, Automobile, and Hospitality. Udaan collaborates with different agencies of vocational training who implement the actual training sessions after a thorough audit of the curriculum, implementation and monitoring systems. Udaan has collaborated with such agencies as Rustomjee Academy of Global Careers (RAGC), Youth Career Initiative and Skills Academy.
Sessions on Soft Skills conducted by corporate volunteers prepare the participants to confront the professional work place with the desired set of values, attitudes and behaviour. Sessions on grooming, goal setting and time management focus on getting them ready to take on the future with confidence.
The ultimate goal for SEP is to yield self-sufficient, compassionate and responsible youth, who are meaningfully employed.
An Insight
Self–motivated youth walk into the SEP sessions with great hope and dreams for the future. After the initial formality of screening and admissions, gradually each student is gently encouraged to share their dreams. Udaan teachers, the educational partners and the volunteers, discreetly note down these aspirations and start guiding the youth through the chosen path. While the training on specialized skills enhance their expertise, the sessions on personal grooming, time management and goal setting shape their personality. In a span of 3-4 months, the participants starts expressing their concrete plans for the future. Thus, armed with content, capability, confidence and faith, each youth is ready to walk the journey of self-sufficiency and end the cycle of poverty for himself and his family.
Copyright @2014 UdaanZindagi Ki
Designed and created in-house by Mariangel Galindo and Udaan Zindagi Ki with support from partner organization Asmaa.