SNEHA 3.23

In 2002 SNEHA meaning “compassion” was registered as a not for profit organisation in Delhi by Mr. Susanta Chakma,in association with some eminent social workers of India namely Prof. D.L Sheth, Late Dr. Yash Pal Chibbar, Late Mr. Surendra Mohan to create opportunities provide value-based education to children.

SNEHA School at Diyun: In July 2003, SNEHA started its first school at Diyun, Changlang District, Arunachal Pradesh. Starting with 109 children in a temporary building made of bamboos and thatch, the school is now educating 608 students, attending classes from KG to class X. The school is established. In its short history, SNEHA School at Diyun has earned well deserved reputation for imparting value-based education, and serves diverse communities in the area. The school had 100 percent passed results with first class in board examinations.
Now the SNEHA School Diyun complex, together with its Headmaster and 21 teachers now provide much needed focus for community activities and social functions. In effect, education of children is leading to the empowerment of parents.
SNEHA has relied on the aspiration of parents, willingness of young children to embrace formal classes, and equally important, garnered the support and guidance from a small, but dedicated set of donor organizations.

SNEHA has been successful in providing quality education to thousands of children in the remotest area; inculcate good human values and high spirit of contributing to society among the children. SNEHA has become a force and harbinger of peace by creating a pluralistic place of learning in the form of SNEHA Schools where children from diverse communities learn together. The society is growing as a well-informed, and tolerant and educated community.
SNEHA’s works have been appreciated by the media. A film about SNEHA was telecast in the National Channel DD; an article was published in The Times of India, in New Delhi and Mumbai.

SNEHA Vidya Vihar: In 2007 SNEHA opened another school called SNEHA Vidya Vihar (SNEHA Temple of Learning) at Bijoypur village, Changlang district, Arunachal Pradesh to provide value-based to children. Currently, the school has 195 children from class I to class VIII and will be upgraded up to Secondary level in future. Experience gained at SNEHA School at Diyun is probing to be of great benefit at SNEHA Vidya Vihar at Bijoypur. Together with its Headmaster and 10 teachers provide much needed focus for community activities and social functions.

SNEHA VIDYA MANDIR: In 2014 SNEHA undertook the school at Dharmapur village, Changlang district, Arunachal Pradesh. To start the journey the school was started with 120 children. The school is running up to class VI and 250 children are studying from KG to class VI. The school will be upgraded up to Secondary level in future by adding one class every year.

At each school, SNEHA works hard to ensure that children understand that they are to become global citizens with civic sense, in accordance with SNEHA’s slogan “education for universal compassion”. In the communities where SNEHA is active, schools not only transform the lives of children, but they also offer the wider community an opportunity to improve family life. SNEHA schools therefore become centers for community spirit. SNEHA Schools have Minimum Level of Learning programme as a result of which, each child receives minimum standard of education.

SNEHA has been working continuously and untiringly since July 2003. SNEHA has established three schools in the remotest areas in Arunachal Pradesh, undertaken health education programme for children and parents and scholarships to students.
During our short and humble history, we have learned that the communities we work with need long term guidance and motivation. The empowerment of communities is a long term affair, and the fruits of our effort will only accrue over time.

However, we still have many challenges in each school. SNEHA has been able to develop just minimum infrastructure to run the school up class VIII with one section in each class. Every year we are able to admit only limited number of students due to lack of classrooms. Every year parents get disheartened when their children do not get admission at the school due to limited number of seats.

Challenges at SNEHA VIDYA Vihar:
1. The school does not have sufficient funds for teachers’ salaries
2. The school does not have any infrastructures. The school is running in a temporary building made of bamboos.


Challenges at SNEHA VIDYA Mandir:

• The school does not have any infrastructures. The school is running in a temporary building made of bamboos.
• The school does not have funds to purchase library books, desks and benches, musical instruments for children, computers for office work.