Run For Rural Education
Education is the most important tool which leads one from ignorance into the light of knowledge and wisdom.
Who:
Run for Rural Education (RRE) was the brainchild of Smita Vallurupalli and Kiran.
Being a serial entrepreneur and a social activist, Smita understands the positive impact that an educated and skilled rural society can have on the country. Smita has also been supporting challenged children in Khammam for the last 15 years and is associated with Isha foundation for 10 years.
A member of ALAI- Kiran, who works with Philips Lighting, a passionate proponent of this cause who finds running close to heart came up with this initiative.
ALAI in collaboration with Isha Vidya, the educational initiative of Isha Foundation, conducted the Event – Run for Rural Education(RRE).
How:
Kiran started on October 11th, an auspicious day of Vijaya-dashami, from Vijayawada and reached Vizag by foot. A few enthusiastic celebrities from Tollywood viz. Nikhil, Sharwanand and a few more flagged him off at different locations. Smita also ran along with Kiran on the first and last day of the run. Volunteers, friends and students of Sri Chaitanya Educational Institutions joined him at various locations throughout the run.
What:
Unfortunately, children in rural areas have access only to Govt. schools, where standards leave a lot to be desired and which fail to meet parental aspirations.
ALAI, along with Isha Vidhya, aimed to provide the following major inputs for the Govt. schools:
- Hiring teachers to reduce the student-teacher ratio
- Hiring teachers for special instruction to integrate slow learners into the regular classes
- Adoption of a English language program for the whole school
- Adding hitherto neglected aspects like sports, yoga, arts & crafts and healthcare
- Basic training for teachers to adopt child friendly teaching methods: maintaining discipline without physical punishment, motivating children, lesson planning, access and use of classroom educational aids and digital content
To facilitate quick development of the slow-learners, several educational aids developed and used at Isha Vidhya schools are made available to the remedial teachers in the Govt. schools. Teachers are also provided with clear skill based outcomes to be monitored and test papers to be administered every term, to assess the progress of the children. In addition, worksheets developed in-house have been provided to the students, both for class-work as well as home work, to reinforce conceptual learning and for practice assignments.
Why:
This event is to spread awareness about this new and improved format of education in Telugu speaking states. It aims to provide high quality education to rural children, through the Government School Improvement Program (GSIP).
Run for Rural Education(RRE) is to open the door for providing underprivileged rural children access to high quality education and the holistic, activity-based approach similar to that of Isha Vidhya’s educational system, which nurtures children’s development beyond just academics, ensuring that students realize their full potential and learn in a joyful manner. Hence, RRE is to increase the awareness of the importance of rural education and also to enable like-minded people to contribute for the cause. Run for Rural Education is amongst the first of its kind to happen in AP and would spread awareness at all prominent locations en-route.
Where:
Kiran would start on October 11th from Vijayawada and would reach Vizag on 18th covering 350km by foot on the National Highway-16.