Different aspects of the Rewari project
During the 27 years since its foundation, the Rewari project has expanded in many directions. Here are the major aid programmes:
Child education |
Medical services |
Health farm |
Other programmes |
1. Child education
Whilst there are many excellent schools in India, official state education in the Rewari area is too costly for the poorest families. Without schooling, a child has little chance of succeeding in life, and the cycle of poverty continues. Robin, Angeleena and their team are combating this problem on two fronts.
Tutorial centres
Five tutorial centres have been set up in Rewari and the surrounding area, housed in rented premises or private homes. Some 370 children aged 3 to 12 – often seated on the floor – are thus able to study for a few hours each day. As well as acquiring basic skills in maths, Hindi and English, the children also receive regular medical check-ups, nutritional aid, basic equipment ... and a uniform which gives them a sense of dignity. Once they reach the age of 12 or 13, they are ready for the official exam which enables them to enter secondary education. Progress is visible at every level!
The Good Shepherd School
This innovative project is designed to offer free quality education to children of the Rajasthani Gypsy community – an extremely deprived and despised ethnic group. The foundation stone was laid in October 2007 and, thanks to the generosity of friends in India and in Belgium, seven ground-floor classrooms were officially opened in April 2010.At present (December 2011), 76 children are registered in the kindergarten and primary sections. Those who attend the morning session come from wealthier families: their parents are able to pay a moderate fee which helps subsidise the education of the poorer children who attend in the afternoon. Inspired by Christian values but open to all creeds and cultures, the school seeks to lower the caste barriers and train the children to become good citizens of India.
In order to accommodate children up to middle (lower secondary) school level, eight new classrooms are currently under construction on the first floor. The work began in September 2011, and the new section is due to be opened in time for the new school year which starts in April 2012. The ultimate aim is to accommodate up to 350 underprivileged children every afternoon and 250 more "fortunate" pupils in the morning.
How can I contribute to the education programme?
Follow the construction of the Good Shepherd School, since the laying of the first stone:
 |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |
2. Medical services
The organisation’s head-quarters in Rewari houses a dispensary which was opened in 2000. This offers a wide range of services to people who are unable to pay for the existing medical facilities in the area. Patients receive, for example, day-to-day health-care, free medication, vaccinations, pre- and post-natal care and general advice.
The illnesses encountered most frequently are essentially related to poverty, poor sanitation or a lack of health education. A growing emphasis is therefore being laid on preventative care. At the health awareness and motivation camps, organised regularly at different locations in North India, special attention is given to the question of personal hygiene. Advice is also given on how to identify and utilise natural medicinal plants for immediate relief from various physical ailments.
This past year over 4,600 people have benefited from the different services offered by the medical team. The acquisition in 2010 of a mobile dispensary – financed by friends in Belgium and dedicated to the memory of Paul Vandenbroeck – has allowed easier access to the slum areas of Rewari and the rural populations in the surrounding villages.
In January 2011, the coldest month of winter, the distribution of mattresses and blankets brought comfort to 288 families. A big “thank you” s to all who took part in these actions of solidarity!
How can I contribute to the daily running of the dispensary?
The illnesses encountered most frequently are essentially related to poverty, poor sanitation or a lack of health education. A growing emphasis is therefore being laid on preventative care. At the health awareness and motivation camps, organised regularly at different locations in North India, special attention is given to the question of personal hygiene. Advice is also given on how to identify and utilise natural medicinal plants for immediate relief from various physical ailments.
This past year over 4,600 people have benefited from the different services offered by the medical team. The acquisition in 2010 of a mobile dispensary – financed by friends in Belgium and dedicated to the memory of Paul Vandenbroeck – has allowed easier access to the slum areas of Rewari and the rural populations in the surrounding villages.
In January 2011, the coldest month of winter, the distribution of mattresses and blankets brought comfort to 288 families. A big “thank you” s to all who took part in these actions of solidarity!
How can I contribute to the daily running of the dispensary?
 |  |  |  |  |
Top
3. Health farm
A few years ago, the Rewari team acquired a plot of 4 hectares at a surprisingly low price, in the neighbouring State of Rajasthan. An intensive culture of various medicinal plants and herbs has since been developed. So far, some 30 medicinal species have been planted with promising results. Training is given concerning the use of these plants in the treatment of various physical ailments.
The farm’s purpose is not solely therapeutic: the culture of seasonal crops provides a precious source of revenue for the organisation. Each year, 10 or 12 tonnes of wheat, maize, barley, mustard, etc. are sold on the market, and the returns are reinvested in the other more specifically “humanitarian” programmes.
 |  |  |  |  |
Top
4. Other programmes
- Safe drinking water
In order to combat the spread of endemic diseases caused by polluted surface water in remote rural areas, the Rewari project has installed more than 100 hand pumps drawing on deep underground water tables.
- Housing renovation
In cooperation with Habitat for Humanity Rewari, the team is committed to renovating half a dozen dilapidated homes each year, for families on low income.
- Micro-credits
Interest-free financial assistance, reimbursable gradually over a long period, has enabled heads of family and small entrepreneurs to deal with temporary financial emergencies.
- Specialised training
The Rewari leaders make every effort to stimulate a spirit of initiative and wise management of resources, encouraging people to help themselves to serve others in their turn. Over the years the training programmes have included: management of small businesses; sewing and knitting workshops; literacy courses for adults; marriage guidance; and youth awareness camps, geared to helping teenagers face up to sensitive issues like alcohol and drug abuse, AIDS, sexuality and inter-caste marriage.
Top