Happy Horizons Trust Annual Report (2014-2015)

Annual Report 2014-2015www.happyhorizons.org

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CONTACT US

HAPPY HORIZONS TRUSTRegistered under the India Trust Act, 1882Regn No. : BK IV BNG-BMH 739 2012-2013

Website: www.happyhorizons.orgEmail: [email protected]

REGISTERED OFFICEC 104, Uma Maheshwari Dream World Apartments ,Kudlu Gate Junction, Hosur Road, Bangalore 560068

DELHI OFFICEC1/74, Mangal Apartments, Vasundhara Enclave, Delhi 110096

BIHAR OFFICESharma Chowk, Simri Bakhtiarpur, Saharsa 852127, Bihar

CONTACT USKshitiz Anand, Managing Trustee [email protected] Mobile : +91 95352 06828 , Landline: 011 4280 1465

The fact is that given the challenges we face, education doesn’t need to be reformed -- it needs to be transformed. The key to this transformation is not to standardize education, but to personalize it, to build achievement on discovering the individual talents of each child, to put students in an environment where they want to learn and where they can naturally discover their true passions.

- Sir Ken Robinson, The Element: How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything

Using the power of design thinking, storytellingand community based learning to create solutions that emphasise on education as a tool for development of societies and the individual.


CONTENTS

1. The Bihar Education Crisis

2. Managing Trustee’s Message

3. Introduction

3. Core Team Members

4. Champions

5. Projects

6. PickMe, ClickMe, EducateMe!

7. Rukmini Devi Scholarship

7. Digital Literacy and Internet Awareness Course

8. Career Awareness Seminars

9. Events

10. Champion’s Training

11. Media Coverage

12. Marketing

13. Auditor’s Report

14. Balance Sheet

15. Income and Expenditure Report

16. Receipt and Payment Account

17. What Lies Ahead

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Findings from the ASER 2014 report

Considerable decline in the reading levels in schools across India. The gap in reading levels between children enrolled in governmentschools and private schools seems to be growing over time. Nationally, only 50% class 5 students can read class 2 text, and have a poor mathematical ability. This is a serious concern.

In 2014, Bihar (Rural), only 39.8% Children in Std III couldread at least words. This was 70.8% in 2010.

In 2014, Bihar (Rural), only 44.6% children from Std V could read Std II level text. This was 57.9% in 2010.

THE BIHAR EDUCATION CRISIS

Data and reference ASER 2014 report, accessed from the following URL: http://img.asercentre.org/docs/Publications/ASER%20Reports/ASER%202014/fullaser2014mainreport_1.pdf


MANAGING TRUSTEES MESSAGE

KSHITIZ ANAND

VATSALA

The past year has been amazing for us! From expanding our work to different schools to increasing the number of champions, the work has been stimulating. We have expanded our core team and operations team and are glad that efforts are showing results on ground as well.

The passion and connect towards the cause keeps us going. We truly believe that getting quality education is a basic right and that what is delivered in many schools across the country is not quality.

Come join us in our mission!

Education is the most powerful weapon that you can use to change the world, said Nelson Mandela. At the Trust, we have been trying to put this to practice. The challenge that we also face is to change people’s mindset, when asked to adopt something new. It is our firm belief that a lot of the problems in the society today can be solved when people have good education. Education does not stop only at the academics, but also at the lifeskills level and other skills development.

As we move into a new year, we are joined in by a larger team now than what we started with. It is highly motivat-ing for us, that many others also believe in the cause that we are working on.

Thank you all for your support.


INTRODUCTION

Education in India is in a state that needs our utmost attention. We stand on a crisis that needs to be addressed soon. We pride ourselves on having a huge youth population and it is said that in the next few years, we will have the highest number of youth around the world. The other harsh reality is that a lot of these youth are unskilled and do not have the necessary skills to take up jobs. The problem when analysed can be traced back to the Education System. There are certain corrective measures that are being taken today for the youth, but we know that it is not going to be enough.

Happy Horizons Trust is a registered non-profit organisation founded with the vision to improve the quality of education in schools across India. It has been in operations since early 2012, and was formally registered as a Trust on 30 March 2013. Our work area has primarily been the state of Bihar, and we look towards expanding to other parts of the country in the days to come.

What differentiates us is the approach towards this problem space. The domain of education offers a lot of challenges to work in. There is the role of the gov-ernment, the individuals being impacted and the beneficiaries that come from different social strata. A key aspect of our work is to work on a systemic level intervention through different programs. There are multiple projects that have come about by spending considerable time in understanding the social fabric, the rules of the society and what would work and what would not.

Coming from a background in Design and using the principles of Design Think-ing, community driven solutions, we aim to improve the quality of education, primarily in but not limited to government schools.

