EDU-Key

The project areas are located in the very rural parts of Maharashtra. The Jalihal area is extremely dry and knows a high percentage of migrating parents. Almost the whole population works in the agriculture sector. The thinking of the people was highly influenced by traditions and not flexible at all. When we started EDU-Key not even 50% of the children visited primary education. Now it is around 90%. Female feticide and other expressions of discrimination of girls and women are widely spread.

Current status

The project started in 2002. In the innitial period the aim was to bring all children to school; the second phase we concentrated on better and more child centred education and in the present stage we include activities that need to result in more gender equality and independent thinking.

_ reading to the smallest
- mixed sports
- support girls to visit high school and college
- providing facilities for children of migrating parents
- Philosophy for children
- development of expression of feelings
- stimulating of child centred and enquiry based education
- exposure in Curi-O-City centres ( learn by doing)
- building awareness amongst community groups
- Involvement of yout as change makers

- Improve education which will help to escape the poverty trap-
- participation of all children in the educational process
- students who will take initiatives on base of their conviction that they themselves can be the change
- gender equality
- understanding and implementation of the universally accepted human rights

Target Group:
Children from zero to 15 years of age in 112 villages in maharashtra. At the same time their parents will be educated on the purposes of the project.

Goals

• all children in school
• boys and girls interact naturally
• 50 % of the girls visit high school
• children know how to express themselves

The activities are highly based upon demands from society. Society also started contributing in time and finances. The changes in behavior in regard to education definitely will have a lasting effect and those in regard to equality hopefully will have this lasting effect as well. To reach this level we need to support these activities for some more years.