19 Apr 2008 - Relevance of Cite Malherbes Project

Setting up and running a Community Education & Training Centre and Nursery School

 

 

1.   Relevance of the Action

 

 

General presentation and analysis of the problems and their interrelation at all levels

 

 

While the Government of Mauritius has initiated strategies and implemented policies to promote free education, free transport, and means to combat poverty, the obscenely rich are getting richer and the vast majority of the population are working harder and becoming steadily poorer and more stressed. “The unskilled employees and the work shy, the poor and the socially excluded see no point in developing a work ethic” Professor Sam Lingayah Sept 2000. However, “No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main…...” 

 

This famous meditation of John Donne's puts out an essential message: that people are not isolated from one another, but that mankind is interconnected.

 

 

The truth of this statement was brought to us from the comments of the “2007 lauréates” – women being more attuned to what is going on around them – all talked of their fear of violence, in the words of Esha Gopee " C'est tout un pays qui souffre ", the importance and value of education and their wishes for a more balanced social structure.

 

 

Specific problems to be addressed by the action

 

 

 Higher unemployment, higher cost of living, higher infant mortality, higher primary education drop-out rate and lower literacy and living standard than other Mauritian people leading to alcoholism, drug taking, and the lowering of the moral standards of people.  There appears also to be a general societal blind spot about acknowledging the existence and impact of racism, fraud, and corruption.

 

 

Entrenched poverty often reflects the absence of the supporting structures and constructive relationships which help people to stand on their own feet and which are the foundation of aspiration, ambition and hope. Duncan Smith of the Conservatives Social Justice Policy Group ( United Kingdom ) also argues that the issues of crime, deprivation, drugs, alcoholism, debt, illiteracy, hopelessness, crime, and the collapse of local communities cannot “be understood until the collapse of the family is taken into account.” It is up to the community at local level to involve, advise, and empower the population to take advantage of available resources.

 

 

Target groups and final beneficiaries

 

 

1. The nursery school will be for children from three onwards until expertise and skills are gained when entrants’ age can be lowered.  Mothers benefit as a direct result.

    

2. The education programme is currently limited to primary school children but, once equipment such as computers, are available, facilities will be available to a wider range of people, including those wishing to gain work skills.

    

3. The sports activities will be aimed at children of both sexes and young adults. Older adults will be able to attend keep fit classes and aerobics.

    

4.       Information Technology will be open to all interested parties, but however, we anticipate a higher response from secondary school children and students attending tertiary education.

 

5. Economic activities are for adults only, although they may be helped by their children within the confines of employment law.

    

 

Relevance of the proposal to the needs and constraints of the target groups/final

 

beneficiaries groups in particular.

 

 

1. Children, women, and ultimately the family as a whole, will benefit as mothers can rejoin the work market and raise their families’ standard of living.

    

2. We aim to raise the standard of education and provide role models in education among the children of Cité Malherbes

    

3. Sport and play activities ensure significant levels of participation by individuals and communities, which traditional humanitarian and development approaches cannot necessarily achieve with such success.

    

4. The aim is to enable children and young adults to acquire skills, which will help them to get jobs

    

5.    The objectives of the proposed action will be to encourage local people to participate and even lead in the set up of social enterprises and micro-manage their affairs and their future.

 

 

Relevance of the proposal to the priorities and requirements presented in the Guidelines.

 

The Guidelines call for:

 

• the creation of income generating activities in favour of deprived groups (including the poor, vulnerable and marginalised) – Economic, IT & Training Projects –

   

• Women’s empowerment and gender issues – Nursery School, Economics, Keep Fit, & IT Projects –

   

• Education of the poor, vulnerable and marginalised – Nursery Scholl and Education Projects –

   

• Health of the poor, vulnerable and marginalised – Sports, Keep Fit, and Economic projects –and

   

• Social welfare of the poor, vulnerable and marginalised – Sports, Social & Cultural, and Education Projects –

   

 

2.      Description of the action and its effectiveness

 

 

Setting up and running a Community Education & Training Centre and Nursery School at Cité Malherbes for OMAT (Mauritius) Limited in association with Organisation Fraternelle de Malherbes, Overseas Mauritians Aid Trust, Curepipe Co-operative Credit Union Ltd, and other community organisations in the Cité –Continuation of the Education project set up in July 2001 –

 

 

Description of the overall objective of the action, outputs and expected results     

 

 

The overall objective is to wean the community away from a dependency culture and to underpin the local population with two main principles: self help and freedom of choice and to reverse the breakdown of the extended family and rebuild communal solidarity.

 

 

Lifelong learning with Nursery school, After school Club, Information Technology, Economic Activities and Skills Training in a safe and friendly atmosphere with the community bonded by Sports, Cultural & Social Activities in their spare time.

 

 

Description of proposed activities and their effectiveness

 

 

• Nursery School - 30 to 50 children daily with the purpose of instilling enjoyment for learning and exploration, while freeing mothers to pursue economic

   

·         Primary SchoolTuition - Children from 5 to 11 – 80 children to improve the educational standard in the community and aim for excellence

 

• Secondary School Tuition - 50 in the course of the week to achieve educational and life success, thus providing role model to the young

   

• Information Technology - classes 40 per month to give the possibility for the needy to have access to a computer and empowering needy teenagers via IT

   

• Economic Activities &  Skills Training Adult both gender – 30 to listen to and empower those with whom we work and support their personal development and that of their community

   

• Sports, Cultural & Social Activities 30 per week for sports activities 100 – 200 per event for cultural & social activities to reverse the breakdown of the extended family and rebuild communal solidarity

   

 

Involvement of implementing partners, their role and relationship to the applicant

 

 

The action will be actively supported by the various associations listed and also by individuals and volunteer organisations, who wish to help without too much publicity.  OMAT ( Mauritius ) Ltd will work on the basis of the ancient Chinese proverb “One more friend, one more way” The associates will help OMAT ( Mauritius ) Ltd and take the lead in several projects :

 

• Economic Project including credit union:     Curepipe Co-operative Credit Union Ltd  

   

• Information Technology                              Company director of a design company

   

• Sports, Cultural & Social Activities             Organisation Fraternelle & Couples des

   

                                                                     Couples

 

                                                                           Association

 

• Nursery School                                         OMAT & possibly sub contractors

   

• Education                                                 OMAT & Organisation Fraternelle

   

• Public Relations and general guidance        Overseas Mauritians Aid Trust

   

 

Other possible stakeholders and their anticipated role and/or potential attitudes towards

 

the project.

 

 

OMAT ( Mauritius ) Ltd will continue to forge relationship with organizations both in Mauritius and abroad. We have forged close links with the Municipality of Curepipe , which has helped the organization in the past. We have applied to join MACOSS

 

 

3.      Sustainability of the action

 

 

Sustainability after completion of the action

 

 

Income self generated by the organisation though the activities of the hall and kitchen. The kitchen and the hall will be managed by OMAT through a part time manager. Other activities, with certain exceptions e.g. the Education Project, overseeing of the Nursery School, and the Credit Union, will be run by other organisations and individuals independently. The building and its other areas are one of the means at their disposal to run their projects.  They will pay rent. Sustainability will be achieved from rental income, membership subscriptions, fees, donations and other gifts in kind and organized events.