Project
: CARAVAN
State
: Gujarat
Development Focus:
Empowerment of marginalized communities through information and
exposure.
About the NGO*:
SPRAT (Society
for the Promotion of Rational Thinking) is a NGO promoted by academicians,
consultants and social activists keen on a just social order based
on scientific temper and logical thinking. It aims at dispensing
secular information, empowering the under-privileged economically
and educationally, and promotes cross-cultural exchanges. AID
has not worked with this NGO earlier. SPRAT enjoys good local
support and has already established four CARAVAN centres. CARAVAN
has been approved by Rajiv Gandhi Foundation.
Summary:
The recent
communal violence in Gujarat brings to forefront the need for
rational thinking and harmony among people. SPRAT believes that
education leads to rational thinking and tolerance. CARAVAN aims
at empowering community through increased learning and earning
opportunities. CARAVAN is a network of multipurpose centers, to
be located throughout Gujarat and networked. Every CARAVAN center
will offer at one place vocational library, workshops on setting
up and professionalizing trade and commerce, educational video
theatre, inquiry counter for complete socio-economic information
(about scholarships, grants and subsidies, soft credit, etc) and
building extensive community database for providing useful linkages
and employment. The proposal is to fund recurring costs for library,
center in-charge and office expenses.
Objective of Project:
At the end
of first year, the CARAVAN center will be used daily by 120 people.
Basic literacy will be taught to women, employment and scholarship
information will be dispensed, vocational training will be given
to about 100 people a month.
Requested Budget: $5,000
Status:
Approved
Project Coordinator: Sandhya Govindaraju,
Anjana Susarla
Contact Email: sandhya_sago@yahoo.com, anjana@mail.utexas.edu
Additional Information
Project Proposal: caravan leaflet.doc sprat intro with funding
proposal.doc
Cost Analysis: Costing-refines.xls
Costing Centre Mailing Sheets.xls
Funding Options.xls
Estimated
expenses as of Feb,04 Funding
Requirements
taleem budget
Presentation Slides: first
presentation , final
presentation
Visit Report:
Visit Report.pdf
,Site visit
- 19 Jan 2005
Correspondence Notes:
correspondence.doc,
all
correspondence till 30, June 04
Relevant Minutes: Apr
05, 2003, Jun
03, 2003, Aug
03, 2003
Additional info: sprat's
website Board
of Directors Introduction
to Taleem Muslim
dilemma
Organization
Chart
Muslim
empowerment Gujarat Vidhyapeith's books used for Taleem -
Book 1 , Book 2
*NGO:
Non-governmental Organization
If
you would like to contribute towards an AID project, please
send a check made in favour of AID to the following address:
AID-Austin,
1 University Station A6220
SOC #108,
Austin TX 78712
