Helping Minds

NCLP Schools

2012-02-12T05:41:00.000-08:00

Remember the MasterCard advert that adds a price to everything and in the end claims that happiness seen on loved one's face is priceless? At Helping Minds, we experienced it through Mr. Muppi when he distributed uniforms to the kids of two of the NCLP schools.

Back in June 2011, we decided to help the NCLP schools as much as we can. There are around 21 NCLP schools in Coimbatore district itself, and they all need support from the society in one way or other. They have not received uniforms from the government yet and had seeked help from Helping Minds. 2 weeks back, Muppi went to Coimbatore along with the NCLP Coordinator and Field Officer, purchased uniforms and chocolates and distributed them to the school kids.

While the visit and the deed of distributing the uniforms is insignificant in itself, but what we experienced there was more than encouraging. This is what Mr. Muppi has to say about the kids - "These kids were once toiling as labors in textile mills, workshops and what not. Today, there is an apparent enthusiasm for life in them. One can see hope for the future in their eyes when they come to school. Projects like NCLP are commendable efforts by the government to uplift the poor through education As a society, we need to support the government in projects like NCLP. We had planned to visit at least 3 schools today, but we could visit and distribute the uniforms to only 2. Had there been more volunteer support we would have been able to visit more schools and help the students in every small possible way that we can"

You can see some of the pictures taken at these schools here

If we were to borrow lines from MasterCard, we say this - "Uniforms to NCLP school students - Rs. 20,000. Opportunity to put a smile on their faces - Priceless"

Do you want to experience it first hand? Do let us know in comments, we are looking for volunteers to provide more support to NCLP schools.

Looking back at 2011

2012-01-01T06:25:00.002-08:00

Looking back at 2011, where did we spend the most funds? Where did we spend our time?
It should not be a surprise that we spent more than 50% of the funds in supporting professional course students which are expensive and are still out of reach for many of the rural students.

Rural students still struggle to pay their tuition fees, irrespective of the education stream. There are families who cannot support their wards finish arts and science courses or vocational courses. Almost 3/4th of the funds were spent in paying tuition fees for such students.

We are ringing in the new year with a great news - A girl from Chatrapathi village has got a job offer after finishing her course in textile technology with Helping Minds support. Now she will be able to support herself and her poor family and things look brighter for her. Helping Minds wishes this student a great and fulfilled year.

With your support, we hope to bring joy and cheer to more and more such families in 2012. We hope to continue to get support from our patrons and well-wishers so that we can bring in hope for more deserving students.

We wish students, their families, our patrons and supporters a great and fulfilled new year!

Letter from Akkur Government school Headmaster

2011-12-24T19:50:00.000-08:00

Here is a letter from the Head master of the Akkur Government school near Nagapattinam, thanking for the teacher salary support from Helping Minds trust for the teacher who is doing an awesome job enabling several students to get Engineering seat from a government school.

Supporting Educational Institutions in Rural Areas

2011-12-18T07:47:00.001-08:00

While helping individual students is rewarding, nothing compares to the feeling we get when we support an educational institution that in turn helps hundreds of students. In late 2009, we started helping out a goverment high school at Akkur, Nagapattinam district to provide a teacher to teach Electric Domestic Appliances. This is one of the areas that can provide quick employment opportunities for the students or enable them to start on their own. Since then, we have been supporting the salary requirements of the teacher to impart the students with right skills.

There are numerous schools in rural areas that need support from the society. There are schools with no proper water facilities or even basic infrastructure, with poor student teacher ratios that need support. If you are interested in supporting such a rural institution that can help hundreds of students and children in the area, do get in touch with us. We will be glad to work with you.

Our support for the mess fees of 2 students also continues. The Salem Medical College student receives support for mess fees, and we have also started supporting a Computer Science Engineering student at Bargur engineering college.

At HM, machines keep humming in the background...

