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11 March 2008

Save the Children New Zealand (SCNZ) is hosting a public forum with guest speaker Mamatha Esteves, Children’s Programme Manager of India’s Agricultural Development and Training Society (ADATS), SCNZ’s partner organisation in South India.

WHEN: Tuesday March 18, 2008. 6-8pm.
WHERE: St John’s Presbyterian Church, Corner Willis and Dixon Streets.
Refreshments will be provided.

The forum will also include talks by SCNZ programme managers Debbie Jack and Guada Lagrada on ways in which the ADATS/SCNZ partnership creates immediate and lasting improvements in children’s lives.

Mamatha Esteves will be talking about her lifelong involvement with ADATS and the ways in which the organisation works to empower the families of the Coolie caste – one of the poorest and lowest castes in Southern India

ADATS’ Children’s Programme, with the support of SCNZ, aims to empower children from such underprivileged families through education, so that they can break out of economic as well as caste poverty.

When ADATS began its work in India there were no Coolie children attending government schools.  Today, 93% of the children – boys and girls – from more than 500 villages supported by the Programme are now in school.

Through the Programme Coolie children are now better equipped to deal with life than their parents were.  They are educated, liberal and ready to question established practices.  They are more confident and they have a positive visibility in the communities.

As well, Balakendra (children’s centres) provide supplementary education, much of which focuses on fostering the importance of education for girls.

Over the years, there has been a huge change in people’s attitudes towards girls. Early marriage has become almost non-existent among those Coolie families who are now part of the ADATS programme.  

Education, marrying later and being able to earn for themselves are just some of the ways in which Coolie families are creating better lives for their daughters.

Find out more about ADATS here