Voice of Children Project, Almora and Nainital, India

Meeting with the villagers

TRAS started working with AMAN and VIMARSH, two Indian NGOs based in the towns of Nainital and Almora in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand, in late 2009, on a one-year pilot project. We are amazed at what they have accomplished so far. Each NGO has a tiny staff of highly dedicated workers (earning a minimal wage) and a team of volunteers determined to improve conditions for people in villages surrounding Nainital and Almora. The villages lie anywhere from 10km to 27km from the nearest road head. All supplies are carried in and out by the villagers on foot or on donkeys. The village schools are usually closed because of the difficulty of finding staff who will stay. Getting to a high school is a near impossibility. With no regular health service, health problems are rampant. Apart from a little farming, income generation is non-existent.

Learning centre

With one year of TRAS funding, The VOICE OF CHILDREN project has achieved the following in five villages:

• Four early childhood centres with 62 children
• Four education centres with 94 children
• Over 30 children in the catch-up classes to help them return to school
• Libraries have been opened in 6 villages, bringing books, periodicals and newspapers to villagers for the first time. The children and youth are making good use of these, many of the adults are showing a keen interest in learning to read, and the little rooms where the libraries operate are becoming a hub for village meetings and discussions

Libraries have been opened in 6 villages, bringing books, periodicals and newspapers to villagers for the first time. The children and youth are making good use of these, many of the adults are showing a keen interest in learning to read, and the little rooms where the libraries operate are becoming a hub for village meetings and discussions.
TRAS members and UBC medical students have visited these five villages, and say the respect and welcome given to the project staff is inspiring.

UBC students assessing children's health

TRAS has agreed to accept a three-year continuation of this good beginning, and is considering expanding these programs into eight villages.

TRAS needs to raise $17,292 for the current year.

Sadly, heavy flooding in September 2010 caused enormous damage to many hill villages.
TRAS immediately sent emergency funds. Staff members at AMAN and VIMARSH worked around the clock to help alleviate the worst of the distress, delivering food, clothing and arranging for shelter.