In 2004, we began a major project to improve education in Amber. The project is called "Sambal" ("empowerment" in Hindi).
This project builds upon our prearatory work which has included needs surveys and pilot projects in Amber schools.
Over the next three years we will be:
- Renovating school buildings
- Ensuring basic facilities such as toilets and water are present
- Providing desks and chairs, all sourced locally
- Installing education equipment and aids such as blackboards and wall charts
- Organising extracurricular activities
- Providing IT training
- Developing playgrounds
In December 2004 we held our first Personal Devleopment Course for 120 children who experienced:
- Daily yoga
- An entrepreneurship workshop
- A long distance run
- A heritage walk
- Ffirst aid training
- Study of traditional water conservation
- A sports afternoon
- Self-help, creating a new playground.
As part of our policy to advocate on behalf on Amber, we will be encouraging the Government of Rajasthan to play its part in the project by building new classrooms, developing infrastructure and improving access to education for the most disadvantaged children.