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CFL. Annual Update 2010-2011 7/20/2011. Mission. To help people discover the difference between education and schooling. To discover how education can lead to self-determined, self-disciplined and self-realizing members of society.
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CFL Annual Update 2010-2011 7/20/2011
Mission • To help people discover the difference between education and schooling. • To discover how education can lead to self-determined, self-disciplined and self-realizing members of society. • To discover how learning can be made personally meaningful and socially responsible. • To support individuals to address the problems of modern day living - critically, creatively, and compassionately.
History • Founded in 1982 by GurveenKaur • Started with ~6 children • Current number of children: 55 (last year: 59-68)
Organization Structure • Staff/Paid Positions • Principal/Administrator: GurveenKaur • Teachers • Ram • Jayasree • Subitha • Glory • Saroj • Reva • Housekeeping/cooking • Shailu • Flat organizational structure; teachers share all other tasks around the school as well • Board Structure • 13 board members • Full board meeting once a year when the annual report is presented • More informal meetings as necessary (2-3 times/year)
Location • Hyderabad, India (Secunderabad) • In a residential area • The majority of their free students come from the migrant labor families that live in the area • They have their own school building with class rooms and a small open area for lunch, outdoor activities, etc.
Activities • Children's Education Centre, catering to all sections of society – Primary Activity • Studies in education and related areas. • Publication of Edu-Care, a forum for concerns about education and society • Adult Learning Network – catering to all ages and sections of society • Teacher training (consultancies), Creation of educational resources • Working with government institutions for curricular reforms
Finances - Expenses • 2010 – Rs 7,17,154 ; 2011 – Rs 9,28,210
Finances - Salaries • They lost two teachers from last year and new teachers were hired • Salaries are much lower (~50% lower) than comparable salaries in both private and government schools • Over the last few years, salaries at CFL have not kept pace with general inflation
Finances - Funding • 2010 – Rs 11,10,834 ; 2011 – Rs 5,88,400
Finances – Income from Fees • Fees for sponsored children serve as an incentive for attendance • Enrollment of sponsored children intentionally favors girls
Finances - Savings • Relatively healthy compared to very lean years • Last year, interest income was used to grow the size of the fixed deposits • Size of fixed deposits is large enough to cover the school for 3-4 years in case of emergency • Can use interest income without the permission of the board • Using the fixed deposit principal requires board approval • Eventual goal is to grow fixed deposits to the point where interest income (excluding inflation) is enough to sustain the organization
Asha, Seattle Involvment • Our chapter’s support – Rs 2,00,000 per year • Funding has been recurring since 2007 • ~25% of their annual expenses • Goes towards teacher’s salaries • Provides them stability of funding (we are the largest donor and 2nd largest source of funds) • Sole Asha chapter funding them
General Partner Updates • Please see detailed annual report from organization (soft copy on project page) • Successes • Education of a large group of children (~64 children) • Children from different socio-economic backgrounds • Alternative education – outside the classroom • Trips • 5 day trip (children older than 12) to Belgaum to another non-profit • Day trip to Gandipet for children younger than 12 • Other focused trips for various groups of children • Sleepovers at the school for different groups of children • Academic day and Independence day celebrations • Movies & discussions • Nutrition for children – Daily meal for all prepared and served by teachers and students
General Partner Updates • Challenges • Right To Education enforced changes • No changes for 2011-2012 • Significant change likely after that • Team development & teacher retention • Working with older teenage boys • Preventing under privileged girls from dropping out early • Changing attitudes of people to their teaching philosophy and proliferation of private schools
Site Visit Report • What works? • Fantastic model for a school • The children were confident and engaged • An order of magnitude more than in government schools • Comparable to some of the best private schools in the city • The founder is still very involved • Ram is clearly an asset to the organization’s continued existence • Welcoming and clean premises
Site Visit Report • Challenges • Right to Education bill (!!) • A threat to the existence of many alternative schools • Lack of clarity – Central government vs State. Can their school function in it’s current way? • Government recognition – Red tape, corruption • Lack of land for playground and minimum per person space, minimum number of classrooms, etc. • Requires trained and certified teachers • How to ensure continuity of the organization? • Who is an effective and committed person to take over leadership? • How do they retain teachers for the long run? • Effective fund raising • Lack of a scalable model
Asks for Asha Seattle • Approve maximum allowed inflation increase • 6% = Rs 2,12,000 • This will defray the increased salary costs a bit • Re-evaluate project funding needs (including a potential increase) in 2012 • Based on changes in how they function as a school and organization
Asks for Asha Seattle • Approve sending additional personal donation via Asha Seattle to support the organization • Will contribute $1000 annually above current contributions to Asha Seattle
Include the results of the annual survey. Survey Results
Some FAQs at Asha, Seattle meetings. • How many rs are we spending per kid per year? • Does the amount being spent on infrastructure items (building schools, repairing roofs, etc. ) look reasonable? • Where exactly is the partner located? (especially for remote projects. Be ready to locate the project area on a map) • What is the graduation rate of the school? • What is the student to teacher ratio in class rooms? • What is the girl to boy ratio in the school? • What are the line items in the budget? • Why is the partner asking for more funding for line item N? (You will be asked this if there are changes in the budget line items) • Community opinion of the project. • What went well, what didn’t go as expected, what can be done differently. FAQs