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What is Madurai Seed? Madurai Seed was founded in 1999 as an NGO to help underprivileged children and young people from Karumbalai, a poor area in Madurai, Tamil Nadu. (Madurai has a population of some 2 million.) It places special emphasis on a holistic approach to developing the children’s education in a variety of ways. Via drop-in centres, it offers local children help with their schoolwork and also with the transition to their working lives. It does this through supported study groups and training, a library to help develop their reading ability, sports activities, excursions, camps, and a range of creative activities such as dance, music, art classes, etc. In this way, Madurai Seed gives very underprivileged children the opportunity to make progress educationally, personally and socially, and to work towards a vocational goal. What does Madurai Seed comprise? MaduraiSeed has four educational centres: Vandugal Arangam is for children in school years 1 to 4 (5 - 9 year-olds), Verghal Arangam is for years 5 to 8 (10 - 14 year-olds, when some children may leave school), and Kanavugal Arangam for years 9 to 12 (14 - 18 year-olds – at 18, when youngsters may take final government examinations to enter further education). Finally, Thedagal Arangam is for youngsters who haven’t completed their education or who are already studying at a college. At present this team has 20 members. Madurai Seed also has its own library Senthamizh Library – with books for young people ranging from fiction to philosophy and history, both in Tamil and English. Aiming to promote literacy and good reading habits, it is open to all the children at Madurai Seed during holiday times. In addition, a children's journal – Puduyugam – as well as a journal for youngsters – Pudiya velichangal – offers them an opportunity to express their views creatively. Both are published by Madurai Seed at regular intervals. Furthermore, to help the children learn about the importance of saving and managing money, a savings bank - the Thenkoodu Children’s Bank -, has been put into place. Likewise, a savings scheme - the Thenkoodu Self-help Group -, has been set up for college students and other young people to meet their most pressing economic needs. In the period of 2007-08 alone Madurai Seed’s young people jointly saved up Rs. 19,000 (approx. CHF 500) while Madurai Seed contributed some interest, thus giving hope to those who most need it. What else does Madurai Seed offer? |
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