Children and Youth

Educating the Children of Their Tribes

This school gives them free access to education, food and shelter.
Educating the children of their tribes

The Vivekananda Residential Tribal Vidyalaya is nestled in the foothills of the Western Ghats, in Kerala, India.

It is home to around 250 students, and provides free education.

The school runs on donations, and was built for children from various indigenous communities.

The Vivekananda Residential Tribal Vidyalaya first started in 2002 with just one shed, and a single class of 42 children. There was no electricity, and no road. Through donations, the school has grown to a handful of buildings and 250 students.
Most of the students grew up in the forest, in remote parts of Wayanad in Kerala, India. Their parents had no education, and they can’t read or write. The school provides the children with rare access to education.
Education is free. The students are given books, pens, food, accommodation, and medical care. The classrooms are very simple, consisting of a few wooden benches and a blackboard.
Preethi reads at the front of her class - a common practice at the school.
 
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Arun loves to draw. He drew this illustration free-hand, and was very proud to show it off.
The hope is that students like Venky and his friends will eventually have the opportunity to sit the national exams to attain a Secondary School Leaving Certificate.
The school employs over 25 staff. Running costs are their biggest struggle, and teachers often go for months at a time without salaries.
With some help from students, the chef makes roughly 750 meals per day in this kitchen. Lunch is simple: rice, dal and some vegetables.
The school received a donation of large industrial steamers that cook the copious amounts of rice required to feed the students and staff everyday.
Amala is the founder of SaveAGram, a homestay initiative that supports the school. She encourages guests to spend time with the children so that they can learn from one another.
A small group of girls loves to sing, dance and perform. They have their modern favourite songs, and they also know traditional tribal dances.
Janaki sits by the window at the girls’ dormitory. She could one day follow in the footsteps of her predecessors, a handful of whom are now doing university degrees.

Most of these communities live in very remote areas, and the children would otherwise have no access to proper education.

The journey to school often requires walking long distances, which leads to high dropout rates.

To address these issues, the school offers the children a nurturing environment where they study, eat and live.

Take Action

Support Sign up for SaveAGram’s community tour to visit the tribal school
Enquire Learn more about SaveAGram and discover the hidden beauty of Kerala, India

It is run by a small but dedicated group of teachers who have become parental figures in the children’s lives.

There is a real atmosphere of the school being one large family.

The older students help to look after the younger ones, and everyone takes on responsibilities with daily chores.

The children are brimming with energy, with so much potential and hope to reach their dreams.

You can visit the tribal school by signing up for SaveAGram’s community tour in Wayanad.

About SaveAGram

SaveAGram was founded to preserve the unique lifestyle of rural Indian villages, by offering homestays to travellers as a way of generating income. It began with a pilot in 2014 in Gaja in Garhwal, and was expanded to Wayanad in Kerala in late 2015.

Contributors

Writer

Gayatri Ganju & Ashima Thomas

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Volunteering
Literacy
Mentorship
Indigenous
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