2011-10-19T11:55:00.000-07:00

The HM machines never stop. It keeps humming in the background, ever so silently. Every one of our volunteers and executive members have a full time job, and have families to take care of. Yet, they amazingly find time to ensure that the activities at helpingminds never stop. Requests for education support keep flowing in, and everybody involved in processing requests, validation, members fund collection, expenses, finance, technology team everybody somehow finds time amidst their busy and demanding schedule to ensure that the fund reaches the right institution at the right time. A quick snapshot of the checks we released in the last 2 months is given below -

5/9/2011 Naveen 3201.00
7/9/2011 Kanraj.R 1300.00
17/9/2011 Mythili 960.00
7/10/11 Naveen 3357.00
13/10/11 Mythili 910.00
13/10/11 Kanraj.R 1019.00

A lot of hard work goes behind every check received by our beneficiaries to pay their tuition fee or their mess bill, and as an organization, we are very thankful to our volunteers and team members.

New beginning. New Journey - Helping an engineering student!

2011-08-31T19:23:00.000-07:00

We recently received a support request through one of our volunteer/member. The student had just finished school, and had received admissions into engineering college. The student's academic record looked impressive - 93% in SSLC (Grade 10 for those who are not familiar with Indian education system) and 88% in HSC (Grade 12).

An impeccable record on the books, but one has to see the conditions in which he achieved this. His parents are coolies who wouldn't possibly earn more than 2-3$ a day. He has 2 younger brothers and the family of five lives in a government provided shelter of just 250 sq ft. He had no financial support from his relatives.

If a student at a such young age can brave such adverse situations to score great marks deserves a lot of help from our society. Students like him are an asset to our nation, they should not be denied an opportunity to realize his potential and dreams. And that's exactly what we did. With our supporter's help, the student has been enrolled into the engineering college, his tuition fees are paid and hostel/mess fees have been taken care of.

It feels wonderful to help someone who deserves it. We thank our volunteers who introduced him to HelpingMinds, our validation committee members who did the background check of the student, and finally our supporters who patronized through their funding.

For this student, the journey has just started. And so does for HelpingMinds too. We'll support him until he graduates. We will need more funds to do that, and we seek your support. If you wish to support this student, do let us know. We will provide complete details of the student to you for you to understand the beneficiary better.

What's your story?

2011-08-19T14:03:00.000-07:00

With raising inflation, more & more students are struggling to make ends meet. Many of our volunteers and patrons come from such backgrounds & understand the pain of paying tuition fees, books, mess fees, clothes etc without landing a burden on parents.

What's your story? Tell us how you managed during your college days and we will publish it on our blogs.

Share your story at http://www.facebook.com/helpingminds. Be an inspiration.

Continuing support for Arani Diploma student and Dharmapuri MBBS Student

2011-08-18T13:50:00.000-07:00

HM has paid Rs. 1132 towards the mess fees of Arani Diploma student on 18 July 2011 and Rs. 930 on 9 Aug 2011. HM has also paid Rs. 4129 for the mess fees of Dharmapuri MBBS Student on 5 Aug 2011

Do you 'Like' Facebook? Do you tweet?

2011-08-16T18:17:00.001-07:00

If yes, good news.You can find Helpingminds on facebook and twitter now.
If no, great news. You can get on to the bandwagon now and stay connected with helpingminds.

When it comes to Social media, we know that we may not be the fastest. We may not be the geeks. We are not the early adopters. We may be jumping in little late, but we are here to stay. Helping Minds is now on Facebook and Twitter.

Like us on Facebook at Helping Minds and follow us on twitter through @helpingminds. It's a great place to connect and help each other. Join us, and do let your friends know.

Next? Yes, Google+.

Continuing Support for Tiruchengode B.Tech Student

2011-08-01T14:47:00.000-07:00

The student is doing 3rd year B.tech textile technology at K.S.R college of technology,Tiruchengode . The student has got CGPA of 8.96(till sixth semester). We have already helped the student last year and he had scored 9.1 CGPA last year. Also he had done internship project at vardhman textiles punjab successfuly and they have given preplacement offer to the student. The student had got a bank loan of Rs.42985. But the college fees is Rs. 59450. Helping minds is cotiniuing support to this student and had paid Rs.16465 on July 22 2011.

