A high school for underprivileged girls is a pioneering
effort of Study Hall
Educational
Foundation. It started in 2003 with 80 students and four
teachers. Now the school extends quality education to over
600 girls from needing
background. These girls come from the neighboring slums and
communities and being compelled by their circumstances, most
of them work in houses as domestic helpers. Hence the school
runs during the afternoon in the premises of Study Hall at Vipul Khand. Every child is given a snack every day, it
helps to boost attendance, is often a nutrient for those
girls who have not been able to eat because they have just
returned from work, This is provided by kind courtesy of
Didi's Foods and last but not the least, it gives the
feeling that “someone cares for them”. Prerna follows the UP
Board syllabus till Class VIII and then the girls appear for
Class X examination from the National Institute of Open
School.
Prerna has a dedicated staff of 16 teachers who work with
girl children to overcome the obstacles that illiteracy,
poverty, violence, and discrimination place in a child's
path. These girls have access to the same infrastructure and
facilities as the Study Hall children and the school
believes in going a step further ie. to integrate activities
such as theatre workshops, quizzes, creative writing,
dramatics, singing, painting, dance, music, sports and yoga
in the school curriculum, thus contributing towards the all
round development of children. The school also organizes
picnics, excursions and film shows. Prerna has a computer
education programme and children enjoy their computer
periods.
In addition to this Prerna imparts vocational training as
well. 20 girls of Class XI have been trained and hired by
Study Hall (a co-ed school for the privileged children)and
Dosti (a school for the children with special needs) as
interns. Their role is to assist the Computer teachers as
well as the teachers in Dosti. Besides this the girls are
learning tie and dye, embroidery and craftwork. The finished
goods are exhibited and sold during festivals and at the
Study Hall School fete. Girls have also learnt “Henna
Application” and earn some extra money during the wedding
season.
They work as :-
Lab Assistant in
computer lab
Teaching assistance
in Dosti and Prep School
Library Assistant
Receptionist
Store Assistants
Infirmary Assistant
Canteen Assistant
Regular health check-ups are conducted free of cost for
Prerna Girls. Every year Dr Chawla at Prakash Netra Kendra facilitates free eye
check ups for Prerna girls. He also operated a child who
had a squint in the eye recently. On 8th February 2008, Help age India facilitated an “Eye Check-up”. On 26th
April 2008, Sardar Vallabh Bhai Dental College will be
organizing a free dental checkup for all Prerna
students.
All girls at Prerna have scary and inspiring stories.
These girls have brutal home lives. Lives that are hard,
violent, abusive, powerless and very poor. Many of these
girls are not touched at home, except to be beaten.
Their fault is being female, lower caste and poor. Not
much further you can fall in the universal power ladder.
They have no control over their lives, their earnings
and their bodies. Yet they engage in their studies, come
to school regularly and put in the work they need to do.
This is their hope to get a new life... to fulfill a
dream that they have dared to have.
There are many more such strong girls cleaning someone
else's home and dishes, supporting an alcoholic father
and getting married off at 13. There are many more than
we can currently support with our modest funds. These
girls have risen above their circumstances and want to
grow up to be doctors, teachers, pilots and business
women.. Help them reach their dreams.
We urge you to be a part of this grass roots initiative
to give these girls a better future.
Real
Life to Reel Life programme held on 9th May, 2012 
