Building a New Learning Centre

Project

Thamarai Educational Projects built a new learning centre catering to the Annai Nagar and surrounding villages on the north side of Auroville, in Tamil Nadu. Thamarai has been operating educational services in rented or temporary locations in the villages surrounding Auroville since 2006.

Building a new multifunctional learning centre

Thamarai has been given stewardship of two pieces of land and they built a permanent centre that hosts the after-school, weekend and over holiday activities. The public can now benefit from an expanded range of programs in the fields of education, health and wellbeing, and leadership. The 1st phase of the development was functional by June 2020, which gave enough indoor and outdoor space to conduct their current services.

A partnership with Ramco for the phase 2 of the building

Thamarai benefited from support from Ramco for phase 2 of the building : an additional classroom, roof space and some sports facilities.  Annai Nagar is a short distance through the forest from the industrial zone of Auroville which allowed Thamarai to use as much alternative, reusable and sustainable technology as possible.

The Outcome of the Project

• The overall outcome of having a permanent centre with regular education programs is an increase in literacy and education and an increase in health and wellbeing for residents of Annai Nagar and surrounding villages.

• Increase wellbeing comes through a daily sports program.  The development of an indoor and outdoor area for the learning centre gives Thamarai a solid base from which to operate all its services, and this was further developed in the following years in stage 2 and sports ground.

• Capacity and leadership was developed in children and youth through participation in learning in action programs during the construction. The children completed specific projects relating to the development and got involved in activities where ever possible.

• English and digital literacy are improved, which are both key to giving children and youth independence in their own learning and increasing their ability to respond to opportunities later in life.

• Thamarai has recorded health indicators on all children attending the learning centre and has included a nutritional program. The children are tested regularly so that they can record their health progress as they continue through health educational training.

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