:: SANSKAR INDIA FOUNDATION (SIF) ::

Sanskar India Foundation (SIF) has been pro-actively working in the field of environmental awareness and social consciousness for more than five years. The vision of the Foundation is to empower children to serve as instruments of social reform by instilling civic, environment, health and social values at an impressionable age. This objective is pursued through ‘Sanskar’, a child-friendly programme designed especially for schools.

SIF started its programme with three schools in 2004. Encouraged by the positive reception by students and school principals, we expanded our sphere of activity the next year and from then on, we have only been growing and spreading our wings. Today, SIF conducts the programme in three different languages across 69 schools of which 56 are municipal schools spread across the island city and the suburbs.

To read on some of our annual accomplishments - click on the following chronology;

2003-04
A detailed study of the existing school curriculum made it clear for the need of a holistic, non-formal program teaching civic, environment, social, moral and health values in a way that would be exciting and promote internalizing of these concepts. The focus had to be on provoking the interest and inducing a sense of participation and responsibility in children. This would enable them to grow up as responsible citizens who would contribute to improving and maintaining their environment and act against influences detrimental to environment and health.

To make the programme effective, it could not be textbook education with exams conducted for marks that would defeat the very purpose as the focus then would be merely on rote learning for better performance in exams.

All these factors were taken into consideration while designing a child-friendly programme, “Sanskar,” to fill the gap left inadequately served by formal school education. The programme was designed after much research and with inputs from experts in the relevant fields.

2004-05
‘Sanskar’ was launched in the month of July and introduced in 8 divisions of 3 schools with over 500 children benefiting. The schools selected for the pilot (introductory phase) were St. Mary’s High School, Kendriya Vidyalaya 2 and Baretto High School.

The response from schools was overwhelming and the impact on students very encouraging. The students enjoyed the child-friendly, interactive mode of teaching and participated whole-heartedly. Almost 50% voluntarily gave up burning crackers at the time of Diwali. The Principals of the schools praised the programme and greatly appreciated the impact it had on the children. Campaigns like ‘Say NO to Crackers,’ ‘Say NO to plastics’ and “Use Eco-Friendly idols” stimulated a special interest. Two of the three schools acted by introducing vermiculture as an environment friendly way of handling their wet waste.

Overall the programme had been successful in sensitizing children to civic and environment problems and injecting in them a sense of responsibility to contribute towards improving the physical and social environment.

2005-06
Encouraged by the success of the pilot project in 2004-2005, Sanskar India Foundation expanded its activities in 2005-2006 to conduct the programme in 34 schools (60 classes), 25 being Municipal Schools and 9 Govt. Aided / Private schools. The programme was conducted in 3 languages (Marathi, Hindi and English). Almost 2500 children benefited from the same.

‘Sanskar’ was very well accepted by the children who were able to implement learned concepts as well as spread the message to friends and neighbours.

2006-07
‘Sanskar’ was conducted in 52 schools (92 classes) in 3 languages. Of these, 42 were Municipal schools spread all over Mumbai City and suburbs. Over 4000 children benefited from the same. Teachers and volunteers were extensively trained for the same.

2007-08
‘Sanskar’ has been conducted in 56 schools (101 classes) in 3 languages. Of these, about 40 are Municipal schools spread all over Mumbai City and suburbs. Around 4500 children have benefited from the same.

Campaigns, exhibitions and skits have also been organized to enthuse children to adopt eco-friendly ways of living and conserve natural resources. Special efforts have been taken to convince schools to have eco-friendly fun-fairs using leaf and paper plates and glasses instead of plastic and thermocol ones.

The organisation conducted three workshops and skits over two weekends for the Kala Ghoda festival in February 2008. The workshops educated the public on Vermi-composting, Paper Recyling and Preparation of Natural Holi Colours. The skits gave important social and environment messages.

2008-09
‘Sanskar’ has been conducted in 69 schools (117 classes) in 3 languages. Of these, about 56 are Municipal schools spread all over Mumbai City and suburbs. Around 4500 children have benefited from the same.

SIF has initiated and organised various outreach activities and for the same we have lauded and encouraged to continue with the same in future. Some of these activities which have received positive response complemented with a change in attitude towards the society include-workshops at Kala Ghoda festival 2008-09, workshops at NGO Parivarthan and JBCN on Importance of Greening and Waste Management respectively.

SIF has also entered Worli slum communities of Ambedkar Nagar and Prem Nagar. SIF along with the students of SNDT University have carried out a survey in the area and have identified key issues which need to be addressed accordingly. Many school drop outs have been identified following our survey in the community. SIF has already started networking with organisations to encourage the drop outs for training and finding them jobs as per their skill sets. SIF arranged a session on vocational training with the help of Kotak Mahindra Trust.

From our survey conducted in 60 schools covering around 11,500 children from the years 2004 to 2008, it was observed that over 60% of the children gave up burning fire-crackers during Diwali, 65% took steps to conserve electricity and water, 70% reduced the use of plastic bags drastically and 100% were much more aware about the environment and pollution.

Our recent survey results from the academic year 2008-09 has witnessed phenomenal response from the Municipal Schools; 96 % students have stopped using plastics following the campaign on Say No to Plastics. 87% students gave up playing with fire crackers, the remaining of 13% children have reduced the use of the same. 93% students have taken initiatives to conserve electricity and judicious use of water in their day-to-day lives.

Response to the entire programme is best understood by the visible change in the attitude of children as they actively participate to implement learned concepts. Parents report that their children have not only become more aware but are also implementing the learning in their daily lives. Many children have been successful in convincing families to lead eco-friendly lifestyles. School authorities have also greatly appreciated the programme for its unique, child-friendly methodology and impact it has had on the students.

The programme is continuously upgraded to generate greater participation from children and inspire them to lead eco-friendly lifestyles. Children have responded heartrendingly to special campaigns like ‘Say No to Crackers,’ ‘Only Eco-friendly Holi’, etc, going on to push the theme in their homes and neighbourhood as well.

Students, teachers and even parents (adults) have understood the impact of our programme-Sanskar, and on everyone who has come in contact with it. This has encouraged us to further our efforts in every direction possible. We started with schools later reached out to the society through our workshops and networked with NGOs and organisations alike; now SIF has entered the community and visualizes to bring about a similar change in the living standards of the slum dwellers with consistent efforts backed by our experience and expertise in implanting social, health, civic and environmental values.