The Hiremath Family Foundation follows a complex strategy that can take into consideration the multi-faceted needs of the rural population. The Foundation aims at creating lasting change by paying attention to crucial areas, such as education, healthcare, digital literacy, and skills development. https://hiremathfamilyfoundation.in/
E-Learning & Education
The main principle of the Foundation is education. Resource-poor rural areas in India pave the way to meaningful obstruction of quality education to most children because of the deficiency of resources and facilities. As a solution to fight this battle, the Foundation has set up the community based e-learning centers which cater to students in grade 6 -10. The centers have access to computers and learning materials as well as qualified teachers. The online courses of the Foundation, English learning classes, and exam courses contribute to the fact that students acquire the skills and become confident in their successful academic performance. The centers, which have been introduced in Narangi and Alibag are already giving very good outcomes, like better academic results and less dropouts. According to Varun Hiremath, Founder of the Foundation once says, “Where quality schools do not exist, we create a school out of the child- with screens, mentors and heart.”
Health and Hygiene
The other issue, governed by The Foundation, is the issue of the great necessity of the healthcare in the rural areas where medical services are sometimes unavailable. The Foundation has developed partnership with local doctors to run regular health camps in villages to offer free examination, medication and health knowledge. Particular attention is paid by these camps to the health and welfare of women and children, food and sanitation, which is the key to long-term development of a community. Along with health camps, the Foundation also provides health supplies (sanitary kits and nutrition packs) to the families in need. Hiremath adds, we as a community provide their bodies, then they can live up to their dreams.
Digital Literacy
In the current age of digitalized world, the Foundation has introduced Digital Literacy Program to children, teenagers, and women in the rural part of India. This program is used to train on typing, use of email, secure internet and Microsoft programs. The Foundation provides its students with Microsoft-certified courses therefore giving them an opportunity to join and access digital economy, which can improve their lives. According to Hiremath, a kid who knows how to operate a keyboard is opening the doors to a new generation. We do not teach screens, instead we facilitate self-worth.
Skill Building
Under Skill Development Program, the Foundation is imparting training to the youth and women in remote areas in skills like tailoring and handicrafts so that they can have some means of living and earn a living by themselves as well as becoming self reliant. The skills will enable the participants develop self subsistent livelihoods and enhance their financial independence. The Foundation also provides financial literacy and job training, such as resumes and interview skills so that after a person is versed in the skills of the business, he/she will have everything needed to succeed in the labor market. In the words of Hiremath, educating an individual to acquire a skill gives him or her pride, powers and independence.
Party with a Reason
The Foundation also urges individuals to celebrate their personal milestones including birthdays and festivals by donating to the children in rural areas via the programme called, Celebrate with Varun. This program includes the fine school kits, food packages, toys and also conducting cultural program and art contests. Hiremath says, giving leads to happiness but not receiving. The most important gifts, I receive on my birthday are not organized in boxes, but in the smiles of children who feel that they are noticed, observed, and loved.”________________________________________
Varun Hiremath, Founder of the Hiremath Family Foundation, told about the mission of the Foundation and about the significance of their activities in the rural world:
To create a better tomorrow education, health and skills are the building blocks. By offering not merely resources, but also the feeling of power, competency, and hope for their future to children, women, and young adults in such communities, we hope to enable them to pursue a highly competitive working environment in the field of digital skillss or the field of healthcare.
Key Statistics:
The Foundation in Narangi has more than 250 children who have benefited through the e-learning programs, and there has been an increased academic performance and weeds out dropouts.
Free health check-up, medicine and hygiene kits with special attention to the health of women and children of more than 500 villagers have been carried out in Raigad District.
• More than 100 women have participated in skills development course in various skills such as tailoring, digital payment training as well as entrepreneurship thereby attaining financial independence. https://hiremathfamilyfoundation.in/