Our Mission
Since 2006, Thamarai Community Education Projects have provided educational services in the most marginalized sections of the villages next to the international township of Auroville in Tamil Nadu, India. Our current projects support children and youth from these villages, through after-school projects for around 90 children. In addition, regular health care and well-being programs are provided at local schools and at work units/village centres for adults with a vision to promote health and well being for all.
Challenge
Over the years, Thamarai has worked to counter low literacy and income levels. We also work on social issues such as health and addiction – a major problem, leading to other difficulties such as debt, domestic abuse and children discontinuing education due to lack of finances. Academically, many parents are challenged with low literacy rates, they send their children for homework support, we aspire to respond to their needs as effectively as possibly using technology and extra curricular activities to continually enrich programs.
Solution
Access to educational resources and opportunities change lives. Our after-school project supports children and youth with their academics as well as personal growth. Programs include English classes, digital literacy, leadership, arts and health activities along with homework support under the guidance of volunteer facilitators. Our well being programs empower people to be more informed about their health and to adopt life enhancing practices. RTL leadership programs develop agency in people and the ability to design and implement projects that support improving their own lives and the full potential of their community.
Long-Term Impact
Our projects have been running for the past 18 years. The children who once attended our after-school projects are now college graduates and back as volunteer youth facilitators on the current Thamarai programs. The health programs have and will continue to improve the conditions of the villages as people become informed about health and well being. The programs help to reduce alcohol consumption and instead focus on building agency, community development and education.
News
STEM: Students co-creating with 3D
A popular project among new students is designing personalized key tags with their names. After creating and printing their designs, they proudly take them home to show their friends and family. This hands-on approach not only sparks creativity but also helps foster a deeper understanding […]
Striving for Full-Potential: Building Confidence Through Sport
A Challenge: Girls face significant challenges in relation to access to sports rooted in social norms of fears that sports grounds are not safe for girls. This greatly impacts the self-confidence of girls. One of Thamarai’s first projects in Annai nagar was to create an […]
Young adults aspiring to learn more
English Class by Dhinesh: In every English class, l am always learning new words, phrases, and learning how to use them in speech and writing. I watch English documentaries and read books to expose myself to the language. I am trying to improve my English […]
Sustainable Development Goals by Abirami
Ongoing support for growth and agency building is a key component of Thamarai’s work. We renew ourselves annually by attending Radical Transformational Leadership programs. Some of our team members are currently training to be practitioner coaches with Dr. Monica Sharma, the program creator. We want […]
One year in Thamarai by Viviana Tsotsos
Now this beautiful year in which I had the opportunity to be in India, in Auroville and a part of Thamarai, is almost over. I came last August with 9 other people from Germany to volunteer in different Auroville units. We are here with a […]
Integrated Learning Space for 6th to 9th Standard
This new school year we looked to begin to more intentionally incorporate into our after-school project in Annai Nager a more holistic, experiential and integrated approach to learning. In Mother’s words, each day for children holds the possibility of so many learning opportunities; “varied, complex, full […]
Annual Reports
