Parth Phalke

About Me

I am a teacher and have been working in education since 2007. I have been in Banjar since after the first lockdown in 2020. I have not just worked with local children but also built strong relationships with their families. Students here are as intelligent as anywhere else. What they lack is support, exposure and encouragement. The right environment to succeed is critical for them all. And I hope to be able to support them as much as I can. With this support, they will not only do well for themselves but also bring change in the entire region and pave the way for others to follow.

Appeal

(Education)

Project Srot began in the Tirthan Valley in 2020 and became formally registered as Srot Rural Education and Development Foundation in Dec 2021. The project aims to provide academic support and mentorship to local students from the Tirthan valley, to enable them to be educated, well-rounded individuals who are intellectually, emotionally and financially independent and resilient. Towards this end we also offer them opportunities for exposure and exploration through conduct of workshops by volunteers as well as guidance to plan their lives ahead in sync with their aspirations.

Students impacted in 5 years: 500+
Local teachers trained: 7
Collaborations with local schools: 1
Total Srot Centres in Tirthan: 1 (girls' hostel)
We have 8 students living at the hostel and others come in the evening for academic support.
Funding Required for Rent: 3,36,000/- for Year 1.

This proposal seeks funding to support an existing 16-bed girls' hostel in Banjar, a rural region in Kullu district, Himachal Pradesh. This hostel provides a safe, affordable, and nurturing living environment for female students. The demand for such accommodation in Banjar is significant due to the presence of educational institutions and the growing number of girls pursuing secondary school and higher education in the region. By offering a secure and supportive living environment, the project helps the girls perform better at school/college, have more opportunities for personal growth and promote gender equality in education and employment.

The primary objective of the hostel is to:
* Provide safe, affordable accommodation for 16 girls from villages around Banjar.
* Increase the number of girls completing secondary and higher education.
* Empower girls by offering them the opportunity to study in a supportive environment, fostering independence and leadership.
* Help them identify a direction to their lives and encourage them to work towards their goals.
* To promote skill development through workshops and community engagement activities.

Key Issues:
* Limited access to education: Many girls from remote villages often discontinue their education after secondary schools because the families do not want them to relocate to a nearby town for college.
* Lack of safe accommodation: The absence of affordable and safe housing options discourages girls from pursuing higher education.
* Gender disparities: In rural areas, societal customs and traditions often cause girls to focus on domestic work and duties at the expense of education. Many girls also tend to marry early instead of continuing their education as they see that as an escape from their situation.

Impact: 2 girls have graduated and are studying in Mumbai and Bangalore. Others are applying to colleges across the country for the next academic session.
Students are considering a variety of career options that are not common among students here in banjar.

PHOTOS / VIDEOS

MESSAGES