Background

The Sparsha Trust Field Learning Session (FLS) will take place on the 2^nd of August.

Sparsha Trust is an organisation that works to create a society free of exploitation of children and help children manifest their inherent potential and talents

Approach

Considering that close to 42% of India’s population is below the age of 18, education is key to the country’s development and future. It was this motivation that led to the establishment of Sparsha Trust in the year 2005. The aims and objectives of Sparsha Trust are:

• Eradication of child labor – to ensure that children are not deprived of their childhood and are allowed to realize their latent potential.
• Helping children enjoy their constitutional rights
• Providing quality education for children who are deprived of the same.
• Empowerment of street girl children and women by giving them education and skill-oriented training.
• Providing job-oriented skills to rural youth who migrate to urban areas in search of jobs.

 

The major initiatives of Sparsha Trust are:

• Makkala Dhama at Kuduregere for 50 children: a home for the children who are engaged in quarry work, single parents, orphans, school dropouts and neglected by the community and family.
• Shikshana Mitra-1 at Sanjivininagar for 45 children: A shelter for school dropouts, affected by poverty, children with learning disability, lack of care and protection in the family
•  Shikshana Mitra-2 at Mastri playa for 45 children: a home for children of migrated families who are engaged in construction work and deviated from education
• Chinnara Thangudhama at MS. Palya for 35 children: a home and de-addition center for children who have got deviated from the mainstream education, children of drug abused, sexually abused, orphans, run away, begging, rag picking, child labour, conflict with law and non-serious offence.

Participants of this FLS will first be meeting an international long-term volunteer (LTV) who is currently working at Sparsha Trust. The LTV will introduce participants to the concept of International Voluntary Service (IVS) and their experiences at the project.

After that, participants will be taken to the Sparsh Trust project site to attend a presentation by staff members about the organisation, the work it does, the different projects it runs, success stories etc. By witnessing and meeting people working in the development field, participants will enhance their understanding of different social causes and see how organisations are working towards them. Being able to go on site and see first-hand the problems addressed by Sparsha Trust will also give participants a fuller understanding of its current situation. Sparsha Trust will introduce participants to actions that they are taking towards an exploitation free and environmentally sustainable society, and hopefully encourage them to also take action towards it. In addition, these field learning sessions will encourage participants to get involved in working towards other issues and causes that are socially relevant.

Objectives

–          Make participants aware of International Voluntary Service, and understand the experiences shared by international volunteers

–          Sensitise participants to the problems faced by disadvantaged children and the actions taken by Sparsha Trust to aid it

–          Encourage participants to become involved in social issues such as those addressed by Sparsha Trust

 

What do you commit to?

 What do participants commit to?

To participate in a FLS, participants must firstly be 18 years of age, or above, and commit to filling out this registration form and emailing it back to fslydp@gmail.com by the 30^th of July 2014. Not doing so would largely limit the preference of said participant attending the FLS in the event that all slots are full. This would also make planning for us much simpler if we know how many participants there will be.

Participants must also arrive to the location punctually, preferably five minutes prior so that we can begin on time. Since this FLS begins at 14:00, it is advised for participants to arrive at the Sparsha Trust office by 13:50 (address given below). Participants can also choose to arrive at the FSL-India office by 12:50 (address given below) and travel with us to the Sparsha Trust office. Please be on time as we would have to reach the Sparsha Trust office by 14:00. Participants will be asked to cover the costs of travel and transportation related to the FLS. We will not cover travel fares that are incurred by participants during the FLS.

Lastly, participants must commit to being present and attentive throughout the FLS. Participants are discouraged to exit in the middle of an FLS.

What does the YDP commit to?

The YDP commits to organising and arranging all details of the FLS for the participants, and providing important information to participants prior to the FLS. We will arrange transportation (although not cover the costs) to any locations during the FLS.

Practical details

 Date and time: Saturday, 2^nd August 2014, 12:50 – 18:00

CONTACT BOXFSL-India: #453, 1^st Floor, 15^th Cross, Lakkasandra, Wilson Garden, Bangalore, 560030  (https://goo.gl/maps/tYqtf)Sparsha Trust: S No. 28, 1^st Floor, Above SBM, 60 Feet Road, Mathikere Main Road, Yeshwanthpura, HMT Layout, Mathikere, Bangalore, KA 560054 (https://goo.gl/maps/se4r6)For questions, please email fslydp@gmail.com or call +91 9164138777.