Education for Dalit Children (the “Untouchables”)
Background information
SONNE-International has been active in Bihar State, India, since 2012.
Bihar, whose area roughly corresponds to that of Austria, is home to 104 million people and therefore the most densely populated and also the poorest state in India. While in the capital Patna people are comparatively well off, 90% of the rural population live on agriculture (as small-scale farmers and day labourers). The vast majority of these people have to eke out a scanty living on considerably less than one Euro per day! In rural areas about 55% of the people are illiterate. Public and private schools do exist, but in many cases the parents are so poor that they are unable to pay the school fees and to buy school uniforms and learning materials for their children. Without education, these children are usually condemned to a life in misery and squalor.
We operate schools in order to overcome poverty and discrimination
Since 2012 SONNE-International has been operating three schools near the famous Buddhist temple complex of Bodhgaya together with our Indian partner organisation Buddha Educational Foundation Society. At Bakrour, Sujata and Basadhi we provide free access to education for approximately 300 children (between 5 and 14) who would otherwise have no possibility to go to school. Our main school (Bakrour) was renovated in 2014, at Basadhi a new school building was opened in April 2017 to replace the dilapidated shed where the children had been taught before. The children love their new school!
In the meantime, the schools have been digitized – and another school (in the neighbouring village of Kendari) is being planned.
In order to improve the children’s general state of health, we have started to install a system of mobile medical care for the students of our three schools.
Our three SONNE schools in Bihar, India
Project start date: 2012
Duration: ongoing project
Number of beneficiaries: approx. 300 Dalit children
Aim of the project: to improve the living conditions of disadvantaged children in the long term by raising their level of education
Self-defence courses for girls – karate against sexual assault
In order to combat sexual violence (which is deplorably widespread in India, particularly against women from lower castes), we offer regular and free karate courses to our female students as well as to girls from surrounding villages. They are extremely popular!
In 2015 and again in 2017, Austrian Karate World Champion and SONNE-testimonial Alisa Buchinger visited our schools in India and held several training sessions with the girls, who adored her!
Vocational training enables women to generate income and improves their position in the family and in society
Since 2022, we have been offering tailoring courses for up to 80 women annually in Basadhi Village. After the course (where they will be taught – among other things – to produce ceremonial saris that are in high demand in the area) the women will be given the chance to rent sewing machines from the project so that they can start working right away. Thus they will be able to contribute to the family income and their children will no longer be forced to beg in the streets.
Our Indian project partners
Since 2012 SONNE-International has been cooperating closely with the Indian non-profit organisation Buddha Educational Foundation Society, which has been actively involved with the school project since 1999 and which is therefore a reliable and professional partner. As far as finances are concerned, the organisation relies entirely on local donations, all its members work on a voluntary basis.
