SNEGAM SOCIAL WELFARE AND RESOURCE SOCIETY

Fr. Felix Raj Chatting with a child

Fr. Felix Raj listening to one of the teachers. Ms Cheryl Francis and Fr. Jothi are watching

Fr. Felix Raj talking to one of Snegam children at the Sishu Mela 2008.

( Fr. Felix Raj and Mr. Rajesh Mundhra spending some leisure moments with the children)

Children at Snegam Learning to master numbers

SNEGAM SOCIAL WELFARE AND RESOURCE SOCIETY

(Registered under the Societies Registration Act 1961)

A Child Rights Initiative

“The poor need the work of our hands, the love of our hearts.” – Mother Teresa

Our Background

Reaching out to the underprivileged has always been one of the missions of Fr. Felix Raj, SJ. Inspired by his admirer Blessed Teresa of Kolkata herself, he has always been instrumental when it came to helping someone in need. Through his simple and quiet ways, yet so vibrant and dynamic, he has inspired many others to follow in his footsteps. An Educationist, an Economist with a Doctorate in Economics, Fr. Raj has a number of credits attached to him. The first initiative supported fully by him is Parivartan, a social organisation catering to the educational needs of underprivileged children at Titagarh. The other is Snegam Social Welfare and Resource Society. This Society was born as a response to address the educational needs of many underprivileged children who are still left out from the mainstream of our Society. Supported by a number of his disciples and friends Snegam wishes to reach out to the unfortunate ones so that they too can feel loved and cared for.

Snegam in Kolkata Snegam started its intervention in Kolkata under the leadership of Ms. Cheryl Francis a social worker. A survey was carried out in about five slums under ward 78 and the findings were not shocking. It was observed that many families didn’t send their children to school because they couldn’t afford to pay the high fees charged in regular schools. Moreover, girls’ education was not considered important at all and many of them were sent for domestic work in exchange of some food and little tips. Snegam took up the matter with one of the local clubs, which provided a room to start a learning center called Snegam Learning Centre. Once news spread about the Center, more children started coming in. The center that began with about 6  to 7 children presently has about 43 children (boys & girls) in the age group 4 to 14 years attending classes, nursery to II. Since the number of children has increased, Snegam has shifted its Center to the premises of a private school. Snegam classes are held from 8 a.m. - 10. 30 a.m. and from 5 to 7 p.m. Children are provided with breakfast at regular intervals. Stationary items like textbooks, exercise books, pencils, erasers, school bags etc have been distributed to children at the time of admission. One Teacher in charge and two Para teachers are responsible for running the Learning Centre. Besides regular education the children are also engaged in art & craftwork, drama, dancing and value based education. Yoga and meditation also form part of the children’s formation. Bi-monthly teachers meetings are held to discuss the progress of the children. Syllabus formation and lesson planning are part of the meetings.  A mothers’ group named Ekta Mahila Samiti has started. It is in the initial stages of formation. The idea is firstly to involve the mothers in the education of their children. Secondly, many of the mothers are employed as domestic workers. Most of them face problems at home. So the Mahila Samiti would give them a platform to share their problems and find amicable solutions. Two meetings of the mothers have already been held. The future plan is also to enhance women’s empowerment and introduce self-employment schemes. Snegam has also started a tailoring center for unemployed women in a remote village of Ramnathapuram district in Tamil Nadu. About 50 women are attending the center with one teacher. After completion of the 6 months course, they will be provided with certificates, which will help them become self-employed. Recently, the women have also started candle making.

Our Aims & Objectives

• To provide education to the very poor children especially the working children.
• To promote girl child education.
• To enhance women’s empowerment & promote self employment
• To support economically and socially backward students to continue with their education.
• To promote vocational training.
• To organise leadership training programmes for organised and unorganised youth, training programmes for teachers, counselling services, camps, training in social and community development, research work, health education etc.
• To network with like-minded individuals and groups.

NEW INITIATIVES AT SNEGAM…

• Adult Education programme at Centre 1: A group of 12 women (mothers of children studying at the center) have started attending evening classes twice a week learning to read and write English and Hindi. This initiative began in the first week of January 2007.
• 3^rd Centre of Snegam begins at Entally in Kolkata:  This center that was due to begin last September has finally begun on 15^th of January 2007. About 40 children residing at Entally, Medhi Began, and Taltala area attend the education programme from 3 p.m. to 6.p.m. in the premises of Our Lady of Providence School on AJC Bose Road.
• Teachers’ Orientation held: An orientation for the teachers of Snegam was organized on 17^th February 2007 at Shikhamitra, an NGO promoting alternative education programme for children. All the 7 teachers from Centre 1 and 2 attended the orientation where they were educated about dealing and teaching underprivileged children.
• Eye check up camp held for the children of Centre 1: Snegam organized An Eye Check up camp in collaboration with the Leo Club of Howrah on 25^th February 2007. About 80 children along with their parents attended the camp. The Leo Club will conduct follow up for those children who need immediate attention.

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 Snegam has received the 80G certificate from the Income Tax department. Those who wish to contribute towards the education of children to Snegam will get tax exemption.

Our Future Plans

• To mainstream deserving children to regular schools and keep complete follow up.
• To begin similar community based learning centers at various places. For example one in Garden Reach, one at Entally and one near Budge Budge.
• To begin Self Help Groups for women (mothers of children studying in our LC) to promote self-employment.
• To Provide Total Quality in Education.
• To act as a Resource unit for education and leadership training of youth, teachers, parents etc.
• To conduct Health Check ups for children at regular intervals.
• To network with like-minded individuals & groups.

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