Chennai:
Heart for India Foundation – Princess Francoise Sturdza (Founder & Honorary President) & Princess Christine Sturdza (President) of the Heart for India Foundation are in Chennai to visit the 5 government schools(Nanmangalam, Kovilambakkam, Perungudi, Karapakkam & Amman Nagar), 2 balwadi and 1 vocational training centre (YWCA Community College) they support. The Heart for India Foundation created in 2005 is an NGO based in Geneva, Switzerland whose aim is to promote, support & develop projects in the fields of education, nutrition, health, environment and security for children& empower young women from the most disadvantaged backgrounds in Chennai. Heart for India Foundation based in Geneva Switzerland follows the 360, degree model in all their programs. This model allows to stop malnutrition & illiteracy by keeping the children in school longer during the day without hunger.
We offer a nutrition package which allow the children & family not to worry about having a meal & to study well. It allows the children to study & focus better. This is reason we distribute on a daily basis a package of lentils & pulses & dhals like sundal & breakfast. This model also focuses on teaching & hence provides teaching staff & special educator’s for slow learners & also providing tuition classes for extra coaching. Also included in our model is yoga & meditation, sports & karate where girls are encouraged to participate to develop their skills. They all pass the examination with success for their yellow belt. Karate is a self defense program which not only empowers young women with strength & courage but also to learn new skills & have confidence & discipline. We also focus on the environment in each school & YWCA Community College & we call it the ‘HFI Green Team’.
We have a kitchen garden in each school and we have students as members of the green team. They learn & work about growing vegetable, fruits,spices & trees & see the results of their own hardwork. Regarding security of children at school we have built compound walls, have employed watchman. Considering hygiene we have built restrooms wherever it was necessary. We also have cleaning staff in all the schools as part of the model for hygiene& we supply them with equipments & tools for cleaning. At the YWCA Community College, they sponsor the One year Diploma in General Duty Assistant (Nursing ) & In design Diploma in Computers.Both these courses are affiliated t the Tamil Nadu Open University. They also have a 6 months Geriatric training course.
The Heart for India Foundation supports the following Govt.schools & 2 Balwadi & 1 Vocational training
Centre at YWCA.
Govt. High School – Nanmangalam.
Govt. Higher Secondary School – Kovilambakkam.
Govt. Higer Secondary School – Perungudi.
Govt. High School – Karapakkam
Panchayat Union Primary School – Amman nagar Thirusoolam.
YWCA Community College – Egmore.