Our motto is education for development. This can be applied in improving the quality of life, social status, mindsets, careers and opportunities, skills develop-ment, leadership, women empowerment and health care.

What drives us is a strong belief that education is the key to a progressive society. We welcome anyone who wishes to join us in our mission.


CORE TEAM MEMBERS

RAKESH RANJAN

Rakesh brings his vast experience as a Project Manage-ment Professional. He has also been earlier involved in fund raising activities for school kids uniforms, and also devoted time voluntarily to teach.

He is an entrepreneur now, heading a tech startup called Leading Dots and is based out of Delhi NCR.

MANISH KUMAR

Manish hails from Bihar and is currently working in a leading Investment Bank based out of Bangalore. He has been actively involved in social causes since his college days at IIT Madras. He brings his experience with Finance.

Earlier he was Chennai Chapter Coordinator for a pan India social group started by IITians.

Kshitiz, a Designer and an Educator and is a Managing Trustee at the Trust, where he also heads the Strategy and Partnerships division. He is passionate about Design for Social Impact, and is often teaching at leading Design and Business schools.

He is also the President of the IIT Guwahati Alumni Association and is based out of Delhi.

Vatsala heads the Program Coordination of the Trust. She brings in her experience from media and communi-cations. Trained in the NCC, she brings in a lot of management aspects and a can do spirit to drive things on ground in Bihar.

As a Managing Trustee, she has been instrumental in scaling up the operations to over 10 schools now.

KSHITIZ ANAND

VATSALA


SOURABH SUMAN

Sourabh brings his Operations experience and is engaged in driving things on the ground. He is incharge of coordination with the local teams across various locations.

He is also incharge of institutional projects. He spends his time between Delhi and Bihar.

RUCHI ANAND

Ruchi functions as the designer in house and is theperson incharge of designing and creating collaterals for various projects.

She is also the Chief Volunteer Coordinator at the organization. She is passionate organising events topromote Design and Social Entrepreneurship.

VINAY KUMAR

Vinay works as the Project Manager in Bihar, and is incharge of local activities, and coordination with the other government authorities.

JEAN HAAG

Jean is a French Designer, who has spend considerable time traveling and studying in India. He is passionate about Design for Social Impact.

At the Happy Horizons Trust, he contributes towards helping with national and international collaborations and partnerships.


Deepika Kumari Guriya Kumari Mani Kumari

Jyoti Kumari Arpana Kushama Nedaafreen Parween

Neha Kumari Nidhi Srivastava Nighar Parween

CHAMPIONS

The people driving the change across the primary and middle schools where we function. Champions are provided leadership training as a part of the Rukmini Devi Scholarships.


PROJECTS

A key aspect of the Happy Horizons Trust is to work at a system level and with the government. Through our work in schools, we aim to have atleast a project for all the different stakeholders who are involved as a part of the education system.

Here are the projects that are running presently.

1. Pick Me, Click Me, Educate Me - Using Activity based learning and alter-native Learning methods to improve the quality of education. The prime focus is on improving reading abilities, speaking and communication skills, student’s self confidence, writing skills and basic arithmetic.

2. Rukmini Devi Scholarships - Awarded to female high school students, the award aims to create local changemakers driving positive social change from a young age. The award comes with a financial incentive spread over 3 years and different forms of training in leadership, management, teaching and under-standing child psychology.

3. Digital Literacy & Internet Awareness Program- This short 2 month course empowers the youth with using digital tools, that are helpful in their career, education and general upliftment of the standard of life of the individual and the society .

4. Career Awareness Seminars - Engaging different stakeholder (students, teachers, parents, government officials), these seminars are conducted public-ly, to create awareness about the different career choices one could make. It also aims to inculcate the spirit of Entrepreneurship, and the power of building a local economy that results in jobs and opportunities in the local but with a Global context.

5. Open Parent Meetings - Involving the parents, a very essential part of the education system, these meetings are conducted to hear and share view points from parents and how they can get more concerned about their children’s education.


PICK ME, CLICK ME, EDUCATE ME!

Using Activity based learning and alternative Learning methods to improve the quality of education. The prime focus is on improving reading abilities, speak-ing and communication skills, student self confidence, writing skills and basic arithmetic.

• To motivate children to attend schools.• To not stop at only motivation to join, but to motivate them higher to attend it regularly and not drop off at an early age.• To visit schools across different parts of Bihar & impart education outside the books, related to life skills, creative skills, basic health and career counselling• To improve the quality of education by using alternative learning methods and creative learning.

OBJECTIVES

PROJECT OVERVIEW

2012Project initiated

HOW IT WORKSAwardees of the Rukmini Devi Scholarships (High school students), the champions are given proper training and mentoring on conducting the above mentioned sessions in the schools. Each student is given one school to coordinate with and conduct the sessions there once a week regularly while the schools are in session.

