Feedback report from Apnalaya

As you probably know, our NGOs are required to give donors feedback on how exactly their funds were utilized.  Copied below is a feedback report from Mumbai based Apnalaya for the donation option to provide additional nutrition for malnourished children.

"The ten children to benefit from your donation to the Nutrition Scheme attend a study class organized by Apnalaya for 8th standard students attending Dnyansadhana School.

Situated in a very congested area of Baiganwadi very near to the dumping ground,
Dnyansadhana School has a very good team of dedicated teachers who really want to help their students.

Malnutrition is an issue with many of these children. Most of their parents are daily wage labourers or earn their living through rag picking and the recycling of waste, and are amongst the poorest of poor in Mumbai. They earn between Rs.100 to 150 a day, but even this is not regular. Because of this there is pressure on the children if they do not perform well in school to drop out and start earning.

As drop out in the 8th standard is high, Apnalaya offered to run study classes for these children after school. But during these classes the children were very restless; the teachers soon realized that this was due to hunger. Meetings were held with teachers and parents to see what could be done. Initially snacks were provided, but this was not enough. The parents agreed to partner with Apnalaya to see that they got a full meal, by agreeing to provide chapattis to children if Apnalaya would provide vegetables or pulses.

As a result:
- Restlessness has decreased
- Attention level has improved
- Level of concentration has also increased
- Children sit through the entire class, whereas earlier some would go away in the middle
- Both their physical health and mental attitude have improved
- Failures and dropouts have reduced and many children have reached 10th standard

This donation was used during July-September 2009"

Apnalaya also provided the names and ages of the ten children.