Phia Foundation has collaborated with Gripple Hanger & Joiner Systems India P. Ltd. to scale up its Jugnu education project in Bhowapur on a health-based intervention. Gripple India has provided grant support to Phia to set up health camps in the community for both routine and specific health check-ups for children, women and others. In addition to this financial support, Gripple has also committed to support Phia’s work in the community through employee engagement initiatives.
On 26th July, the Senior Management at Gripple, along with the sales & marketing team, visited Phia’s urban education project in Bhowapur. The team also interacted with children, teachers, community members, project staff and Phia representatives to know more about the project, its achievements, and challenges. Phia’s Managing Trustee, Dr. Belinda Bennet, provided a perspective on the need for setting up this project and our objective to scale it further in nearby communities and also in other parts of Delhi NCR.
The team first visited the bridge school centre right in the middle of the community which provides basic education to children in the age group of 3-7 years. This centre, comprising one classroom, operates in a single shift from 8:00 – 11:30 am. The team interacted with the teacher and children at the centre and also observed the routine strife the rag-picker community has to go through, in appalling conditions, to earn a livelihood.
Carrying on further Gripple team proceeded to visit the other bridge school centre, located in a commercial complex, a short distance away from the community. This centre has two classrooms which cater to children from higher age groups (8-14 years). This centre operates in two shifts from 11:30 am till 4 pm. While the first shift focuses on providing bridge education to children, the subsequent shift provides remedial education to children who have been recently enrolled in mainstream schools.
The team interacted with children in this centre to know about their achievements and aspirations, and provided words of encouragement for them to lead a successful life – teachers and project staff were also motivated to go an extra mile to take the project to higher levels of accomplishment.
This interaction was followed by an exchange of observations, thoughts, and ideas between Gripple and Phia representatives regarding various aspects of the project – both at a micro community level and the broader socio-politico-economic sense. The Gripple team committed to a holistic partnership with Phia, beyond a financial donation, by also involving team members to be associated with the project at the ground level.
The visit left a lasting impression on all participants emanating from the wonderful interactive discussions and conversations. Gripple’s sensitivity to social issues and track record of supporting charities provided good depth and meaning to this visit – indeed an ideal beginning to a long-term association between the two organisations to support the community at Bhowapur, and beyond.