Support for PACR Diploma student

2011-07-28T16:52:00.000-07:00

The student had completed 10th std in 2008 and had scored 439. She is currently working in a a local company as a winding worker. The student's mother is doing weaving and father is a watchman. Also his health condition is not good. He had met with an accident and operated on both the legs. So he could not send her daughter to college during 2008. Also they did not have much of wealth left with them as they spent a lot for his treatment. But the student is willing to continue her studies. Now the student has got a seat to do Textile Technology course in PACR College. Considering the economic background of the student and the student's willingness to learn, Helping minds had paid Rs. 9382 on Jul 22 2011.

Support for VSB Engineering College Student

2011-07-28T16:25:00.000-07:00

The student is doing BE Computer Science II Year in VSB Engineering College. The student had scored very good marks in 10th and 12th std. The student's father is a textile labour and mother is a tailor. Her younger sister scored 467 in SSLC and continuing in Government School. The student's brother is doing his 9th std in Government School.Though she had chances to get a seat in Government college,Thirukkuvalai, She did not join because of lack of awareness and also they were not in a position to bear hostel fees and mess fees. When the student joined college in first year, the fees was 52500 - 20000 (for first graduation students) = 32500. But now, the College conveyed that only when the Government pays Rs. 20000 for this year, the college will pay back the amount. So the student has to pay Rs.20000 now. Considering the critical condition of the student, Helping minds accepted to help her and had paid Rs. 10000 on Jul 22 2011.

Support for CMS College B.Tech Student

2011-07-18T21:17:00.000-07:00

The student is doing B.Tech Information technology in CMS College of engineering. His mother was working as a maid. Now due to her medical conditions, she is not able to work. After 10th std, he had worked as room boy in one of the star hotel for 2 years. Then he did Diploma (Electronics and communication engineering) in CSI polytechnic college salem. Then he had worked as PCB board designer in AIR+MAK industry in coimbatore(1.5years) experiance. Then he joined CMS college of engineering namakkal as a lateral entry student. For his second year, he has got help from friends and relatives and also has got some amount for interest. For 3rd year, he has got money on interest (Finance). He is not able to get money this yr on finance because he has not paid the amount he had got earlier. So he has googled to see trusts that can help him and he requested Helping minds to help him. Considering the critical situation of the student, HM had paid Rs.10000 on 1 July 2011 towards his college fees.

Support for Erode sengunthar engineering college student

2011-07-18T17:21:00.000-07:00

The student is doing B.E Mechanical Engineering in Erode Engineering college. The student had scored 82% in his first semester. The student's father passed away. His mother's earning is very less and might be sufficient for her and her daughter. Also her daughter is doing +2 in Government School. She has to bear the tution fee for her daughter as well. They applied for education loan and they are able to get Rs. 40000 per year. The student was initially supported by one of his relative. But now, he is in need of money. Out of the total fees of Rs. 57000, he is getting an education loan for Rs. 40000 and looking for support for the remaining amount. Considering his family situation, Helping minds team decided to support him and had paid Rs. 10000 on 26 June 2011.

Support for Vellakovil Panchayath union middle school

2011-07-17T18:48:00.000-07:00

In this school, there are around 73 students from Std I to Std V. But there is only one teacher to take care of these students. But there are more number of teachers present in the school to handle from Std VI to Std X. As per rules, Higher class teachers should not be allowed to to teach primary classes. So the school HM requested AEO to deploy one teacher. Teacher is sent to this school on deputation But it is not regular. The teacher comes once in a week. Mr.Chandrasekar , teacher of this school requested HM to give salary for the teacher at least for Feb, March and April. Also Government will appoint the teacher after July only because of elections,new govt etc. So HM had decided to take up this request and had paid Rs.1250 each month from February 2011 to August 2011.

Continuing help for Trichy Anna University BE Student

2011-07-16T21:41:00.000-07:00

HM is continuing support for the Anna University Computer Engineering student and had paid the fees of Rs 10855 on 1 July 2010.

