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Educational Initiatives
Merasi School
The Merasi School tutorial offers community-driven classrooms providing elementary tutoring in English and Hindi, as well as math, science, and basic computer skills. The community defined the original school concept and objectives.
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With basic education in government schools being unreliable for many low caste children, and private schools unaffordable, it has been a viable alternative since 2007.
Free access and a curriculum built around Merasi input, gives each student the support, respect, and responsibility necessary to be a peer teacher.
It has impacted 600+ children who eagerly take ownership of their education and workspace maintenance. Ranging in age from 4 to 16, students are divided into four classes by skill level.
Music Preservation Programs
Music Merasi
Music Merasi, taught by community members, advances both perpetuation and restoration of a once endangered legacy, by striking a balance between the core value of pride in cultural identity along with musical aptitude.
Classes focusing on traditional music meet six days per week following Merasi School. Recognized and accomplished musicians demonstrate their craft, introducing children to ancient materials and instruments unique to their heritage.
Sammelans - Children’s Meetings
FAR sponsors gatherings at Lok Kala Sagar Sansthan, advocacy hub of the Merasi Intangible Cultural Heritage. Youth leaders guide remote village children assembled together at least four times a year to share experiences, play music, and rally toward the common goals of self knowledge and worth.
The first event hosted 12 children in 2014. Prior to covid, the 2020 21st Sammelan welcomed over 120 youth from Jaisalmer and outlying areas.
Long-Term Alliances
Waterbridge Outreach Books
WBO Books & Water reaches out globally and has over years joined forces with us to amplify efforts offering children hope by nourishing their minds with books, their bodies with clean and ample water, along with gender-specific lavatory construction at Merasi School.
Pratham Books
Pratham pledges access to books so that every Indian child can discover the joys of reading. All India Read Day is a favorite annual event at Merasi School. Our 2021 “Spark Curiosity” Campaign raised books for
this entire year while STEM pocket libraries awarded by Pratham now display books on classroom walls.
Playing For Change
Dedicated to the belief that music is our common language, PFC builds music schools for children around the world. Music Merasi participates annually in Playing For Change Day. Cultivating a deep sense of dignity, equality and belonging, youth join multicultural musicians of all ages together raising funds supporting new schools.
Forging Ahead
American India Foundation
AIF Banyan Impact Fellows are diverse, young professionals who bring a passion for community-based development through the American India Foundation. Lok Kala Sagar Sansthan has been awarded 3 successive Fellows who collaborated with Merasi teachers to create engaging activity-based English Math, and Hindi curriculum.
Altruistic volunteers also join in at Merasi School and in New York to address pressing social challenges.
