Partnership with Rainbow Academy
Project Profile
Rainbow Academy is a non-profit English-medium school for disadvantaged children living near Darjeeling, India.
Partnership History
Rainbow Academy has been an Omprakash partner since January, 2008. We are happy to let this organization represent itself on our website.
Need for Volunteers
Rainbow Academy is constantly in need of volunteers who can help teach English to its student body. Please read the text below and contact ashley@omprakash.org or Puran Rai at puran_rai@sancharnet.in or puranrai07@gmail.com if you are interested in volunteering.
The text below has been composed by Puran Rai, director of Rainbow Academy.
Introduction
The following is a proposal to serve the underprivileged, disadvantaged, orphan, semi-orphan, poorest and needy children of rural hill areas in Gorubathan, Darjeeling District, India providing residential, quality and modern english medium education to them from Nursery to Class VI.
Background
The children of Gorubathan can not expect quality education in the rural life from the locally based govt. and private schools which are far away from their respective villages. The children are totally isolated from the outside world and global village neither they get opportunity to see the drastic changes in the technologies, practices and principalities in the world today. Their mind is limited with their village set up, inadequate education and finally
traditional farming as practised by their forefathers in the locality. They are therefore still remaining backward, under developed, ignorant and unaware. The children of the locality are deprived of availing quality education outside Gorubathan in the boarding schools due to their poverty and incapability. Some of the literate or school drop-out youths go out from their respective villages for seeking any daily wages job in cities and towns. Due to their ignorance, low education & self low-esteem they are cheated, exploited and even abused by the urban people. They are engaged on hazardous work taking the risk of their life and deadly disease without any hope for the future. They do not see any possibility to have better place, respect, dignity and hope in the society. Therefore, with frustration they are addicted to bad habits & fellowships, negative attitude & feelings and finally destroy or kill their God given beautiful life.
Shanti Kunj, a non-profit organization started in the year 2005-06 by the like minded social people. Its registered office is located in Salbari, Siliguri, District Darjeeling, India. The organization’s objective is to build up the capacity of the local people who are deprived of the rights of human being and bring them upto the situation that will empower them to be self reliant and sustainable. Shanti Kunj took initiative and challenges to start a new ICSE (Indian Certificate of Secondary Education) school which can give the basic foundation to the underprivileged, disadvantaged, orphans, semi orphans, poorest and needy children of the locality that impact the total community as a whole making them educated, civilized, self sustainable and sufficient in their well being. The organization has been registered with Govt. of West Bengal, India under Societies Act in the year 2005-06. The organization is now running a small home for the destitute people specially for old aged women and deaf children.
Rainbow Academy, a non-profit ICSE english medium school was founded in the year 2006 by Shanti Kunj, a non-profit organization. The purpose of this school is to provide a quality and modern education to the underprivileged, disadvantaged, orphans, semi orphans, poorest and needy children of Gorubathan, District 
Darjeeling, West Bengal, India for their overall well being. Rainbow Academy is on the process of affiliating to Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE). The school is governed by a School Management Committee, which includes Parents/Guardians, Social Workers, Govt. Representatives, Educationists; Directors, Principal, Head Masters, Administrator & Teachers of School & Members of the Shanti Kunj.
Philosophy of the School:
The philosophy of Rainbow Academy largely influences the types of activities and the curriculum that will impact in the lives of underprivileged, disadvantaged, poorest and needy children. Therefore, it is imperative that parents become familiar with the philosophy behind the school in order to understand the focus on the development of the student integrally on intellectual, physical, emotional, psychological, social and spiritual areas. So we feel that the student must be provided with opportunities, love, care and hope that will challenge them and aid their progression from one stage to the next with creative ideas, information and knowledge. We also believe that the student construct knowledge through active learning; Our program will provide student with a large variety of activities that will allow for success and encourage advancement in integral areas of development. Therefore, it is our utmost concern that our program provides a nurturing, comfortable environment that is specifically structured to meet the physical, emotional, psychological, intellectual, moral and spiritual needs of each individual student. In order to do this, it is imperative that we individualize our program to meet each student’s specific growth needs. Last, we feel it is most important that we work closely with the parents in order to secure an environment that is most beneficial to the student.
