Bhainsakar    |   Chargaon    |    Ish kripa    |    Pune    |    Additional Projects

BHAINSAKAR (Tribal School for children)
       
BACKGROUND AND CURRENT NEEDS

Bhainsakar is a remote village in Chattisgarh state, where St. Joseph's Home Society had established our initial work as a society. A tribal school, originally for girls, was formed in this interior village in 1998.  Currently the school has transformed into a co-ed facility, and a boarding facility is available for the benefit of children coming from villages anywhere from 15 to 56 km away.  (Bhainsakar has little access to transportation and modern conveniences).  The boarding facility accommodates only 55 children, although there are many more children who would like to avail of this facility.  The children come from poor farming families. While our school is recognized by the government, it is not aided or funded by them.   

Originally in 1998, the sisters had gone into the tribal areas of Bhainsakar to encourage young girls to understand the importance and need for education.  At the time, government schools were present but were extremely poor in quality. Furthermore, the girls in these tribes, as well as in many parts of India, receive less priority in terms of education and health care, due to gender discrimination, in which the male dominates the culture and society.  Many times the vulnerable females in the village get lured into big cities by agents who promise them work as domestic helps, and instead “sell” them for prostitution and sex trafficking. Consequently, there was, and still is, an obvious need for education in Bhainsakar, especially for females.

Our essential needs in Bhainsakar at this time include:
- A sufficient paid salary for the teachers to maintain quality education, as well as a consistent staff team.
- A solar lighting system that would minimize the issues facing electricity shortages in the village . 
- Construction of a larger facility, specifically a kitchen.
- Food; 3 balanced nutritional meals a day for 100 children.
- Proper hostel/boarding facilities.

Again, these are our current needs for the school to continue providing education and general accommodation to disadvantaged and vulnerable children in the Surguja and Raigarh districts of Chattisgarh.  As of now, St. Joseph's Home Society is providing the best possible services we can, based on the funds and support we have available to us.  But in order to keep our school intact, and the children hopeful, we need to first address the needs given here, by giving the school meal and the teachers’ salaries the greatest importance.

GOALS AND ADDITIONAL PROGRAM SERVICES IN BHAINSAKAR

Our goal at the tribal school in Bhainsakar is to provide quality education to the tribal children of Surguja and Raigarh districts, (with a specific focus on girls), through mental and physical nourishment, knowledge, awareness and intellectual growth. We also hope to provide an outlet for children to bloom into their own characters, based on their own unique personalities, free from oppressive restrictions.  We hope to celebrate the children’s lives through these means.  We can only do so with the support of greater humanity.

Additionally, St. Joseph's Home Society has grown in Bhainsakar by developing and maintaining Self-Help Groups for women, farmer’s groups as well as the initial health clinic that began our journey in Bhainsakar.  Outside of this, we are also working in 15 surrounding villages in Surguja district, where we have trained health workers and midwives to provide services in their own villages.  We regularly run various awareness programs including activities and village meetings where the tribal people come together to attain the common and basic needs of the community. Although adult literacy in these villages is very low, the villagers have come a long way and are still on the path to advancement and sustainability.  With the grace of funding, we can ensure all our goals are met in Bhainsakar.

IF YOU FEEL YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE TO OUR TRIBAL SCHOOL AND SOCIAL PROGRAMS IN BHAINSAKAR PLEASE CONTACT US!! YOUR HELP AND INTEREST IS GREATLY APPRECIATED!!