Champions maintain a log of their activities conducted.

APRIL

5000+Students

OUTREACHSCHOOLS

12Govt, APS, Private

OVER

400Sessions


Many research reports suggests that the children in primary schools today are not able to do the basic reading of academic and general knowledge text. This drives the vision of this activity.

BOOK READING ACTIVITIES


With art, children are encouraged to look at different ways of learning, that goes beyond the traditional forms of rote learning.

LEARNING WITH ART & CRAFTS


CONFIDENCE BUILDING ACTIVITIES

Due to lack of support, often many children in the rural primary schools, do not have the confidence to speak up. Through this activity we focus on the improve-ment of the soft skills around public speaking and engagement.


Who does not love a story! Children love them the most! We use the power of storytelling to motivate children, and keep them engaged in the activities of the classrooms!

STORY TELLING


WRITING

The ability to write is a key learning skill. One only gets better at it if it is made a regular habit. Through these activities the champions encourage the students to write and often conduct writing competitions.


GENERAL KNOWLEDGE QUIZ

Aimed at arousing the curiosity levels of the children, these quiz sessions are good for getting the students to know more about the history and facts of India, and the different happening around the country.


SESSION DETAILS 2014-2015



WORK DEMOGRAPHICS

8 primary & 3 high school across Saharsa district in BiharCurrently 8 champions functioning

Projects to be launched in FY 15-16 Development through craftsDesign tools based learning mechanisms


To educate, is to enhance the self esteem and makes one’s value felt in a society


RUKMINI DEVI SCHOLARSHIP

Awarded to female high school students, the award aims to create local change-makers driving positive social change from a young age. The award comes with a financial incentive spread over 3 years and different forms of training in lead-ership, management, teaching and understanding child psychology.

• To train high school students on leadership from a young age. • To boost the confidence of the students to engage with different stakeholders in constructive collaboration towards the development of the society. • To enhance the skills level of the candidates to become capable of seeking employment in teaching, entrepreneurship on their own.

OBJECTIVES

PROJECT OVERVIEW


HOW IT WORKSHigh schools to select the champions, are chosen based on the vicinity of other primary schools where the champions could function. The champions go through a stringent 6 step selection process, that comprises of various tasks.

Once selected the champions are given training and mentoring by the senior champions. They conduct the sessions under the guidance of the senior champions, and later go on to conduct it themselves.

APRIL

15000in 6 installments

RUPEESBENEFIT TO

10High school students

PERIOD OF

3Years


CHAMPIONS SELECTION PROCESS

1. WRITING & INTEREST ASSESSMENT

2. READING

3. PUBLIC SPEAKING (EXTEMPORE)

4. GROUP DISCUSSIONS

5. PERSONAL INTERVIEW

6. HOME VISIT & PARENT’S INTERVIEW

SELECTION CRITERIA

• Awarded to unmarried female students only.• She should be studying in class 9, 10, or 11 in a government school. • The candidate should be from a financially needy family. • The student should be doing or motivated to do activities related to education • Be interested in contributing towards social upliftment in the area.

DISCUSSIONS WITH SCHOOLS & STAKEHOLDERS

1 2 3 4 5 6

ORIENTATION, ONBOARDING AND TRAINING


IMAGES FROM PAST SELECTION PROCESS

Personal Interview

Public Speaking (Extempore)

Home visit & Parent’s Interview

Group Discussions

Writing & Interest Assessment Reading


YEAR WISE ENGAGEMENT & LEARNING

OTHER BENEFITS OF ASSOCIATION• Life long association with the Trust, with mentors• Assistance in finding employement through the Trust and its partners

DETAILS OF THE SCHOLARSHIP AWARDEES


DIGITAL LITERACY & INTERNET AWARENESS

A program to empower the youth with the understanding of technology and its usages. With ample research to show that children can pick up using technol-ogy very quickly, we seek to create a program that enables children and youth to understand technology, its powers and avenues for accessing information, materials for education and ability to do tasks online, and a larger goal of empowering them to bring positive change in the society.

• Empower the youth with the understanding of Digital tools and the Internet.• To be able to use the power of Internet for education, utilities, commerce.• Address the issue of the unemployable youth, who are directionless. • Also as a long term goal, encourage more entrepreneurial activities amongst the youth.• Support local business to think about Enterprise led development, through informed partnerships and sharing a common goal.

OBJECTIVES

PROJECT OVERVIEW


HOW IT WORKSMarketing for the course is done to primarily target the High school Students. They enroll themselves at forms at the Computer Center, and is put in a group. Groups are decided based on preference of practical time.

We ensure sufficient practical learning time as well, apart from the theory.

