We as an organization have been associated with Sparsh from 2013, both for Montessori as well as sections till tenth standard. A time came when we had to close the Montessori sections due to lack of trained adults, who could stay in rural areas and teach with us. In this difficult situation, Sparsh came to us as a blessing, and took up the challenging task of training parents in the village who had a minimum qualification of tenth standard.
With her team of 7 experienced teachers Sishu Griha (a reputed educational institution in Bengaluru), they took up the task of travelling 140 kms, taking sessions every alternate Saturday for a period of two years. With all the commitment trainers and trainees, we successfully completed the training and now two environments are completely taken care of by these parents. Now rural children have the privilege of enjoying their early learning through this wonderful Montessori method.
After looking at this work, the foundation felt that we could extend the training to neighboring villages and towns also, in order to give an opportunity to learn and impart the Montessori method in their schools. Orientation took place, and a few interested teachers came forward and enrolled. Sparsh took up the whole responsibility to train them. IMC also supported theprogram, and that is how PARASPARA, the training program, successfully completed and 18 trainees graduated in December 2019. This was a great achievement for all of us.
Along with the training the learning extended to their personal space and has brought a positive change in them. All the trainees felt that this has been a holistic personality program which empowered them a lot.
Sparsh took all the initiative to arrange observations and interactive sessions with some reputed institutions in Bengaluru for all the trainees. This was a great opportunity for them. For most of them it was the first experience outside their village and away from families. They cherish these memories a lot.
Sparsh conducted two-day and three-day sessions for all the teaching faculty, working staff and management at VSR Montessori school which helped in team building, recognizing their own capabilities, understanding individual and team responsibility towards the institution and how to go forward with the vision and values with which we started the foundation. Sparsh’s commitment was so inclusive that the foundation feels that is has become an integral part of it.
Sujata R Kumar coordinated the work (screening students, following up, planning and conducting workshops for children as well as for parents from poor economic background) for Athani Charitable Trust. We found her to be committed, hands-on, sincere and hardworking. She handled the activities as per our expectations. We recommend her highly and wish her all the very best.
We feel previlaged for having got an opportunity to learn and work with Sparsh. Sparsh's session were informative and helpful for the nursery and pre-primary teachers specially with the phonetics and vocabulary improvement. It helped us in giving our children a good foundation on building and improving English vocabulary. It has made it easy for the teachers to reach the children effectively. We have enjoyed working with Sparsh and we look forward to working with them in the future too!