Dalit project Sarnath

On 1 January 2024 BSF has taken over the Dalit project Sarnath from the Dutch foundation Focus on Education as of 01-01-2024. The board members of Focus on Education were getting older, wanted to end their activities and were looking for another foundation to house the project. BSF was happy to comply with their request to take over the project. At the end of 2023, Focus on Education transferred its remaining funds to us. We feel honored to continue the project, which we have visited twice before.

Since 2010, approximately ten motivated girls from the very poor dalit communities in the surrounding villages are selected annually to attend classes 9 and 10 from a hostel in Sarnath. During these two years, the girls are helped to compensate for the disadvantage they face as dalits, both in school and at home. They learn how to study and do homework. They receive extra classes and guidance at the hostel. They eat healthy food and learn to live hygienically. In these two years, they acquire all kinds of skills that will help them in their school career but also in their future lives.

Since 2010, about ten motivated girls from the very poor dalit communities in the surrounding villages are selected annually to attend classes 9 and 10 from a hostel in Sarnath. During these two years, the girls are helped to compensate for the disadvantage they have as dalits, both in school and at home. They learn how to study and do homework. They receive extra classes and guidance at the hostel. They eat healthy food and learn to live hygienically. In these two years, they acquire all kinds of skills that will help them in their school career but also in their future lives.

The hostel girls ride their bicycles to school for a class day from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. At the hostel they have extra classes in the afternoon from 2:30 p.m. onwards. A teacher teaches them biology, chemistry, physics, geography and “social sciences. Project coordinator Sister Tarcilla teaches English and Hindi. In their villages, the girls speak Bhojpuri, the regional dialect, but they are not allowed to use it in the hostel, not even among themselves, where they must speak Hindi neatl

The selection for the new school year is done by Sister Tarcilla herself. Under the new adoption laws, both the parents and the girls sign a declaration that they agree to study in the hostel.

The girls cook for themselves, do their own laundry, do housework together at the hostel. There is a large vegetable garden, everything radiates peace and space, which must be wonderful for them.

After two years, the girls leave the hostel. Still under Sister Tarcilla’s guidance, they take classes 11 and 12, after which they may take a short vocational course or a bachelor’s degree at university.

The whole schooling program turns these poor dalit girls into independent and self-confident young women, who are equipped for the future.

In the left photo: Conny, Marien and Sister Tarcilla, on the right brand-new nurse Shivangi with her grandmother.