Fundació privada ADA Món Adivasi

Responsible NGO: Janseva Mandal, Nandurbar
Project coordinator: Fr. Godfrey D'Lima, S.J.
Period: 3 years (2007-2009)
Budget: 8,000E / year (49 % of the amount claimed by the NGO)

Owing to the 40 year existence of this entity, an intense link and a deep knowledge of this community have been reached.

The project is based in Janseva Mandal and will be developed in the areas of Nandurbar and Shirpur, north-west of the State of Maharashtra , with a high number of Adivasis. Its origin lies in the many years of contact and observations of the Adivasi communities of this region.

The main activity carried out through the project is education, linked to programmes to develop irrigation, organic adobe, credit societies and other activities to ensure that education is not isolated from real life.

Those who benefit are poor Adivasi children who need support to develop. Participants are estimated to be around 1,000 children (60 centres with an average of 15/17 children per centre as, being in remote areas, there can be no more attendants) between 5 and 12 years old, the ratio being 4 girls for each 10 children. There are still many girls and boys who are not in school, who help take care of their little brothers and sisters, help with domestic chores, or who are shepherds and not go to official schools.

Those who will benefit indirectly are all the Adivasi in the communities, around 6,000, who will be aware of the advantages of education and development. Moreover, Adivasi will be selected and trained as local teachers and activists through orientation and training sessions over 9 months.

The programme aims at creating specific educational material to be shared with other Indian NGOs.

The project aims at reinforcing the basis of Adaivasi development so that they can face the social, economic and political pressures of the modern world by revolving around the evolution of relevant educational support that comes to life daily through the children.

ADA will collaborate with the maintenance, structure and supply of school material for 300-350 children allocated in 20 educational centres.