SUPPORT TO SCHOOLS

BY CHARLES KULANDAI

PROJECT MANAGER- INDIA

“Imparting knowledge about climate change is inevitable in today’s world. This phenomenon helps to understand and tackle the consequences of global warming, encourages people to change their behaviour and helps them to adapt to what is already a global emergency. People in India believed that the effects of climate change only applied to other countries and not to us. However, recent storms, floods and changing of seasons in Tamil Nadu has urged and forced everyone to rethink their values and priorities. Education to the future generation will motivate and empower them to learn and tackle the challenges of tomorrow.

Cuomo Foundation has been relentlessly working to instil the importance of Climate Change in the hearts and minds of children. Scholarships are offered by the Cuomo Foundation in Monaco in collaboration with the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation (FPA2) and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) for students pursuing PhDs in climate change-related fields.

With all of this in mind, in 2019 the Cuomo Foundation built a green school in Mambakkam to help the students better comprehend climate change and the value of living in harmony with environment.

Chennai is typically described as being hot, dry, and dusty. That is how most people view Chennai. But in November 2022, over 500 city streets were under water for three days. Several suburbs experienced weeks-long flooding. Climate experts deemed the rainstorm that hit the city hard over the weekend of November 6–8 extraordinary in a year of La Nina, when rainfall is generally poor.

People have taken time to understand the seasonal impact on the climate change, but we cannot postpone the urgency of this topic. It is the need of the hour, and the problem is imminent. Government joining hands with NGO’s and other social institutions try to inculcate in the minds of future generation. There needs to be awareness programmes, adding this topic in all the school syllabus, special focus and provide scholarship programme for the students who do research on climate change. It’s either now or never. Soon the word “SEASONS” may not be available to us.”

CHARLES KULANDAI

Chennai, Tamil Nadu - May 2022

by Charles Kulandai PROJECT MANAGER- INDIA

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After the long hiatus due to Covid 19, all the Schools in Tamil Nadu reopened in early June.

To encourage and motivate the students in the school, Cuomo Foundation sponsored smart classrooms in each school supported by Cuomo Foundation.

Smart classes help in developing interest among students and avoid boredom. The use of smart technology in the class attracts students’ attention by displaying animated media, such as videos, pictures, and audio which creates better learning outcomes.

1200 students were enrolled for the new school year.

During the academic calendar these events were highlights

21st June - World Yoga Day

11th August - Drug Awareness Oath

15th August - Independence Day

5th September - Teacher’s Day

15th September - Zonal Sports Meet

- Spoken English classes organized for 6th std till 9th std after the school hours in the evening

- Elena Cuomo Computer classes were restarted to inculcate computer literacy for the 6th to 9th students

- Silambam (Tamil Nadu, Martial Arts) & Kungfu classes were introduced

- Proper counselling for slow learners and Career guidance classes were organized for 10th and 12th students

- Orientation classes for teacher’s organized to improve their knowledge in teaching English

Alfredo Cuomo Higher Secondary School, Sendivakkam

Alfredo Cuomo Higher Secondary School, Sendivakkam held an orientation day on the 13th August with a Career Guidance Programme for students and teachers.

Dr C Francis MSW, MBA,M.sc (Counselling Psychology), Ph.D, Head of the department of social work, NGO Consultant and Trainer in Human Rights was the resource person appointed in charge of this initiative.

The main topics covered under this programme were:

- Student involvement in education after Covid-19

- How to overcome addiction to mobiles

- Drugs awareness camp

- Some of the younger Residential student boarders at Sendivakkam were introduced to a programme called GO GREEN for planting new trees inside the campus and the school hopes to start a GO GREEN Nursery Farm.

Various new Programmes were organized by the school management

- “Failing to plan is planning to fail” to refresh the mindset of the education staff, after a long summer hiatus, an orientation programme for the teachers was held by Mr Kennedy and Mr Willet

- Mrs Sarah Lieberson (advisor to Cuomo Foundation) and Mr Charles Kulandai (Project Manager- India) participated in the anniversary of remembrance for Mr Alfredo Cuomo, organized at Amala Annai Sec.School on the 18th of July. Trees were planted and an opening ceremony was held to unveil a new playground for the primary schoolchildren

- Teacher’s day celebration

- Sports meet

- Awareness programme for boys and girls

St. Charles Higher Secondary School, K.G.Kandigai

The New Academic year began on the 13th of June and Rev Fr Austin Jose welcomed the teachers and the students.

Highlights of the academic calendar

The diocesan administration transferred Fr. Velankanni to St. Paul’s Mat. Hr. Sec. School and appointed Fr. C. Isaac Jaganathan to be the new correspondent of Amala Annai Hr. Sec. School.

The academic year commenced on the 13th of June ,2022.

Currently there are 616 students in the higher secondary school and there are 309 children in the primary school.

- Most Rev Dr George Anthonysamy made a visit to the school campus on 3rd July and had a positive interaction with the teachers and the students

- Zonal sports meet was held from 20th August to 2nd September at Dr Radhakrishnan Boys – Higher Secondary School in Tiruttani. The St Charles students participated and won many categories

- Teachers’ day celebration held on 5th September

- Students performed various cultural events to facilitate the teachers on this day

In 2022, a total of 45 male and female students completed their college studies supported by the Alfredo Cuomo Scholarship programme. All 45 students were pupils at the Cuomo Foundation schools; 25 from Kovalam and 10 each from Sendivakkam and K.G.Kandigai.

Since its inception in 2004 over 586 students have benefitted from this programme for support for education for the disadvantaged.

In addition, 3 Female students Ms L.Deepa (B.E) , Ms G.P Amala (B.E) and Ms Desiya Geetha (Pharmacy) successfully obtained their respective college graduation degrees through being supported by the Elena Cuomo Scholarship programme for the last 3 years.

The Cuomo Foundation is evaluating its Indian scholarship programme in general and plans to bring certain amendments as part of the evolution of the programme. A modified version will come into effect from the new academic year of June 2023.

- Public announcements made to attract more students to enrol in the schools for new academic years.

- Coaching classes have been set up for school students from 6th to 10th standard. This should improve their knowledge to successfully pass the public exams and others such as NEET and the 12th-grade exam.

- Intensive coaching will be provided after school hours to improve results in government exams for 10th, 11th, and 12th-grade students.

- Special orientation courses continue to be organized for teachers to improve their skills and provide quality education to students.

- Planning of various revenue generating programmes to support schools in coordination with respective dioceses.

- The Alfredo Cuomo Scholarship programme is being redefined for students conducting research on relevant/common-interest topics.