The Indic Society for Education and Development (INSEED)

Muktangan - Adult literacy centre, toy and book library, and activity centre for children at Gangapur, Nashik

Period: March 2008 - October 2010

The team:

1. Sangita Kulathinal, INSEED
2. Bijoy Joseph, INSEED
3. Sangeeta Shirname, INSEED
4. Indumati Badiani, INSEED
5. Rajashree Harish Gonte, MA (English), as Instructor

Financial support: The project was supported by INSEED and donations of toys and books made by people.

Aims: The objectives of the project were

• to establish a toy and book library in a peri-urban setting,
• to inititate needy children into the use of computers,
• to involve children in extra-curricular activities that promote learning,
• to educate adults through the use of Adult Literacy software.

Plan and implementation: INSEED rented a place in the village to establish the centre and recruited an instructor to oversee the activities of the centre. Most of the toys were collected from the city of Mumbai from families where the children had outgrown these toys. Story and reference books were purchased and children were encouraged to borrow them. TATA Consultancy Services provided with the Adult Literacy software developed by them. A computer recived as donation was used to run software, and for computer learning. During school holidays, the centre organised various learning and skills development activities such as drawing, music etc.

Status and outcome: The project lasted for two and half years. The centre was successful in drawing children to its various activities and developing interest towards reading and learning.

Publications: Photographs