Our Programs
Sponsorship Program
Since 2008, ASHA has been working with OSI International to support the education of girls from low socioeconomic backgrounds. Our Sponsorship Program aims to keep girls in school and extend their education as far as their abilities and ambitions take them, including vocational training and career establishment. We address various barriers to education by providing financial support, parental assistance for single-parent children, tutoring, and counseling.
We also strive to prevent early marriages and teach life skills such as nutrition and hygiene. Sponsorship covers educational materials, emotional support, hygiene, clothing, and more to foster the girls' self-esteem and general happiness. Each year, the number of participants grows, with 50 girls currently in the program, including 11 from single-parent households. Various activities are conducted regularly in Janata Vashat under this program.
Activities
Saturday Awareness Sessions: Ongoing since 1998, these sessions focus on promoting healthy socialization skills and personality development. Sponsored and non-sponsored girls participate in discussions on topics such as sensitization, legal awareness, health, current issues, environmental cleanliness, and gender. Nutritious meals are provided every Saturday.
Issue-Based Discussions: Conducted on Saturdays, these discussions cover current news, international observances, traffic rules (with Pune traffic police), career guidance, general knowledge, and child sexual abuse awareness.
Health: Every year, ASHA conducts medical checkups for the girls in our Sponsorship Program. We also run various awareness generation programs focusing on crucial health issues such as:
- Anemia: Understanding and preventing anemia through proper nutrition.
- Adolescence: Addressing physical and mental changes during adolescence.
- HIV/AIDS: Educating about prevention and awareness of HIV/AIDS.
- Nutritious Diet: Highlighting the importance of a balanced and nutritious diet.
- Seasonal Illnesses: Discussions on rainy season illnesses and preventive measures for diseases like Dengue and Swine Flu.
- Personal Hygiene: Emphasizing the importance of maintaining personal hygiene to prevent diseases caused by poor hygiene practices.
Recreation: Group activities offer a space for games, arts, and crafts, helping girls express themselves freely. Activities include memory games, making greeting cards, and more.
Hobby Classes: Held during summer vacations, these classes teach creative skills like marble painting, Mehndi, crochet, mask making, Warli painting, and more. Competitions in cooking, drawing, and other activities are also conducted.
Study Classes: Morning study sessions at Anandmath help girls with homework and studies. Social workers regularly visit schools and tuition classes to monitor progress and share updates with parents through meetings and home visits.
English Classes: Volunteers teach grammar and spoken English through games and activities. Post-pandemic, classes continues online.
Psychological Assessment: Girls identified with emotional or psychological disturbances receive assessments and support from ASHA’s psychiatrist. Special tests like IQ and aptitude testing are conducted, and grief work sessions help girls cope with emotional challenges.
Field Visits: Girls visit exhibitions on garbage management, disease awareness, and historical sites, as well as old age homes, to broaden their exposure.
Picnics & Educational Field Trips: Annual trips to educational and recreational destinations such as science centers, planetariums, historical forts, and resorts. Past trips include Lonavala, Mumbai, Mahabaleshwar, Panchgani, and various exhibitions.
Library Set up : ASHA tried to develop an interest in reading among the girls. In August 2015, ASHA began a mobile Library in Janata Vasahat. The librarians came once a month and gave two books to each girl. On an average, eighty girls availed of this facility and issued books for reading. In 2018, ASHA’s own library setup was planned and preparations kicked off. In 2019, ASHA started its own library in Janata Vasahat for the girls. On an average, sixty girls and twenty boys read books from ASHA’s library every year.:
Warli Project : This project was started as an income generation activity for school dropout girls. School dropout girls were taught a few skills like Bandhani work, paper quelling, Warli painting. ASHA provides capital help and girls made warli handmade greetings, Diwali panati, earthen lamps, Bandhani stoles and bookmarks, paper quilling envelopes, greeting cards, photo frames, decorative wooden articles which can be used at home and office. Over a period of time school going girls also started participating in this activity. Every year around Diwali ASHA tries to set up stalls in various exhibitions like in the Diwali fair, at companies like TATA motors, Persistent, Tech Mahindra etc. The profit gained in these exhibitions is distributed among the girls.
SSC Results (2012-2023)
From 2012 to 2020, 88 girls appeared for SSC exams. Over the past few
years, the highest passing percentage was 92% in 2016 and 90% in 2019.
12 girls passed with distinction, 31 girls passed in First Class, 33
girls passed in Second Class and 12 girls passed in pass class.
All SSC passed girls are studying further. Those who have passed 12th
std and going to college, ASHA is providing support to them as and
when necessary.
The girl who scored 92% in SSC in 2016 is currently pursuing a degree in Computer Engineering and the one who scored 90% in 2019 is currently in 12th Commerce stream.
Two girls took admission in diploma mechanical engineering. One of them completed her diploma studies and is currently employed in a private company in Chakan. The second girl is about to finish her diploma studies.
12th Std Program (Since 2013)
Stream-wise Results:
Home Science Stream
- 10 girls appeared.
- 1 girl passed with distinction.
- 2 girls passed in first class.
- 7 girls passed in second class.
Science Stream
- 6 girls appeared.
- 3 girls passed in first class.
- 3 girls passed in second class.
Arts Stream
- 12 girls appeared.
- 5 girls passed in first class.
- 7 girls passed in second class.
Commerce Stream
- 48 girls appeared.
- 5 girls passed with distinction.
- 17 girls passed in first class.
- 26 girls passed in second class.
Current Status of Ex-Students
- Graduated & Employed: 29 girls are employed as accountants, office assistants, etc.
- Pursuing Graduation: 23 girls are currently pursuing their graduation.
- Married: 23 girls got married after completing their graduation.
Special Mentions
- 16 girls faced adverse home situations, including domestic violence and gender discrimination. With ASHA's support, all of them completed 12th standard. 4 are now employed, and 8 are married.
Notable Achievements
- One girl completed engineering in Computer Science after passing 10th standard in 2016 with 92%. She is now employed in an MNC in Pune.
- Two girls completed diplomas in Mechanical Engineering after the SSC exam and are now working in the industry.
- Two girls who completed graduation in Home Science are now working as interior designers.
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