120 used Tyres and 700 used Books put together to make a fabulous library for 850 underprivileged kids!
3 amazing organizations based in Bangalore- Anthill, Mantra & Storytime are now working together to make a fabulous library area creating a unique library that aims to transform the learning experience for underprivileged kids. We are building this library at the FLORIDA school in Goripalya, Bangalore.
This crowdfunding campaign is set to raise 66,180 INR to build this library for these kids. This will give us an opportunity to change the lives of these underprivileged kids and give them a more wholesome learning experience!
Imagine changing the lives of these kids for just ₹ 80 !
The objective of the campaign:
Today's children are so often caught up with the standard ways of measuring success that they lose out on the real joys of education and growing up. We believe the real lessons of life are not learnt in a classroom by reading textbooks alone, but by experiencing life first-hand. This also helps expand their horizons beyond the four walls of school as well.
An active reading and learning centre will provide students easy access to books that pique their interest and awaken their imagination. A fun place where they can relax, play and develop themselves. A space to grow up the right way - this is what we aim to build through this project.
What has been done so far?
In order to build the learning centre, the two major requirements are the right set of books and the right design of the space.
The furniture and decor of the room is currently under design. By using reusable materials like, old tyres and shelves, chairs and tables will be built. The library will be set-up in a non-conventional and highly inviting style for the children. In order to transform the large classroom into a space more conducive to creative thinking and free expression, the walls have been painted with bright, colourful images and quotes, by the volunteers for this project.
Pic: Scrap types used to make furniture
Pic: Creatively painted libraries by our volunteers
Through hugely successful book drives conducted across Bangalore, over 700 children's books ranging from fairytales to mysteries to comics have been collected for this purpose. Once sorted according to age and reading level, these books will be the core of the learning centre.
Pic: Old books collected through donations
Objectives of the project:
- To create a uniquely designed, functional, low cost learning area that includes new book collections.
- An environment conducive to learning and play.
- Provide the space with plenty of learning aids so that they support the school's curriculum and serve as the educational hub of the school.
- To design a practical and replicable model, that can be taken to transform or renew such spaces in other public schools locally and nationally.
About Florida school:
Florida English School situated in a community known as Goripalya. It is one of Mantra's partner schools. The School started by Zaka ulla Shariff and caters to 850 students from the community who are guided by 23 teachers. The Goripalya community falls in the low-income category and encompasses a cluster of slums in the Padarayanapura vicinity.
The number of direct beneficiaries will include all children and staff of the school. The indirect beneficiaries would include parents who have basic reading skills. The estimated number of direct and indirect beneficiaries put together is 1700, if not more.
Who are we? What do we do?
STORYTIME
An initiative that started off as an attempt by a group of college students to fulfil a child's wish to read, Storytime, today is an international network of volunteers who set up reading environments in under-resourced schools and communities. From 2013 to today, Storytime has had several initiatives under their umbrella ranging from single shelf libraries to library renovations to reading buddies, with a presence in over 4 countries across the globe.
Storytime has co-created 22 reading spaces over the course of three years.
Transformed an overlooked room into a reading space equipped with books and other learning materials, In Chennai Primary School, Velachery.
- Revived an unused library at VVSHS, Mannuthy, Kerala.
- Created a full-fledged library at ECI Matriculation School, Thondiarpet, Chennai.
Find out more about Storytime at www.storytime.co.in and https://www.facebook.com/strytym
ANTHILL
Anthill Creations was founded by 5 passionate architecture grads from IIT-Kharagpur, we use recycled tyres & scrap to build wonderful, play areas & libraries for destitute & underprivileged children .Anthill aims to mobilise communities by creating low-cost, sustainable play spaces from recycled tires & scrap. We transform spaces into creative areas for children! These play spaces are created for children of all age-groups, with a specific focus on early childhood learning.
Anthill created the first low cost playground made of old tyres at the IIT Kharagpur campus. This was at the Disha Seema care centre in IIT Kharagpur, West Bengal. We built this playground for underprivileged kids & received assistance from Michelin tyres & college alumni. Contributions from batch mates and juniors made this DIY project a huge success.
MANTRA
Mantra is a not for profit, non- governmental organisation started by Santosh More (ex-Janagraha employee, TFI alum, ex-Infosys employee) and Khushboo Ashwati (ex-Narayana Health employee, TISS graduate and ex-Wipro employee) in the year 2013 armed with the vision to create a better world through quality education and health care.
Mantra focuses on its School Transformation and Empowerment Project(STEP), which is a two year school immersion project that aims at transforming the whole school. STEP has been implemented in 12 schools urban Bengaluru; 10 low-fee private schools and 2 government schools. It caters to 6600 students, guided by 202 teachers.
Cost Break Up:
We are running this campaign to raise funds for constructing a library in Florida School. The campaign goal is ₹ 66,180.
Net of crowdfunding fees the NGO will utilise all the funds collected towards the building of the library. There is no admin cost.
Below is the cost breakup:
FAQs
What is unique about your organisation(s)? What is the differentiating factor compared to similar NGO’s/products?
- The learning commons project in Florida is unique for a bunch of reasons. The need of such a space in the mentioned community has been thoroughly researched. This outcome is the result of a month-long discussion with kids and the school management. These kids are also very invested in the project as it is bringing to life for them, a space to gain access to a quality reading environment.
