Pre-schools in the slum areas of Ahmedabad, India
What we see in reading about the Anganwadi Project are many of the principles at work in Housing for Health. We hope you enjoy reading about the project and the exciting ways you can become involved.
The Anganwadi Project (TAP) designs and builds ‘anganwadi’ or pre-schools in the slum areas of Ahmedabad, India. TAP recruits and trains Australian design professionals who volunteer their time to live and work in India for 4- 6 months to oversee the design and construction of these schools. We work in partnership with Manav Sadhna, (an Indian NGO) who is based in Mahatma Gandhi’s Ashram and who carries out Gandhi’s work.
In close partnership with the local community, TAP aims to create beautiful, simple and safe spaces in which children can learn, at minimum cost. The anganwadis are constructed by local labourers and use largely re-cycled materials in order to support the Manav Sadhna philosophy of ‘Re-Use, Re-Cycle, and Reduce.’
The existing schools are often located in tiny corrugated iron lean-tos with inadequate light and ventilation and are searing hot in the summer, making it impossible for the children to learn. TAP’s focus is on design considerations such as better use of space, ventilation, hygiene and natural light.
We believe strongly in the power of small actions and grassroots -based change. We now have a 7 year on-going relationship with the community and can continue to see the incredible benefits of The Anganwadi Project in the lives of the children we serve.
Only the children from wealthy and middle class families can afford to go to a formal pre school in India. Over 18% of children do not get any formal education at all and children from these poor families are often lack the proper nutrition. More than 43% of children in India are malnourished. It is proven that a child given a chance to attend a preschool will more likely to start formal primary education.
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