The Rainbow Academy is committed to provide:
Ø an atmosphere of love, care and hope in which the students have no cause for timidity and in which they are treated with courtesy and tenderness;
Ø an atmosphere of patience, allowing unhurried responses to student’s natural inquisitiveness;
Ø learning opportunities designed to promote intellectual, physical, emotional, social and spiritual growth;
Ø an environment free of racial or sex-role bias, stereotype, or prejudice;
Ø an atmosphere of warm and active cooperation between parents and teachers.
Curriculum:
Our activities reflect our philosophy. Just as the social, emotional and intellectual development of a student overlaps and intertwines, so do the activities. The students may use the materials to meet their needs. Respect for each other and the environment are always stressed. Our teachers accept and design their classroom walls with learning materials at which students can freely access to their learning. We rotate and add materials frequently to maintain and extend the student’s interest. Students learn best when teachers build on the interests and abilities of the students. This reflects the currently recognized theory which endorses non-stressed, student-centered activities guided by a student friendly teacher with a solid student development base. It includes activities centering on communication, science, mathematics, social studies, music, art, and games. Dramatic skit or play opportunities reinforce learning of practical life experiences. A music and dance class with a trained music specialist is offered to the students once a week.
Curriculum skills:
Ø Language development
Ø Science
Ø Mathematics
Ø Social studies
Ø Writing skills
Ø Creative skills
Ø Computer education
Ø Social skills
Ø Self Help skills
Unique features of the School:
1. Affordable fees : non-profit school of a Society
2. Active learning by doing – no monologue teaching
3. Recommended teaching method for updated approved syllabus through audio-visual aids
4. Computer education for class I onwards
5. Creative education for class I onwards
6. Field exposure for class II onwards
7. No home work and additional stress for students
8. No carrying school bags everyday from home
Other features:
1. Health check up of students once in every quarter and health card maintenance for students
2. Teacher – Guardian meeting once in every 4 months
3. Vehicle available for emergency, sick and distant students
4. Student-friendly, caring, well equipped and efficient teachers
5. Eco-friendly and homely atmosphere school premises
6. Learning and dress material available in the school
7. White board & marker use in class rooms
Resources for the academic year 2008:
- School Managing Committee: The school managing committee is governed by parents/guardians, social workers, govt. representatives, educationists; teachers of school & members of the Shanti Kunj.
- Teachers: The well qualified and experienced local 6 teachers with their team work, commitment, accountability, transparency and efficiency in teaching are strong areas for quality improvement and rapport building of the school. But only 6 teachers are not adequate to teach students from Nursery to Class VI. So volunteers or expatriates are invited to teach english and other subjects including moral & creative skills.
- Finance: Estimated income and recurring expenditure for the academic year 2008.
|
Expected Income and Expenditure Plan for 2008 |
|
| Expected Income (IRs) | |
| From tuition fees of 80 Students |
46,000 |
| From books & dress materials cost of Students |
104,000 |
| Sponsorship or donation from partner organisation |
250,000 |
| Grand Total in Indian Rupees |
400000 |
|
Break up of Estimated Expenditure for 80 students |
|
|
Activities |
Budget |
| 1.1 Books, Exercise Books |
104000 |
| 1.2 Learning Materials |
19,000 |
| 1.3 Teaching Materials |
15,000 |
| 1.4 Dress Materials |
56,000 |
| 1.5 Stationary, Xerox, Printing |
10,000 |
| 1.6 Communication expense |
7,000 |
| 1.7 Medicine & Treatment |
8,000 |
| 1.8 Guest relations & meetings |
5,000 |
| 1.9 Travel/Refreshment for field exposure |
20,000 |
| 1.10 Honorarium to 6 Teachers & 1 Governess |
6,000 |
| Grand Total in Indian Rupees |
400000 |
The School encourages its students to contribute tuition fees between Rs. 70 to 200 and the cost of books and dress materials. But it is not compulsory for all students rather there are concession & freeship for the students based on their family situation and income per capita.
Infra-structure:
This non-profit school started in the academic year 2007 in a rented house in a village set up where all the facilities such as 24 hours water, electricity, airy class rooms, toilets and space for playing are available. The school will have upgradation upto class X every year for which more no. of class rooms, library, laboratory, etc. are needed in near future. A land measuring 0.5 acre land has been donated by Mrs. Shanti Rai for Shanti Kunj Society to construct a school building with playground facility.
Support from Partner Organisation :
- To provide the 1 to 4 volunteers or expatriates every year with teaching-learning materials and methodologies for incorporating new curriculum and building confidence on language, knowledge, creativity and other skills, if available.
- To provide financial assistance for meeting the recurring expected expenditure mentioned above.
