Underprivileged children of Hari Nagar get a new lease of life

Smile Foundation in partnership with Ina Raja Memorial Education Trust (IRMET) is addressing the basic education and nutritional needs of the school-going children from socially and economically disadvantaged backgrounds living in the vicinity of Hari Nagar in West Delhi. It is a Mission Education project of Smile Foundation where 50 per cent of the students are girls.

About the project

The Ina Raja Memorial Education Trust is a non-formal school setup for the under-privileged children studying in the government schools of Hari Nagar and adjoining areas. The children enrolled in government schools are given special classes after the school hours. The centre has a good library with about 2500 books on children as well as arrangement for indoor games. The students engage in at least two or three public events related to theatre, music, arts and public speaking. In the last few years, special importance is also given on the nutrition of the children.
The educational programme runs in three shifts: from 1p.m to 3.p.m in the afternoon for students from Class I to V, from 3 p.m to 7.p.m for students from Class VI to X and science class from 7 p.m to 8 p.m for girls and 8p.m  to 9 p.m for boys.

The main objective of the project is to provide proper education and health facilities to the indigent children. IRMET ensues that all the teachers appointed at the centre are professionals, hold a B.Ed degree or have undergone Nursery teachers training course. It is ensured that every child sits through the National Open School Examinations. The literacy programme not only focuses on quality education but also on many other aspects like-theatre, dance, music, art, craftwork etc. The project intends to give a holistic approach to life. IRMET leverages the records kept by the state run school system to measure the impact of the programme.

Target group
Underprivileged children of government schools and school drop-outs in the age group of 3-15 years

About the partner

The Ina Raja Memorial Education Trust (IRMET) was established on January 29, 1997 in memory of Ina, the daughter of  IRMET Founder Dr. Raja Ram. Ina passed away in 1996. Dr. Raja Ram’s family decided to start a library in her memory, but later decided to impart quality education to underprivileged children. Later, many others also joined them and the Ina Raja Memorial Education Trust came up. Today after 9 nine years, IRMET has 80 students on its rolls and is looking forward to reach out to all the needy children in the locality. Over the last five years, IRMET’s students have increased by about 40 per cent. About 25 per cent of IRMET students secure the top five positions in their formal school and have excelled in the Class X and XII Board exams. Many ex-students of the centre, who have benefited from the project now want to give back and are thus volunteering to teach the students.

Focus on: