• Dashara (Oct 13) and Bakrid (Oct 16) Festivals: Festival are fun



Dashara (Oct 13) and Bakrid (Oct 16) Festivals: Festival
are fun occasions and children look forward to typical
events associated with them. Dashara is a time to make
interesting masks and Bakrid is when muslim children
look forward to sweet sevai.Apna Skool children too
showed their talent in making masks for Dashara and in
some centresported the paper caps they made and
painted themselves for Bakrid.
Apna Skool showcases its talents on the occasion of
ANTARAGNI (Oct 24 -27) Cultural Festival of IITK Students, putting up a stall, selling
Friendship Bands, Coloured Diyas, candles (that they make themselves as part of their
activities) , Greeting cards etc.
Apna Skool Newsletter
Oct 2013 – Mar 2014
Page 8 of 13

Deepawali follows in November and more light and joy. Candle making , Diya
decorating and Greeting card making are all so much
fun. However children are warned to be careful while
handling pathake.
 Bal Diwas (Children’s day) is celebrated on the
first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s birthday
recalling great affection Chacha Nehru had with all
children. This is an occasion for children to recall the
great men, who are the makers of modern India. While
younger children made artwork with crayons , older
children were encouraged to write ten sentences long
essays appropriate for the occasion. Children were
taken to nearby Ecopark and took part in ‘running race’
and ‘short and long jumps’ etc. And all participating
children were given token awards.
 Rashtrapati R Venkataraman’s birth
Anniversary on December 4th was an occasion to
pay homage to him and also recall many
sacrifices made by freedom fighters from all over
in making of the modern nation. RV is known for
many a step in promoting Small and Medium
Scale Manufacturing Industries, particularly in
Tamilnadu and for his service to Labour law in
the nation. He was the 8th President of the nation
Apna Skool Newsletter
Oct 2013 – Mar 2014
Page 9 of 13
and served during July 1987 –July 1992, advised 4 different Prime ministers of the
nation (Rajiv Gandhi, V P Singh, Chandrashekar) and ensured smooth transition of the
Government.

Republic Day, Prabhat Pheri Flag Hoisting (26 January). The National Day is an
occasion for the Apna Skool to interact with the Society we are part of. The day began
with Prabhat Pheri – rallies through village streets with placards on the benefits of
being literate and the Right to Education, Environmental and other social messages.
The processions converged at the Apna Skool Premises for Formal flag and hoisting and
singing National Anthem in chorus and followed by cultural program, showcasing
children’s talent. Distinguished audience included parents of children and many well
wishers of the Apna Skool.
Art Competition

Shiksha Sopan conducted an Inter School Art Competition for School Children in IITK
premises as part of their Republic Day Program in which
about 400 children from various schools participated. There
were 6 entries from Apna Skool, among whom there were 5
prize winners:
Class : 3 to 5 : First Prize - Sangeeta ,Class -5 (Apna Skool
Dhamikheda) Second Prize - Roli ,Class -5 (Apna Skool
Dhamikheda) Consolation - Anjali : Class-5 , Shalu : Class-5
(Apna Skool Dhamikheda) Class : 6 to 8 : Consolation - Nahid
:Class-8(Apna Skool Dhamikheda).
Apna Skool Newsletter
Oct 2013 – Mar 2014
Page 10 of 13

EXCURSION to LUCKNOW (March 22)
Apna Skool arranged an educational Tour for
the students (around 70) of class 4th to 8th on 22 March 2014. Apna Skool group departed for
Lucknow by bus. First stop was at Science City. Here children enjoyed Scimax show movie and
dinosaur park. Next place for visit was the Bara Imambada, which has a mysterious labyrinth
(bhul bhulaiya) and Planetarium with its 3-D show; each attracted the kids very much.
 Kanpur Zoo & Sudhanshu Ji Asram (25 March 2014)
All 500 children had a day long excursion to Kanpur Zoo and nearby Sudhanshu ji Ashram. A day
long learning and exploring and a lot of outdoor exercise made the ‘Pudi –Sabzi’ vanish fast.
While some students were making copious notes of information displayed, some concentrated
in learning through observation. Yet othrs had just plain fun and hopefully had all the education
subliminally.
 HOLI of Colours (Mar 16)
Holi is indeed the most favourite for children, an occasion to play pranks and develop
comraderie. Children were told the story of Prahalad and how steadfast Bhakti can provide
anyone to conquer evil nd be on the side of good. Holi special Gujiya were distributed in all
centres.
 Shahid Divas (March 23)
Martyr’s day marks the day when Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev were made to sacrifice
their lives as a part of our Independence Struggleshildren are reminded how precious is our hard
fought liberation and we may ensure that all of us enjoy the fruits of liberation and consequent
independence.
Apna Skool Newsletter
Oct 2013 – Mar 2014
Page 11 of 13
Visitors to Apna Skool
Over the years, we have had the pleasure of hosting several well-wishers, donors and media
representatives who have shown an interest in our three-decade old, ongoing effort to affect social
change by educating the next generation of one of the most exploited class of workers in India – the
migrant population. This year, we hosted visits for the following people:
Siddharth Ramachandran (Dec 18 – 23) Professor Boston University (Photonics)
Siddharth interacted with children in all centres and showed them how a laser works. He engaged them
with thoughts on Science and the children came up with poems and skits on Science and Society as
themes. He concluded his visit with chocolates for all children.
Prabal Maiti (15 February) Professor, IISc Bangalore
It was good to welcome Jagriti president while he was on an official visit to IITK. He had an opportunity
to note the completion of the first phase of the Apna Ghar premises, in time of our expected visitors
from Belgium.
Thierry and 12 visitors from Mala Foundation Belgium + 31 children and Teachers from Gandhi School
Puduchery, (Feb 22 -24)
The occasion of Formal Inauguration of the first phase of Apna Ghar, Tatyaganj a joint project of Asha
Kanpur and MALA India Foundation was turned into an occasion for meeting a few students of Gandhi
School Puduchery , Apna Ghar residents and Apna Skool students. Three days of fun filled activities was
enjoyed by all.
Judy didi, Belgium (Feb 15 -25)
Judy, one of the members of Mala Foundation decided to have a longer visit, arriving on Feb 15 and
staying through the inauguration until Feb 25. She participated in daily activities of Apna Skool, visiting a
Apna Skool Newsletter
Oct 2013 – Mar 2014
Page 12 of 13
different centre each day, teaching lessons in English and Math, telling stories and dancing with the
children. Great fun for both children, teachers and of course Judy.
THANKS
We are grateful to both our Institutional (Asha Silicon Valley, Mala Foundation, AID, VSEI Canada, RV
Foundation) as well as many individual donors for our programs. We are pleased to acknowledge the
receipt of two desk top computers each from Professors Shivam Tripathi and Harish Verma. Prayas (IIT
Student body) volunteers have been a valuable asset for us in many ways.
Newsletter compiled by Sangeeta Verma
APNA SKOOL Team,
Jagriti Bal Vikas Samiti, Kanpur
http://apnaskool-kanpur.blogspot.in/
http://jagriti.seeyourimpact.org/
http://balsajag.blogspot.com/
Apna Skool Newsletter
Oct 2013 – Mar 2014
Page 13 of 13
Appendix A – Student enrolment in Apna Skool Centres
Centre Name
1
2
3
Dhamikheda
(2 Centre)
Panki Power
House
(2 Centre)
Panki Padhav
(2 Centre)
4
Tamsaha
(Primary
School)
5
Tamsaha
(Tuition)
6
Teacher(s)
1- Urmila
Kashyap 2Manju Bala
1-Laxmi
Verma
1- Hardas
2- Renu
Tiwari
1- Raksha
Bajpai
1- Amit
(May)/
1 Sanyogita
Yadav
1- Nirmala
Kashyap
8
9
Kalra-1 Apna
Skool
1- Sudha
10
Mera Apna
Skool
11
Vishnu Apna
Skool
(2 Centres)
1-Ravi
46
52
46
44
44
45
45
35
35
35
35
40
40
40
52
52
40
52
50
55
55
25
21
4:00 – 5 :00
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
45
40
39
39
39
43
43
43
43
11
11
11
11
10:30 – 4:00
10:30 – 4:00
2:30 -4:30
11
11
1- Manish
10:00 – 2:30
1-Najma
2-Amit
7:30 – 1:00
8:00 – 12:30
16
17
Samrat Apna
Skool
1- Omkant
Dwivedi
18
Kalra-2 Apna
Skool
1-Pradeep
Yadav
1- Pushpa
Devi (JulAug)
Tota
l
Mar
9:30 – 2:00
1-Sushil
Kumar
1Shyambabu
21
Feb
1-Chandani
Kushwaha
Rautepur –
Bhola B.K.
Maharajpur
Apna Skool
Lodhar Apna
Skool
Juhi Apna
Skool
Jan
35
1- Pradeep
Yadav
20
Dec
10:00 – 3:30
Saran Apna
Skool
19
Nov
1- Raksha
Bajpai
14
Kalra-3 Apna
Skool
Oct
23
13
15
8:00 – 1:30
12:30 – 5:00
(May) 3:00
– 6:30 (Jun)
Sep
8:00 – 1:00
Avon Apna
Skool
Murari Apna
Skool
(2 Centres)
12
9:00 – 2:30
(May) 8:00 11:30 (Jun)
Enrolment
7:00 – 10:00
Tatiyaganj- 1
Tatiyaganj- 2
(2 Centres)
Tatiyaganj
(Tuition)
7
Operating
time
1- Babli
1-Sunita
Sriastava
Number of
Students
Apna Skool Newsletter – Appendices
Oct 2013 –Mar 2014
11
Evolved as Tatiyaganj centre
23
35
30
36
36
29
36
36
36
12
12
13
13
44
44
44
44
44
40
55
55
25
25
28
28
19
19
2: 30 – 5:00
1:00 – 5:00
29
25
8:30 – 12:30
40
40
34
36
36
36
33
33
33
33
33
24
21
30
30
30
TATYA
GANJ
#2
CENTRE
16
16
19
19
26
12:30 - 3:30
25
26
BECAME
11:00 – 3:00
9:00 – 1:30
2:00 – 5:00
27
27
27
27
27
27
27
254
462
463
516
530
555
542
xiv
Appendix B – Centres that remain open year-round
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Dhamikheda Apna Skool
Panki Apna Skool
Panki Padhav Apna Skool
Tatiyaganj Apna Skool
Kalra –III Apna Skool
Tamsaha Apna Skool
Apna Skool Newsletter – Appendices
Oct 2013 –Mar 2014
xv