Vanavasi Ashram Trust is running a residential tribal school at Periya, Wayanad, Kerala state, India for the last 12 years. Wayanad has the highest population of tribal people in Kerala. The tribal people have had no access to education any time in their lives. Dr. Appanu Nambiar, a retired professor from Calicut University, started this school in order to uplift the lives of this segment of our community. This project has grown leaps and bounds ever since. The school that started with 41 students has more than 250 students now.
The curriculum followed in the school is the one prescribed by the Kerala state board of education. The school is following the ‘Gurukula’ system of education where teachers and students live together as in a family. Agriculture, stitching and tailoring, carpentry work, basket making, book binding, yoga and music etc are also part of the school syllabus.
Self-sustenance
Paddy, pulses, bananas and vegetables are cultivated by students and teachers in the land of the Trust. Significant change has come in the attitudes of the tribal community towards education and health care. Senior students participate in rural development activities of the area.
Goal of the project
The short-term goal is to sustain the current strength of tribal children undergoing education, and to focus effort on gathering sufficient resources to:
- Cover recurring expenses such as salary, study materials, clothes etc
- Enable means to provide health care. Need vehicle to transport children to hospital which is 15KM away.
- Provide potable water
- Build infrastructure (road, urinals)
The long-run goal of the Trust is upliftment of the tribal people around the area by a series of education related projects. Adult classes have also been recently started by this Trust.
How you can make a difference
Raise awareness
Raise awareness about tribal education and other such efforts by organizing fund raisers and/or spreading the message at events and public gatherings in your area.
Sponsor A child
$500/ yr which includes
Annual Tuition costs
Boarding and Lodging for the year
Contribute to School
School needs all the support it can get to manage the recurring expenses, emergency medical needs, fresh water supply and basic infrastructure needs.
If you can’t sponsor a child, please consider donating a one-time check
All checks to be made payable to ‘VOICE OF A CHILD’ . Please mention ‘VANAVASI ASHRAM TRUST’ in the memo field and send checks to:
Voice of a Child,
1061 Hickorynut Ct.
Sunnyvale, CA 94087
Become a volunteer
Become a volunteer and be a part of growing awareness about this effort. For details please send an e-mail to info-at-voiceofachild.org
