The Purkal Youth Development Society - Donate - Charity in India - Sponsor A Child

The PYDS program dates back to 1998, when GK Swamy first started tutoring four young students in English and Mathematics in his home. After school, the students went to Mr. Swamy’s house where they received coaching and extra assistance in their studies. He along with his friends found several sponsors who were willing to fund their formal education and these four children were enrolled into a local English Medium Secondary School. The number of children seeking help swelled and in 2001, 29 students were participating in the sponsorship scheme and coming to Mr. Swamy’s house after school.

In 2003, The Purkal Youth Development Society was formed to embrace the growing number of children. By then there were 38 children. With the help of four other teachers, Mr Swamy continued to house the program until there was simply not enough space. While the society grew, so did the children. Their grades at school improved impressively and they expressed a newfound confidence in their self.

In 2004, the "school" was being held partially in two cattle sheds and an unfinished building. One class was in the cowshed and the rest were held in this primitive building, which then was

blackboards, desks, tables and chairs were transported wherever they were needed and the best was made of the limited resources. On the first floor there were no lights, so when it became dark the classes were re-housed downstairs.

In 2005, PYDS moved all its classes into an unfurnished house after creating temporary classrooms with tarpaulin and tin sheets. Nine areas were created for classrooms. An electricity line was brought in to provide adequate lighting. Folding chairs and tables, and a portable blackboard made up the classroom. The education program began to grow and the teachers became full-time in early 2006. They were employed for a full working day where they spent time organizing lesson plans and preparing for classes.

Thanks to the generosity of friends, PYDS managed to commence building of a permanent facility in 2006. This marked the christening of the “Yuva Shakti” project, and its being designated as a Division of PYDS. These developments made it possible for the society to handle 56 students and begin to grow in terms of teaching staff, students and facilities. The new building housed nine classrooms, a library, a computer room, a science laboratory, a yoga hall, a kitchen and an office. Games facilities were built, including basketball and volleyball courts, a badminton court and a Table Tennis room. The main problem at this stage was the ratio of teachers to students. Since class sizes were small, it wasn’t possible to fund enough teachers to oversee each class. After the new building, the society became more organized and funding grew. In 2007, the class sizes were increased to 16 or 17 and a full teaching staff became possible.

By December 2006, The Society was able to complete the construction of its own Learning Center and moved into it. The organization of the activities in the new center took nearly 12 months to stabilize and in March 2008 there were more than 140 young men/women taking advantage of the programs and looking forward to a better future.

Until December 2007 the Society bused its students to the School with the help of two buses managed by two identified entrepreneurs from the village under an agreement. In December 2007 with the commencement of the BTTP Programme a new bus was bought and managed by the Society. At about the same time a Tata Winger was acquired to replace a Maruti Van that was being used to help the teachers commute from the City. The bus and the Winger also help transport women to the Stree Shakti program.

Stree Shakti

In 2003, Stree Shakti evolved. Mr. Swamy’s wife, Chinni, began teaching one woman in her home how to make quilts to help her earn an income to care for her family. With support from her friends, demand for the quilts grew and more women joined the program. Mrs. Swamy managed the programme in her home where friends came to view and buy products. The next five years saw a growth in participants and demand for products. After their first exhibition of products in Gurgaon in October 2007, Stree Shakti began to diversify their products and produce handbags, toilet bags, cushion covers, placemat sets and various other items.

In 2008, the society began construction of a new Stree Shakti building located next to the Yuva Shakti Learning Center. Over 50 women were participating in the skill-training program for women, which needed more space to house the women and their work. The growth and demand for products was growing and the new building would be able to house over 100 women and their work. This building should be in occupation by the beginning of 2009.

Since it’s inception in 1998, the PYDS has grown in size and in 2008 is reaching out to over 140 children and over 70 women in the community.

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