Continuing support for kongu Engineering College student

2011-07-16T21:27:00.000-07:00

The student had scored very good marks in her semesters and was rewarded by the college recently. HM is continuing support to the Kongu Engineering student and had paid Rs. 10000 on 30 June 2011 towards her studies

Continuing support for Arani Diploma student

2011-07-16T20:13:00.000-07:00

HM is continuing support to the diploma student and had paid Rs. 1085 on June 1 2011 for her mess fees

Continuing support for Dharmapuri MBBS Student

2011-07-16T19:58:00.000-07:00

HM had paid Rs. 2759 on June 3 2011 and Rs. 2920 on July 1 2011 for the mess fees of the Dharmapuri student.

Visit to Kenganaickenpalayam school - report by Mani

2011-07-03T10:07:00.000-07:00

Here is a report from our member Balamanikandan:

I visited Panchayath union middle school, Kenganaickenpalayam, Tirupur on 19-06-2011. I interacted with school Headmistress. The usage of monthly periodicals being sponsored by Helping minds is highly satisfactory. The students read the magazines and they are doing some activities also. The Headmistress conveyed her thanks on behalf of school teachers and students. You can see the work done by students using chutti vikatan in the upper corner of the photos.

Helping Minds Team wishes Chatrapatti diploma student who has got a job

2011-06-19T19:37:00.001-07:00

In 2009, we got a request from the student of Chatrapatti village. She was doing Textile Technology at P.A.C.Ramasamy Raja Polytechnic college, Rajapalayam. Considering her family background and her interest towards continuing education, Helping Minds supported for her college fees. Now the good news is that she has got a job. Helping Minds Team has conveyed wishes to her. She is currently working in Saravana Mills, Dindugal.

National Child Labor Project Schools

2011-06-17T13:47:00.000-07:00

Helping Minds team discussed about the National Child Labor Project (NCLP) Schools and decided to find out how Helping Minds can extend support to NCLP schools.

As a first step, Muppi from our team visited Coimbatore to meet Collector Umanath IAS to check on NCLP Schools. Umanath IAS provided the details about the schools.

NCLP schools are funded directly by Central Government, and the fund is managed by district collector. General data about these schools in Coimbatore
Total NCLP Schools in Coimbatore : 21
Total Teaching Staff : 69 (Approx 3 to each school)
Non teaching staff for each school (Helper) : 1 (Cooking, cleaning)
Ages of students in school : 9 to 14
Coordinator for all 21 schools : 1 (Mr Vijaya Kumar)

The salary paid for the teachers in NCLP schools is very less and so the collector has written to government saying the salary can be increased for the staff to have better management of these schools. 90% of the students are immigrants from other state (Manipur, Assam etc). Most of them come here as cheap labour, once the work is finished, they go back or move to some other jobs. Making the students continue in the school and advising parents about the importance of education are really challenging tasks for the officials here.

Here are few statistics about Child labor in India -

Of 12.6 million children in hazardous occupations in the world, India has the highest number of labourers in the world under 14 years of age.

According to the New Delhi-based National Sample Survey Organisation, nearly 16.4 million Indian children aged 5-14 years are engaged in economic activities and domestic or non-remunerative work. The World Bank puts that figure at 44 million.

National Child Labor Project is a Central Government program, with the help of UNICEF, which aims to provide education for the children who were employed. The NCLP schools are different from the normal schools since the education needs of the students are different. The education needs and the aptitude of the students are assessed and they are taught here till they are good enough to be brought to the mainstream regular schools. In the state of Tamil Nadu, NCLP has helped more than 3,600 child labourers leave their jobs and be mainstreamed into regular schools.

Muppi visited three NCLP schools in Karunya Nagar, Kaaramadai and Rangarajapuram. Some school buildings are government owned and some are rented. There is just one small building, very small in size, with asbestos on top and side. Actually it is very difficult for the kids to sit there during summer time. The students were singing songs, rhymes etc to reveal their talents. Muppi and friends had a look at notebooks of each kids and checked them how good they are at what they have written and were amazed to see the way they were responding. The students are making very good progress overall.

