Author: Group Communications

Riju K. Varghese, a then 25-year-old student part of SNS Foundation’s MAST (Market Aligned Skills Training) programme while being employed as an assistant warehouse manager for Myntra bagged the ‘Star of the Month’ award. This was a commendable achievement considering the fact that his hearing and speech had been impaired since birth. “When I first joined Myntra, everybody was sympathetic towards me because of my disability and I was very uncomfortable with that attitude. I slowly tried to socialise with them. I worked very hard to prove that I am an equal competitor and their sympathetic attitude slowly vanished”, said Varghese. He added, “Recently, I got the ‘Star of the Month’ award for completing the maximum targets for the month of March in 2014”. “Before joining MAST, I did not have a source of income and found it difficult finding a job. I am thankful to SNS Foundation and the American India Foundation because of whose assistance I got the opportunity to work for Myntra”, said Varghese. With his earnings, he was able to pursue a degree in business administration to supplement his diploma and had made plans to get a MBA degree as well.

One of the 11 government schools SNS Foundation partnered in Gurgaon, three participated in the Steer to Safety campaign organised by PVR NEST (Network for Enablement and Social Transformation), the social engagement wing of PVR Cinemas. The Steer to Safety campaign included various initiatives using social media, including making minute-long documentaries and setting up school-level road safety clubs to reach out to local communities to spread awareness on different facets of road safety. The Government Model Sanskriti Senior Secondary School in Sushant Lok participated in the school- level road safety club activity while the Government Girls’ Senior Secondary School in Jacobpura joined forces with the Xion International School to make a minute-long documentary called Wear Seat Belt While Driving. The Government Senior Secondary School in Sector-4 of Gurgaon together with the Chiranjeev Bharati School in Palam Vihar participated in both categories and produced a documentary titled Don’t Drive When Tired. The Government Senior Secondary School in Sector-4 secured the first prize in the club activity category along with the Tagore International School in Vasant Vihar.

SNS Foundation signed a MoU with Department of Education, Himachal Pradesh State Government. The two parties were represented by Mr. C. S. Patel, Trustee, Deep C Anand Foundation and Mr. Ghanshyam Chand, Project Director – Himachal Pradesh, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan. With the signing of this MoU, SNS Foundation started working jointly with the State Government in order to improve the quality of education in the 11 government-run schools of Parwanoo. ~2,400 students studying in primary and senior secondary grades in these 11 schools were reached out to over the next two years in a phased manner. The first phase began in July 2014 and focused on three primary schools with ~ 500 students. Providing the students with after-school coaching and improving the existing academic infrastructure were the key aspects of this engagement. Since, majority of the ~2,400 students come from ~15 slums that dot Parwanoo, improving hygiene and sanitation in these slums was another crucial aspect of this engagement.

In a bid to elevate the quality of life in the villages near the Jawai, SNS Foundation undertook several initiatives in the realms of education and healthcare. SNS Foundation had adopted nine government schools for improving the standard of classroom teaching and minimise the number of students who were lagging behind. Across these nine schools, SNS Foundation employed nine additional teachers to achieve the aforementioned objective. To support these teachers, a two-day training programme was organised on 6th and 7th December at the Government Middle School in Jivda village. The person entrusted with the responsibility of overseeing the two-day-long workshop was Mr. Ramesh Gharu, a schoolteacher from Barmer. Mr. Gharu shared with the teachers how mobile teaching aids can be made using everyday materials such as old wedding cards, x-ray films and empty pen refills, among others. Furthermore, veterinary camps were organised in three villages surrounding the Jawai: Jivda, Sena and Meeno Ki Dhanee, on 20th, 21st and 22nd December, respectively. A total of 2,595 cattle, comprising primality of goats (58%) as well as buffaloes, cows and sheep, were examined and provided with necessary medicines.

In a bid to enhance adult literacy rates, SNS Foundation initiated classes across five villages of Trimbakeshwar block of Nasik district. These classes benefitted 102 women from the village of Rohile, Kharset, Behedpada, Khairapali and Sadadpada, located within a 40 to 65-kilometre radius of Nashik. ~50% of the adult learners were in the age group of 30-40 years. >50% also appeared for the annual examination organised by the District Adult Education Office, Nashik in April 2017.

SNS Foundation, in collaboration with Gabriel India, engaged with five government schools in Dewas region. Of these, three were primary schools one was a middle school and another, senior secondary. ~600 children aged between five and 17 studied in these five schools, located in the Siya village. SNS Foundation in partnership with the Dewas district administration facilitated an infrastructural overhaul of the aforementioned schools, including the construction of two classrooms. On 7th May, Mr. Deepak Joshi, the erstwhile Minister of Education and Skill Development, Madhya Pradesh, inaugurated the newly-developed facilities during a ceremony that was attended by Mr. Jaganath Shenoy (Gabriel Dewas Plant Head and Hub Leader for Dewas) and the SNS Dewas team led by Ms. Ritu Vyas along with the school fraternity.

SNS Foundation was felicitated for its noteworthy contribution in the successfully implementation of various programmes of the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development that have impacted >10,000 lives across 220 villages of Dewas, Madhya Pradesh. The recognition was conferred during an event that marked the 36th Foundation Day of the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development.

As a part of the CSR initiatives of Dana Anand India, SNS Foundation has been working in Jodahalli helping educate and skill the rural populace as well as bring about infrastructural development in the area. Over the past three years, 100 girls and 20 women have become self-employed after being trained in garment-making. 115 youth have joined the country’s workforce after being trained in factory operations and maintenance. >1000 students and >40 teachers have gained access to hygienic sanitation facilities across six schools of Kalghatgi block in the Dharwad district of Karnataka. Furthermore, 2.000 square feet of classroom space (accessed by 200 students annually) have been added across three schools of the aforementioned block. In recognition of the efforts of the SNS Foundation’s Jodahalli team, the Government Teachers’ Association of Kalghatgi block recognised it as the Best NGO in the block. Ms. Uma Hampanavar, Head of SNSF’s Jodahalli operations was felicitated by Mr. Santosh Lad, MLA, Kalghatgi block and the Minister of Information and Infrastructure in the Karnataka State Government on the occasion of Teachers’ Day.