From: MRS INDRANI  GHOSH <indrani@cal.vsnl.net.in>

1. The children in our Centre come from the slums in Calcutta. The entire
family lives in one tiny room. Both parents do manual jobs and are out most
part of the day. The children go to school in the morning but rest of the
day they are alone. We are trying to stimulate them and improve the quality
of life that they lead. They are being taught academic work along with good
manners, cleanliness, deportment and also dancing, singing, drawing and
other activities. Within these six months the children are showing a lot of
improvement they have become lively, cheerful and show greater interest in
things.

2.  We are starting pre-vocational activities to help them to earn a
living. Those children who show promise we intend to get them admitted to a
good school and to pay their school fees. If any child has a particular
knack we want to encourage him\her and provide the child the opportunity to
develop further.

3. We have 2 teachers whom we pay Rs 1000 each per month. If we could get
the money for one teacher we could then increase the number of children and
also the number of activities. By early 2000 would be fine. 

4. We also plan to start more vocational classes. We have started knitting
and sewing, we want to introduce jute handicrafts, stuffed toy
making,embroidery, stitching, machine knitting and other activities.  


The Questions:

> - how effective is this short term education?
> - what do the kids do after this education?
> - by when does your school need the money?
> - what kind of expansion do you plan to undertake with this money?
> 
>