S M Sehgal Foundation (Sehgal Foundation), a rural development NGO, under its Transform Live one school at a time program inaugurated two renovated government schools in district Faridabad, Haryana, in an event held on Jan 16, 2020. Government middle schools in villages Sirohi and Khori Jamalpur underwent a complete transformation with the cooperation of school staff, students, community, and School Management Committee members.
Sehgal Foundation’s projects and interventions include integrated grassroots programs in agriculture development, water management, and rural governance, with an overarching focus on the empowerment of girls and women. Key aspects of each program culminate into the Transform Lives one school at a time program, which is creating positive change and giving hope for a better future to India’s rural schoolchildren.
The Transform Lives initiative reinforces Sehgal Foundation’s commitment to water security, food security, and social justice. Launched in late 2016, the initiative has grown with the generous support received from donors and partners. Monetary support for the two new renovated schools was received from Mr. Vijay Dixit and donor community from Minnesota, USA.
Dr. H.P. Sharma, retd scientist, National Botanical Research Institute, graced the inauguration event as a chief guest. He shared about the importance of providing a conducive environment for schoolchildren to flourish and attain education. School buildings are renovated and repaired to include rainwater-harvesting systems, clean drinking water, separate toilets for boys and girls, sanitary kitchen facilities for meal prep, and leveled school grounds with plantation, meeting areas, and play equipment. The Sehgal Foundation team works with the community and school management committees to build their capacities to sustain the assets created under the project.
Sehgal Foundation trustee and executive vice president, Jay Sehgal, thanked the school and village committees for their support and cooperation in the interventions. School headmasters, Mr. Rafiq Khan, village Khori and Mr. Mahipal Singh, village Sirohi, felt proud showcasing the improvements in their school and were hopeful of increasing school enrollment. Chief Operating Officer Ms. Anjali Makhija said, “In the completed schools, school management committees are active and involved, student attendance has increased, girls stay in school longer with fewer dropouts, and students are more motivated and empowered. The knowledge students gain in life skills education, digital literacy training, and good governance training has impacted their families as well as their communities.” Also present at the occasion were Sarpanch Dayachand from village Khori and Sarpanch Rozdaar from Sirohi.
Sehgal Foundation was established in 1999 as a public charitable trust to strengthen community-led development initiatives to achieve positive social, economic, and environmental change across rural India. The foundation has entered its third decade in rural India with presence in over 890 villages across 27 districts in eight states of India, and the work continues to grow.
For further information, email: communications@smsfoundation.org
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