Bhumi : Annual Report 2008 – 2009

Introduction:

Bhumi is a youth volunteer non-profit organisation registered under the Tamil Nadu State
Societies act.

Bhumi was started on August 15, 2006 by a small group of young people with a strong
passion to change society as it is today and build a better India for tomorrow.

Volunteers comprising college students and young working professionals are trained and
placed at preferred children’s homes / slum-village community centres to teach under-
privileged children for two hours every week.

Vision:

To help build a more influential, equal and socially conscious society

Mission:

To bridge the gap in society through quality education

To provide a platform for socially minded youth
Moulding the youth into tomorrow's leaders
To fight global warming through citizen level initiatives
To turn youth into Climate Messengers

Programme wise beneficiaries:

Programme Beneficiaries – Children

Make A Difference 468
Kanini 150
Career Counselling 60
Little Einsteins 47
Joy to the World 270

Number of volunteers enrolled: 550

Number of actively contributing volunteers: 135
Executive Committee:

Name Position Occupation Remuneration

Mr.Prakash Selvaraj President Software Engineer -nil-
Dr. Prahalathan K.K. Vice President Doctor - Ophthalmologist -nil-
Mr. Ayyanaar Software Engineer -nil-
Treasurer
Ezhumalai
Ms. Vaishnavi Operational Research -nil-
General Secretary
Srinivasan Analyst
Technology Support -nil-
Mr. Vivek Agarwal Joint Secretary
Executive
Mr. Mallieswaran Executive Software Engineer -nil-
Ravindar Member
Executive Software Engineer -nil-
Ms. Mini Jain
Member
Mr. Purnendu Singh Member Software Engineer -nil-

Declaration:

Bhumi has no full / part time staff members. No reimbursements were made for the
expenses of any volunteer / executive committee member in the financial year 2008-09.
Financial Report 2008 – 2009
 Make a Difference : Annual Report 2008 - 2009

Introduction: Make a Difference (MAD) provides quality English and soft skills to
underprivileged children with the aim of bridging the gap between them and those who
get better education. Through this programme, we build communication ability and
improve confidence of our children. The uniqueness of MAD lies in the interactive and
fun ways adopted by our volunteer teachers. Aids like flashcards, lively audios, animated
visuals, role plays, puzzles and games are part of our classroom teaching.

Centre Details:

SNo Name of Type Location No. of No. of Class

Centre volunteers children

1 Anbu Children’s Kottivakam, 8 35 5–9

Karangal Home Chennai
2 Avvai Children’s Adyar, 6 28 9 – 10
Home Home Chennai
3 Government Children’s Purasawakkam, 14 39 5–9
Girls’ Home Home& Chennai
School
4 SAC Children’s R.A.Puram, 20 58 6–9
Dr.PVRao Home& Chennai
School
5 Welfare Slum Pallavaram, 10 48 4–9
Education Community Chennai
Trust Centre
6 Government School Pallikaranai, 25 240 7
High School Chennai CTS
Outreach

Total number of direct beneficiaries: 208 children

Total number of beneficiaries: 448 children

Bhumi Volunteer : Children Ratio – 1:5

Structure:

Project Head

Centre Heads @
Children’s Homes /
Community Centres

Batch Head Batch Head

(Saturday) (Sunday)

Volunteers Volunteers

Feedback: To ensure smooth communication and effective sharing of new learning

methods within and across centres, volunteers post feedback on our online forum on the
social networking website, Orkut. Last year, through discussions volunteers were able
find answers to tricky situations/problems they were facing at their teaching centres.

MAD encourages active participation during classes

Training: A two-day intensive training session by The Teachers’ Foundation, Bangalore

equipped all volunteers with teaching methodologies that can be implemented across any
level of aptitude. This was followed by two syllabus training workshops at two monthly
intervals.
Corporate Social Responsibility:

Bhumi’s Mentors trained Cognizant Technological Solutions’ CSR initiative Outreach’s

volunteers. Syllabus and testing matrix were provided by Bhumi. The programme
indirectly benefitted a further 240 children.

Achievements:

During the initial phase of MAD, our volunteers faced the challenge of making the
children understand the need to learn the language. The interactive and enjoyable
elements incorporated, spurred excitement and the children became more receptive to
MAD classes. Volunteer teachers consider this the biggest achievement and reward to the
efforts and time invested in moulding the future of these children.

Learning English through activities

Awards:

The Make a Difference programme is the winner of the Staples Youth Social
Entrepreneur Award 2008 (Link).

Plan for 2009-2010:

To expand the programme to at least seven centres and benefit at least 350 children.
 KANINI : Annual Report 2008 - 2009

Introduction: Kanini (meaning computer in Tamil), started in 2007, is BHUMI’s initiative to

provide children a platform to learn the nuances of this tool. The programme's goal is to ignite
young minds to the endless possibilities of the computer and make the children functionally
e-literate.