Link to Coimbatore NCLP Schools visit photos:

https://picasaweb.google.com/muppitathi/KovaiTrip?authkey=Gv1sRgCO7rnqWdg6-T6QE&feat=directlink&fgl=true&pli=1#

More information about the requirements of NCLP schools will be posted in our future blogs.

Scholarships for the year from April 2011

2011-06-10T19:49:00.000-07:00

#	Date	Recipient	Amount
01	21-Apr-2011	Mess fees for Dharmapuri MBBS Student	2917
02	5-Apr-2011	Mess fees for Karaikudi Chemical Engineering student	1100
03	13-May-2011	Mess fees for Karaikudi Chemical Engineering student	1060
04	24-Apr-2011	College fees for Teacher training student	5000
05	13-May-2011	College fees for Sriviliputtur VPMM Arts College Student	10000
06	2-Jun-2011	College fees for Pollachi Mahalingam College Student	20000
07	3-Jun-2011	Mess fees for Dharmapuri MBBS Student	2759
08	1-Jul-2011	Mess fees for Dharmapuri MBBS Student	2920
09	1-Jun-2011	Mess fees for Arani Diploma Student	1085
10	30-Jun-2011	College fees for Kongu Engineering Student	10000
11	30-Jun-2011	College fees for Trichy Anna University Student	10855
12	01-Apr-2011	Support for Vellakovil Panchayath union middle school	1250
13	01-May-2011	Support for Vellakovil Panchayath union middle school	1250
14	01-Jun-2011	Support for Vellakovil Panchayath union middle school	1250
15	01-Jul-2011	Support for Vellakovil Panchayath union middle school	1250
16	01-Aug-2011	Support for Vellakovil Panchayath union middle school	1250
17	26-Jun-2011	Support for Erode Sengunthar College Student	10000
18	1-Jul-2011	Support for CMS College B.Tech Student	10000
19	22-Jul-2011	Support for VSB Engineering College Student	10000
20	22-Jul-2011	Support for PACR Diploma Student	9382
21	22-Jul-2011	Support for Tiruchengode B.Tech Student	16465
22	18-Jul-2011	Mess fees for Arani Diploma Student	1132
23	9-Aug-2011	Mess fees for Arani Diploma Student	930
24	5-Aug-2011	Mess fees for Dharmapuri MBBS Student	4129
25	5-Sep-2011	Mess fees for Dharmapuri MBBS Student	3201
26	7-Oct-2011	Mess fees for Dharmapuri MBBS Student	3357
27	17-Sep-2011	Mess fees for Arani Diploma Student	960
28	13-Oct-2011	Mess fees for Arani Diploma Student	910
29	7-Sep-2011	Mess fees for Salem Civil Engineering Student	1300
30	13-Oct-2011	Mess fees for Salem Civil Engineering Student	1019
31	01-Oct-2011	Salary for Nagapattinam tuition teachers	2000
32	01-Nov-2011	Salary for Nagapattinam tuition teachers	2000
33	01-Dec-2011	Salary for Nagapattinam tuition teachers	2000
Total			152731

The details of the scholarships for the year 2010 is available here, for the year 2009 is available here for the year 2008 is available here and for the year 2007 is at here

Support for Sriviliputtur VPMM Arts College Student

2011-06-10T17:03:00.000-07:00

The student is doing B.COM in VPMM Arts and science college, sriviliputtur. Her parents are doing weaving. The student had scored 75% in her first semester and her major subjects mark average is 82%. Considering the family background, Helping Minds team decided to help her and had paid Rs 10000 on 13 May 2011 for her college fees.

Support for the teacher training student

2011-06-09T15:10:00.000-07:00

The person is doing his teacher training. He has got information about Helping Minds from one of the teacher training candidates Helping minds had helped before. The person has got very good academic records. He has got 89.5% in 10th and 81% in 12th. His father is a tailor and mother is a flower vendor. Since he has scored good marks and the fees is high, Helping minds decided to support him and had paid Rs. 5000 on 24 April 2011.