The Nawada community programme
The Nawada community development programme is located in the
southeastern part of Bihar State. World Vision reaches a population
of more than 51,440 in 80 villages. World Vision's partnership with
Nawada started in 2007, and is envisaged to continue until 2022,
when the community will be equipped with the resources and skills
to take ownership of its own development. In the past year,
significant improvements were made in the current programme focus
areas of health, education and livelihood security.
Issues covered: Health and education,
livelihood security and economic development
Updates on World Vision's work
Health and education
- 1200 children received medical checkups and those with serious
health issues were referred to hospital to get appropriate
treatment to become healthy again.
- 2000 of the poorest children who are not able to attend school
are receiving education and training at 15 tuition centres managed
by the village development committee, and staffed by teachers
volunteering their time.
Livelihood security and economic
development
- 150 families that would normally migrate to cities during the
dry season to find work, were able to stay in the community in the
past year, thanks to a food-for-work programme that not only helped
increase household income, but also improved families'
nutrition.
- 26 self-help savings groups were formed in the past two years,
and seven groups supported with goats to start small businesses by
selling milk; groups also received training in business skills,
such as book keeping.
Life on
the ground in Nawada
Let us go to schcool
In Indera Nager village, the establishment
of a non-formal tuition centre for children who have never been to
school before, has brought about much positive change.
In the village of Indera Nager, the establishment of a
non-formal tuition centre for children who have never been to
school before, has brought about such positive change that
government authorities are considering opening a school in the
village. The 134 primary school-aged children who attend the
tuition centre, come from the poorest families in the area. Many
parents cannot afford to send children to school, and the closest
school to the village is too far for children to reach on foot. At
the tuition centre, staffed by a volunteer teacher, the children
receive substitute education to prepare them for formal education.
The students are catching up, and have already walked away with a
few awards after winning quiz competitions against the formal
school. They also compete in recreational games and sport, such as
football. "These children have overcome their hardships. They are
sincere in their studies and participate in all other curriculum
activities. Now, they understand the importance of education in
their lives," said our World Vision staff in Nawada.
India at a glance
India is the world's second most populous country and the
seventh largest country by area. Since the I980s, India has been
making unprecedented progress in its own history, but there are
still wide disparities in access to healthcare, education and
infrastructure. The number of poor living below NZ$2 a day has
increased from 421 million in 1981 to 456 million in 2005.