In 2008, the Kanini programme was expanded to six teaching centers, with a more structured
syllabus that covers both software and hardware. The programme helps children build their
career path effectively.

Centre Details:

S. No Name of Centre Type Package No. of No. of Class

Completed volunteers children
1 Anbu Karangal, Children’s Package 2 3 4 11 &
Kottivakam, Home (HTML BCA
Chennai Alone)
2 SAC Dr.PVRao, Children’s Package 1 10 17 10
R.A.Puram, Home&
Chennai School
3 NEST, Village Package 1 6 25 5-12
Thirumullaivayil, Community
Chennai Centre
4 Bala Mandir, Children’s Package 1 6 29 9, 11 &
Chennai Home 12

5 CORD, Village Package 1 5 25 6-12

Tamiraipakkam, Community
Thiruvallur Centre
6 Welfare Slum Package 1 6 50 5-12
Education Trust, Community
Pallavaram, Centre
Chennai
7 Diya, Mylapore, Slum Technical NA
Chennai Community support
Centre
8 Uthavum Village Technical NA
Nanbargal, Community support
Alanthur, Centre
Thiruvallur

Total number of beneficiaries: 150 children

Children-- Computer Ratio: - 5:1
Volunteer – Children Ratio: - 1:10
 Bhumi aims to computerise children’s homes at the ratio of 1:6
Structure:

Project Head

Centre Heads @
Children’s Homes /
Community Centres
Batch Head Batch Head
(Saturday) (Sunday)

Volunteers Volunteers

Teams & Responsibilities:

Project Head

Tech Team Operations Team Content Team

 1. Tech team

Maintaining hardware and software

Managing computers donated by well-wishers

2. Content Team

Drafting and updating packages

Analyzing feedback and suggestions
Creating pre-programme and post programme assessment questionnaires/tests

3. Operations Team

Deciding about teaching centers and number of children based on volunteer and
resource availability
Arranging training for volunteers if needed

Practical experience enables faster learning

Training & packages:

Regular "Knowledge Transfer Activity for volunteers" were conducted to encourage volunteers
to share information on the packages amidst themselves. Experts were also brought in from other
organisations for the same.
 Packages
Package 1: FOC and MS Office
Details Fundamentals of the Computer, Microsoft office and Basic internet

Duration of the course 45 Hrs (Approx)

Target Group All the children
Pre-requisite None
Package 2: SSP
Details Hardware assembler and system service provider
Duration of the course 20 Hrs (Approx)
Target Group School discontinued and college goers
Pre-requisite Package 1 has to be completed
Package 3: Web page designers (WPD)
Tools to be taught HTML, Photoshop and Coral Draw
Duration of the course 30 Hrs per Tool (Approx)
Target Group HTML, Photoshop and Coral Draw
Pre-requisite
Package 4: Programmers (PMR)
Languages to be taught C, C++ and java (Oops Concepts)
Duration of the course 40 Hrs per each language (Approx)
Target Group Students with good aptitude and logical thinking
Pre-requisite Package 1 has to be completed.
Package 5: Animation
Tools to be taught Flash
Duration of the course 30 Hrs per Tool (Approx)
Target Group Students who aspire a career in Animation
Pre-requisite Packages 1, 2 & 3 have to be completed

Plan for 2009-2010:

To expand the programme to at least 15 centres and benefit at least 500 children.
 Career Counselling : Annual Report 2008 - 2009

Introduction:

Career Counselling is Bhumi’s non-teaching programme that helps children complete the cycle of
growth by guiding them to focus on the right career.

Children from lesser-privileged sections of society are often clueless about the career options
available to them. Moreover, inadequate awareness and guidance impede the process of realising
their dreams and true potential. Bhumi understands the importance of instilling confidence in young,
bright minds and moulding them into better citizens of the future. This challenging and interesting
task is accomplished by several teams working in coordination.

Centre Details:

S.No Name of Centre Type Location Program No. of Class

Children
1. Dr.P.V.Rao School Children’s R.A. Puram, Annual 16 10
Home Chennai
2. Bala Mandir Children’s T. Nagar, One-day 12 11 & 12
Home Chennai
3. Welfare Slum Pallavaram, One-day 32 9, 10, 11
Educational Trust Community Chennai & 12
Centre
Total number of beneficiaries: 60 children

Counsellors with children from Bala Mandir children’s home

Structure:

 Annual Programme
Motivational Session
SWOT Analysis & Psychometric Test
Personalized Counseling, 2 children per volunteer
Constant monitoring, motivation and counseling at least twice a month
 One day Programme
Ice Breaker Games
Motivational Session
Various career options presentation
Detailed information specific to all students individually

Teams and Responsibilities:

1. Scientific Analysis
Information collection
Psychometric tests & SWOT analysis
Analysis of interest and aptitude
Recommend Best Fit

2. Knowledge Management
Academia
Vocational Courses & Industry Contacts
Scholarship Details, Bank Loans and procedures

3. Student Counselors
Identify children & collecting information
Administering psychometric tests and personalized counseling
Identify best fit based on aptitude and interest, recommend ideal career path
Support and equip children with information and infrastructure
Connect children with potential supporters
Continuous monitoring and feedback

Trainers

Creative Communication and Management Center : Dr.Sumathi Narayanan, Ph.D in

Human Development, Department of Psychology, University of Madras
Mr. Hari, Career Counselor

Plan for 2009 - 2010:

To define systems, complete knowledge acquisition and publish the same on the website in a
publicly usable format. To expand the programme and benefit at least 200 children.
 Little Einsteins : Annual Report 2008 - 2009

Introduction:

With limited resources available, children at some schools are deprived of what their
peers from other schools get. Little Einsteins is an effort to bridge this gap by providing
children an opportunity to learn Mathematics and Science through experiments, puzzles,
games and multimedia resources. Seeing the practical implementation of theoretical
concepts enlarges their canvass of imagination and helps them retain better. Tests are
conducted regularly to assess the progress of the children.

Little Einsteins was launched as a pilot programme in Februray 2009.

Structure:

Project Head

Volunteers Syllabus Team

Centre Details:

SNo Name of Centre Type Location No. of Class

children

1 Karpagavalli School Mylapore, 47 7&8

Vidyalaya Chennai

Total number of beneficiaries: 47 children

 The Little Einsteins team with children

Plan for 2009 - 2010:

To stabilise syllabi and testing matrix; To include soft-skills development, general

knowledge, etc in the programme. To expand the programme to at least one more centre.
 Think Green: Annual Report 2008 - 2009

Introduction:

Think Green is an initiative by Bhumi that encourages people to plant saplings of their
choice in their localities. A preliminary study is done to identify flowering and non-
flowering trees that would adapt to the conditions of the area. Continuous care of the
trees planted emphasises our collective commitment to provide the current and future
generations with a green and safe environment.

Bhumi encourages residents to practise composting, thereby reducing the amount of

kitchen wastes that leave our households.

‘Free the Tree’ Campaign (FTC), in association with Nizhal is a regular activity to
remove billboard/poster nails from trees and urge advertisers not to continue this harmful
activity.

Bhumi, as part of the Indian Youth Climate Network (IYCN), trains its volunteers to be
Climate Messengers, who make presentations at their schools, colleges and companies to
raise awareness and equip people concerned with every day solutions to combat climate
change.

Project Head

Volunteers

Implemented at:

Bethalpuram Residential Area, Tambaram, Chennai

PS Higher Secondary School, Mandaveli, Chennai
PWD Park, Kotturpuram, Chennai
FTC at Usman Road & Bazzula Road, T.Nagar, Chennai
Volunteers planting trees at PWD Park, Kottupuram; Volunteers participating in FTC

Training:

15 volunteers benefited from the Climate Leadership Programme that was conducted on
2nd January at University of Madras.
 Joy to the World : Annual Report 2008 - 2009

Introduction:

The initiative connects lesser-privileged children with employees of several MNCs who
help make small wishes of these children come true. Children were made to fill up two
wishes each, and the filled wish cards were then distributed to Donors willing to fulfill
those wishes. The gifts were then distributed during the weekends of Christmas and New
Year 2009.

Beneficiaries of this initiative are children from:

SNo Name of Centre Type Location No. of

children
1 Anbu Karangal, Children’s Home Thiruvanmiyur, 60
Chennai
2 SAC Dr.P.V.Rao Children’s Home R.A.Puram, Chennai 66
High School, & School
3 Community Village Thamaraipakkam, 30
Homes @ Community Thiruvallur
Centre
4 Community Village Thirumulaivoyil, 42
Homes @ Community Chennai
Centre
5 Roshini Home Children’s Home Pallikaranai, hennai 38

6 Jeroham Home Children’s Home Keelakatalai, 34

Chennai
Total number of beneficiaries: 270 Children

Giving away the gifts

Participants in this initiative - Employees of:
· Cognizant Technological Solutions (Thoraipakkam and Pallikaranai)
· Infosys (Mahindra City and Sholinganallur)
· HCL, Purasalwalkam
· Satyam Computers, Perungudi
· Dexterity Business Analysts Pvt. Ltd., Ambattur
· Hexaware Technologies, Ambattur
· Allsec Technologies, Velachery

Plan for 2009-2010:

To expand the programme to more centres, and benefit at least 500 children.
13 / 1, Cenotaph Road, First Lane
Teynampet
Chennai – 600 059
www.bhumichennai.org
98408-68441 / 98942-09741