Progress Report For Seventeenth Year of Operation

Objectives and Progress:

The objective of the Educational Organization for Orphaned and Handicapped Children has been to promote the education, health, nutrition and carrier needs of poor children. To fulfill this objective, a residential school was started on leased premises on August 15, 1992 in Tenali, Andhra Pradesh, South India, by admitting 25 (twenty five) orphans and handicapped children in grade 1. Since 1992, we have been admitting 20 to 25 children per year, having hired one extra teacher and adding one grade each year. The school at present has 12 full time teachers in academic courses, 4 part time teachers in vocational areas and 4 support staff. The enrolment in grades 1 to 10 (equivalent to grade 12 in North America) consists of 125 children, who come from the poorest of poor families that have lost both parents, or at least one of their parents or abandoned due to poverty. Vocational programs in tailoring, carpentry, candle making, electrical wiring, chalk manufacturing and embroidery were introduced in phases over the years.

On August 15, 1994 – August 15, 1996, a dorm to house the children and medical clinic were opened. The clinic was equipped with first-aid medical supplies. Yoga, meditation and human values were introduced as part of the curriculum in all grades. As a starting point in vocational training, Professor Dan Boles, University of Windsor, introduced painting and sculpture. On August 15th 1996 vocational training in sewing was started in a two-room complex adjacent to the school.

In April 1997, part of the land, acquired earlier, was converted into a vegetable garden to feed the children and two rooms were built to house a mother teacher. Professor Dan Boles and Ms. Maya Primorac came to Tenali from Windsor, Canada to teach English, painting and pottery for a year. On August 15th, carpentry course was introduced to higher grade children. A part-time instructor was hired.

In March 1998, Ms. Kelly Irwin and Ms. Amimoon Cheng from New York visited the school and spent a few weeks interacting with the children and taking photographs of their daily activities. On August 15th, a modest two-room guest-house was inaugurated to provide free accommodation to volunteer teachers. A library with 300 books was opened.

In January 1999, three Canadian students from McGill University went to Tenali as Volunteers to teach English, hygiene, science, mathematics, and to reorganize the library and the medical clinic for children. In December, Amy Stapleton, a university student from Brisbane, Australia went to Tenali to teach English and sports to the children.

In 2000, we introduced candle making and electrical repairs as a part of vocational programs for older students. Grade 9 was introduced by hiring a full time teacher.

In 2001, television and cassette repairs as part of vocational program were introduced. Grade 10 was introduced by hiring a new full time teacher and an administrator.

In 2002, embroidery was introduced. Grade 7 and 10 students passed their public examinations held in April. Norma Nidoff, Windsor, Canada visited the school in January to teach cooking and gardening for six weeks.

In January 2004, Joanne Sabourin and Uma from Windsor visited Tenali to extend volunteer work for four weeks. Both of them have trained the staff, taught hygiene, painted the children’s clinic and the hostel. The founder Tad Venkateswarlu visited the school in July to attend to the construction of part of the compound wall around the hostel, the clinic, the vegetation areas, and the rest of the area was fenced due to shortage of funds.

In February 2005, Professors Melinda, Rias-Tims and Odette Furois, University of Tours, France visited the school as volunteer teachers. They taught gardening and hygiene to the children. Incense and chalk piece manufacturing courses were introduced. All grade 7 and 10 children passed the public examination which was conducted by Andhra Pradesh government in March 2005.

In January 2006, the founder visited Tenali to supervise the construction of the compound wall around the school premises which was unfinished in 2004. One head master with a Master’s degree in Commerce and two new teachers were hired. Computer training class was introduced to older students.

In January 2007, the founder visited Tenali to supervise the construction of “Children’s Recreation Centre” named after Uma who passed away on June 26th, 2006. The building was completed and was inaugurated on February 26th. Honey making through Bees course was introduced in June. All students in Grade 7 and 80 percent of Grade 10 students passed the public examination conducted by the A.P State, Government Board of Education.

In January 2008, Tad visited Tenali School to attend 15th anniversary of the School. Topsoil, and new saplings were added to the garden to grow vegetables for children. Fast food centre was started in March in Tenali downtown, managed by old students to make a living, to finance their college education and to gain entrepreneurial skills. 90 percent of Grade 7 and 75 percent of Grade 10 children passed the public examinations held in March.

In January 2009, Tad attended 16th anniversary of Tenali School. Professors Melinda Tims and Odette Furois, University of Tours, France, also participated at Tenali School anniversary on January 26th and stayed at the school a few weeks extending their voluntary teaching to staff and children. Ground work for English medium classes from LKG, UKG to grades 1, 2 and 3 were prepared. Tailoring classes for poor unemployed adults were introduced.

In January 2010, 17th anniversary of the school was organized with cultural programs and prize distributions to children who scored high grades in each class. Rainwater conservation and solar energy projects were inaugurated.

Future Plans:

We intend to introduce extensive, vocational training courses in a few areas like carpentry and candle making to students with high school diploma. 5 new classrooms will be needed to accommodate students in vocational courses. As the space is limited, we would like to raise funds for constructing a permanent housing complex by replacing the present temporary sheds and to acquire 5-10 acres of land for the expansion of the school. Based on the cost of land, building materials and labor supplied by contractors in India, it would cost $130,000 - $150,000 to finish the work. After the housing complex is completed, an educational trust for the children will be established to make the school self-supporting from the yield of trust fund.