- To provide financial assistance for construction of its own school building in a donated land with other facilities required for a full fledged non-profit ICSE english medium school
Basic information for Volunteers:
- Location: Rainbow Academy is located in a hill of Gorubathan, Darjeeling District. The school complex is surrounded by dense arecanut orchard in the village set up. Gorubathan is the meeting point of hills and foot hills surrounded by tea gardens in the foothills and arecanut orchard and agricultural field in the hills. Its correspondence address is near Neora Forest Range Office, Pandara, Ahalay – 1, Gorubathan, PO Fagu, District Darjeeling. If you search “Rainbow Academy in Darjeeling” in any website you will find a bit information about it.
- People group: People are mostly nepali and classified as tribal and other backward category by the Govt. of India. They are agricultural marginal farmers, tea garden labours and daily wage workers by the tradition and profession. They also rear domestic animals for their supplementary income.
- School & timing: Rainbow Academy, a newly established non-profit school runs with from class Nursery to VI. The academic year starts in Mid-January and ends in first week of December. The dress of student is lemon white shirt, wasted grey full pant/skirt, blood red tie, red belt, black shoe, blue sock and grey cardigan in winter. The school hour is from 8.45 am to 3 pm and there is 1 hour lunch break in between. The school week days Tuesday through Saturday and weekend on Sunday and Monday as there is local weekly market in Gorubathan on every Monday.
- Telephone: There is a landline phone installed in the School, its number is +91 3552 222022. The alternate mobile number is +91 94341 94875. Network of BSNL, Airtel, Hutch and Reliance mobile are also available. The internet and e mail with Dialup facility is also available in the school.
5. Communication: There is direct public service from Siliguri, hub city for North Eastern India, Nepal and Bhutan. Siliguri is about 10 kms away from nearest Airport Bagdogra. There is direct flight service from Delhi (Capital of India) or Kolkata (Capital of West Bengal) to Bagdogra Airport (which is about 10 kms away from Siliguri City). Bus services are available from P.C. Mittal Bus Stand, 2nd Mile, Sevoke Road, Siliguri to Gorubathan (68 kms and 2 hours journey) from 7 am to 5 pm everyday and similarly public bus and jeeps are available from Kalimpong to Gorubathan via Lava and Coronation Bridge (95 kms and 3 hours journey). There is a rough jeepable road linked with main road of Gorubathan from the school complex (1 km distance). A vehicle on hire is always available for picking or dropping the volunteers either from nearest Airport Bagdogra or School.
6. Health Care: There is a Govt. Primary Health Centre located at Gorubathan (1 km distance from the School). A vehicle on hire is 24 hours available in the school premises for emergency. A Physician visits the school once in every quarter for general health check of students and teachers too.
7. Accommodation: There is well furnished 2 storied building available in the school complex for the volunteers with 24 hours water, electricity, toilet and other required facilities on rent. Boiled and safe filtered water is available for drinking. A refrigerator and washing machine are also available for the volunteers.
8. Food: Indian normal food at local level is available 3 times a day – breakfast, lunch and dinner for the volunteers.
9. Clothes, bedding materials and toiletries: Volunteers are encouraged to bring warm clothes if they plan to stay in winter season (minimum 10 degree celcius) and light clothes in summer season (maximum 35 degree celcius). Umbrella is also needed to carry in rainy season (June to August). It is advisable to have volunteer’s own bedding materials and toiletries if not comfortable with the available materials at the local level in rural area.
10. Teaching: The local teachers are not in the position to teach english, science, social studies, moral & creative skills etc using the active learning methodology and materials. The modern learning material is also not available in the school and therefore, encourages volunteers to bring the teaching and learning materials if available with them. There is no such period for the volunteers to stay and teach students. It depends upon the volunteer’s availability, capacity and also the agreement with the sending organisation.
11. Payment: Volunteers are encouraged to pay the accommodation, fooding, toiletries, telephone, internet, e mail, travel and other charges during their stay in the school whenever the facility is provided at the time of their need.
12. Contact key person for correspondence: Puran Rai, Secretary – Shanti Kunj Society and President – Rainbow Academy, Salbari, Behind Springfield Academy, PO Sukna, Via Siliguri, District Darjeeling, West Bengal – 734009, India. Phone : +91 94343 80752 (Mobile), +91 353 2574650 (Residence), +91 353 2514104 (Office), e mail : puranrai07@gmail.com