Play Schools for Kondh Tribal Children in Andhra Pradesh, India

Asha for Education, Frankfurt Chapter (frankfurt.ashanet.org), has been supporting 5 play schools for children from kondh tribes in Vishakapatnam district in Andhra Pradesh for the past 3 years. The villages where the schools are running are very remote and one has to walk through difficult terrain to reach them. So these schools are only the window to the outside world for the children in those villages.

Children between 3 and 8 years of age attend the "play schools". There they learn basics like alphabets, numbers, words etc. through songs and games. Apart from learning the basics of education, these schools are only place for the children to learn about outside world and spend their childhood playing and singing like any other children.

The teachers in the school come from the same community, so they can communicate with children in their own language "kondh". Teachers are paid nominal salaries (honorarium) of about 80 € per month (which is about INR 5500) and they do agriculture in their fields to be able to sustain. Even in such difficult conditions, they are doing commendable work and committed to provide the better future for the children.

Total expenses per year to run a "play school" are 1900:
1. Teachers honorarium - € 980
2. Teachers training/review meetings - € 350
3. Education/stationary materials - € 250
4. Educational/cultural programs - € 120
5. Administration/audit expenses - € 200

Together with your support, we can provide the children a better future and create a just world.

On behalf of the children, we would like to thank you so much for your time and support.

Asha Frankfurt Team