MARCH

80+Students benefited

OVERRUPEES

1000Course fee

PERIOD OF

2Months


COURSE CONTENTS

• Basic Fundamentals of Computers• Windows Operating System• Basics of Word, Excel, Powerpoint • History of computers & Types of Network • Introduction to Internet and Browsers• Understanding Search Engines (Google)• Netiquettes, Surfing with an understanding of Security • Emails: From id to message creation & usage with attachments• Accessing Social sites (Facebook, Twitter etc.)• Communication Tools: Chatting, Video Conferencing (Skype) • Utilities: Ticket Booking, Payment of bills• Government sites and RTI • Online Shopping• Online form submission for examinations and job vacancies• Money Transfer, Net Banking • Use of Internet through Mobile, Internet on Tablet device • Introduction to Online Education and MOOCs• Google Drive

FEE STRUCTUREThis introductory course is priced at Rupees 1000 for a period of 2 months.

A scholarship refund of Rupees 200 is available to all students who pass the course with distinction at the end of the course.


IMAGES FROM CLASS


STUDENTS ENROLLED IN 2014-2015


STUDENTS ENROLLED IN 2014-2015

* Information of remaining graduating students to be received


The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet.- Aristotle


Public seminars engaging the different stakeholders in system namely students, teachers, parents, government office representatives.

CAREER AWARENESS SEMINARS

• To introduce new career opportunities to the students and guide them towards programs that could result in employability.• To inculcate the spirit of Entrepreneurship and the power of building a local economy that results in jobs and opportunities in the local but with a Global context.• To create tie ups with Vocational training centers to improve the academic professional and soft skills of the students in sync with the current times.• To engage in dialogues with the local schools, government authorities and also parents to get them more interested in the child’s education and prospective career.

OBJECTIVES

PROJECT OVERVIEW


HOW IT WORKSThe team engages with the schools who function as hosts.Students from high schools are invited to participate and engage in discussions around careers of their choice. Guidance is provided in finding avenues for preparation for competitive exams.

Students are also guided towards using Digital tools to seek more information about the different courses and job prospects.

Techers and government officials form a part of Panel that discusses on the challenges faced byt the students of the region. Noteworthy Teachers are also felicitated for their contribution in education.

AUGUST

800+Students attended

OVER AROUND

300Parents & Teachers

TOTAL

2Organised


IMAGES FROM PREVIOUS SEMINARS


CHILDREN’S DAY EVENT


CHRISTMAS EVENT


TEACHER’S DAY EVENT

WORLD LITERACY DAY EVENT


CHAMPION’S TRAINING

At the beginning of the association with the Happy Horizons Trust, the senior Champions are required to train the Junior Champions in the presence of the Manager.

The training involves getting the new champions believe in the larger vision of the organisation, conducting sessions, interacting with children, managing con-flicts within the school environment etc.


OPEN PARENT MEETING & DISCUSSION

STUDENTS, PARENTS, TRUSTEES MEETING


SOME MEDIA COVERAGE


MARKETING CAMPAIGN


AUDITOR’S REPORT


BALANCE SHEET


INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT


RECEIPT AND PAYMENT ACCOUNT


Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.-Harriet Tubman


WHAT LIES AHEAD

It’s been an exciting journey so far! Something that could not have been possible without the support of people who have believed in the cause we are pursuing.

As we step into the new year, we know that we do have a long way to go. The first activity that the upcoming year will see is the inauguration of the Computer Center in Saharsa district in Bihar. This will be the home for many of our programs and also act as the office for our on-ground operations there.

We also start to work more on skills development, as we have felt that a lot of the students we engage with are really short on both professional and commu-nication skills.

The power of technology is only being felt in the smaller towns and villages now. With the impetus on Digital Literacy, we are confident that we can bring substantial positive change in the education system.

Apart from this we have a mission of getting a good volunteer base who can help out with many things that the organisation needs from time to time. This could be in Project Planning to engaging with the champions, to managing Public relations to Marketing to Fund Raising.

We also set ourselves a task of raising funds to get more professional in our operations and expand to other locations. This would be our first organised effort towards fund raising. In the past we have got donations from people we have not met to help in spreading the word to more people willing to join the core team, we have seen a lot in the past year.

We welcome anyone interested in our work to join us as a team member or avolunteer. You can be based out of anywhere and contribute in different capacities.

We are excited and hopeful for the dream to become a reality.

Vatsala & KshitizManaging Trustees


Most people are mirrors, reflecting the moods and emotions of the times; few are windows, bringing light to bear on the dark corners where troubles fester. The whole purpose of education is to turn mirrors into windows.

© HAPPY HORIZONS TRUST, 2015.All rights reserved. www.happyhorizons.org

- Sydney J. Harris

Happy Horizons Trust Annual Report (2014-2015)

Government & Nonprofit

Transcript of Happy Horizons Trust Annual Report (2014-2015)