Warning: main(/home/a1620/public_html/learningnet-india.org/lni/includes/header/header.html): failed to open stream: No such file or directory in /home/content/c/r/y/crystalcoding/html/learningnet-india.org/lni/data/groups/andhra/keep/index.php on line 28 Warning: main(/home/a1620/public_html/learningnet-india.org/lni/includes/header/header.html): failed to open stream: No such file or directory in /home/content/c/r/y/crystalcoding/html/learningnet-india.org/lni/data/groups/andhra/keep/index.php on line 28 Warning: main(): Failed opening '/home/a1620/public_html/learningnet-india.org/lni/includes/header/header.html' for inclusion (include_path='.:/usr/local/lib/php') in /home/content/c/r/y/crystalcoding/html/learningnet-india.org/lni/data/groups/andhra/keep/index.php on line 28
Warning: main(/home/a1620/public_html/learningnet-india.org/lni/includes/sidenav/sidenav_orgs.html): failed to open stream: No such file or directory in /home/content/c/r/y/crystalcoding/html/learningnet-india.org/lni/data/groups/andhra/keep/index.php on line 33 Warning: main(/home/a1620/public_html/learningnet-india.org/lni/includes/sidenav/sidenav_orgs.html): failed to open stream: No such file or directory in /home/content/c/r/y/crystalcoding/html/learningnet-india.org/lni/data/groups/andhra/keep/index.php on line 33 Warning: main(): Failed opening '/home/a1620/public_html/learningnet-india.org/lni/includes/sidenav/sidenav_orgs.html' for inclusion (include_path='.:/usr/local/lib/php') in /home/content/c/r/y/crystalcoding/html/learningnet-india.org/lni/data/groups/andhra/keep/index.php on line 33	The Kaigal Education and Environment Programme (KEEP) Keywords Conserve forests, bio-diversity, environment education, health care, seeds, honey processing, bee keeping Geographical Location Chittoor District, Andhra Pradesh Languages Telugu, Kannada, English, Hindi Objective/Mission/Goals The Kaigal center of the Krishnamurti Foundation India is located in a valley of the Palamner Ghats in Chittoor District, Andhra Pradesh. It lies on the fringes of the only elephant sanctuary in the state. The Kaigal Education and Environment Programme is one activity of this centre. Many tribal communities continue to live on the fringes of these forests in extremely marginal conditions. Their main occupation is collection and sale of fruits, leaves, honey, resins and other non-timber forest produce from these forests. Their knowledge of these forests is immense. After much interaction with the communities and studies on forest status & diversity, the following activities were initiated in this ecosystem. The main objective of KEEP are: Conserving the forests and its biodiversity Providing better Livelihood for local communities Education for the community and their children Providing basic Health care However, unless the ecological life support system (resource base) is conserved, it is not possible to provide a sustainable livelihood for the communities. This would prevent the tribal people from remaining in bonded labour or migrating to slums in the cities. Work Description Conserving the forests and its biodiversity: KEEP is actively involved in biodiversity conservation in the reserve forests on the fringes of Kaundinya Wildlife sanctuary. Habitat restoration through afforestation and natural regeneration with community participation are some of its initiatives. Representatives from the tribal community, village youth and scientific community were involved in the documentation of bio-diversity, establishing a germ-plasm bank where seeds from plants that are native to the region are collected and strored and raising a forest nursery where regeneration techniques are established for these local forest species and are multiplied. The saplings raised here are used for establishing a 'Botanical Conservatorium' in the Kaigal center and for afforestation and eco-restoration programmes Providing better Livelihood for local communities: By identifying appropriate income generation activities from forest collections, we educated adults of the tribal communities in the processes of 'value addition'. Activities include honey Honey processing, packaging and sale, bee keeping, composting, handicrafts works etc. Education for the community and their children : Some of the rural education programmes organized by KEEP are Sanctuary Schools for children started in June 2004. A resource facility at the Kaigal Centre (library, teaching aids, a simple laboratory facility) for teachers of the Sanctuary schools. This should eventually become a resource centre for rural teachers and students. Supports continuing education for teachers of the Sanctuary Schools. Training in livelihood programmes for adults from tribal communities - honey processing and packaging, pickling and other income generation programmes mentioned earlier. Working with youth from nearby villages on their basic literacy skills, livelihood programmes and teaching them organizing and managerial skills. Working with children studying in nearby government schools Workshops for teachers from government schools. Interactive learning for students of city schools. Providing basic health care: This is of primary importance in any remote rural setting largely unaffected by other health programmes. We have helped by providing nutritious mid-day meals for the children in the Sanctuary Schools, incorporating yoga and exercises in the daily routine of children, stressing on hygiene in the villages and support and intervention for children with physical disabilities. The Sanctuary Schools: These are primary schools that have been started for children of 4 tribal villages. The learning programme here focuses on being contextual and appropriate, sensitive to the culture and lives of the tribal people. It builds individuals who are healthy, happy and responsible; who value their homes, their tradition, their ecology and are confident to earn a livelihood. In addition to basic literacy skills, these schools provide include art and craft activities, story telling, drama, singing and chanting, learning about the forests and learn about personal health and hygiene. The teachers in these schools belong to the local community. They participate in an on-going teacher learning programme - through specific workshops, individualized training programmes, visits to different places and interacting with experts. Resources Available Training in livelihood programmes - honey processing and packaging and pickling Teacher Workshops Resource Centre for teacher - library, teaching aids, a simple laboratory facility Contact Information Kaigal, Post Thotakanam Baireddipalli Mandalam Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh 517415 Contact Person: Sudha Premnath Phone: (080) 2843 5240/41, 5763 6973 Website Links Presentation at January 2006 Annual Conference Presentation at July 2007 Conference Warning: main(/home/a1620/public_html/learningnet-india.org/lni/includes/footer/footer.html): failed to open stream: No such file or directory in /home/content/c/r/y/crystalcoding/html/learningnet-india.org/lni/data/groups/andhra/keep/index.php on line 101 Warning: main(/home/a1620/public_html/learningnet-india.org/lni/includes/footer/footer.html): failed to open stream: No such file or directory in /home/content/c/r/y/crystalcoding/html/learningnet-india.org/lni/data/groups/andhra/keep/index.php on line 101 Warning: main(): Failed opening '/home/a1620/public_html/learningnet-india.org/lni/includes/footer/footer.html' for inclusion (include_path='.:/usr/local/lib/php') in /home/content/c/r/y/crystalcoding/html/learningnet-india.org/lni/data/groups/andhra/keep/index.php on line 101