People are the driving force of MovingSchool
INDIA, GUJARAT
DEVENDRA KANDOLKAR
HEADMASTER OF MOVING SCHOOL
INDIA, TAMIL NADU
VINEETA BADAWE
ARCHITECT, AND INDIA FUNDRAISER
BOARD MEMBER
KARIN GRONBORG
DENMARK FUNDRAISER
BOARD MEMBER
METTE LANGE
CHAIRPERSON
BOARD MEMBER
ANDERS LINNET
FOUNDER
BOARD MEMBER
HELENE BEKKER
RETIRED BOARD MEMBER
KAI LANGE
MARK DOVEY
ATTORNEY
Background
The coastal belt of Kutch, in Gujarat, is home to many generational families who earn their primary income from seasonal fishing. For eight months of the year, these families move their entire families from their villages to the coast to fish, thus creating temporary encampments along the coast. As a result, their children are far away from the schools of their home villages for most of the year.
Devendra Kandolkar, a truly passionate and committed individual, is the driving force of MovingSchool in Gujarat. He inspires and leads the staff of 10 teachers, who currently inspire and educate 435 students.
The campus of MovingSchool is made up of simple classroom structures, which provides primary school classes in their local fishing communities.
Inspiringly some of the children do dream of finishing higher education and MovingSchool supports their needs at a local hostel.
Moving School and the Yusuf Meherally Centre Hostel in Bhadreshwar, Gujarat has provided a safe living space for both girls and boys. Two local ladies make daily meals, and two teachers help after school and on weekends with their studies. The Hostel is close to a local school, where they can finish their basic education and prepare for further studies.
The hostel for girls opened in early 2014, with five girls enrolled. Traditionally most families do not want their girls to live away from their family homes. However, due to inspiring success stories, our enrolments are increasing, with 7 girls and 19 boys in the hostel in 2022.
History
MovingSchool humbly started in Goa where the first school opened in 2001.
The school project was created for the children of the migratory workforce who came to the South Indian state of Goa from the neighbouring state of Karnataka to do hard unskilled work.
Anders Linnet, Mette Lange and local partners worked in Goa in the years from 2001 to 2012 with mobile schools that came to the children.
Floating schools, built on wooden rafts in the river, rolling schools and premises rented for the purpose formed the framework for primary school education over the years.
Anders raised funds from his many lectures in, among others, Rotary clubs. A large, solid membership has paid membership fees. In addition, individuals have contributed – and there have been friends of the school, from Finland and Italy respectively, who have collected money for the schools’ operation in the respective countries.
With a large contribution from Rotary International in 2008, an IT school was opened in Devsu, Goa. This became a gathering point for several schools that could benefit from the 12 laptops. Along with dedicated teaching, the children were introduced to IT, the internet etc.
Mette, in her capacity as an architect, has been responsible for the construction of the physical framework of the mobile schools.
The school projects in Goa have almost been phased out, 1 school is left with approx. 20 students – simply because the Goan government has taken care of the problem and integrated the children into the local schools.
MovingSchool in Goa is a successful project – we are recognised by the Ministry of Education and designated as one of the most successful NGOs. Our local partners in Goa sit on a committee that deals with children in need, where their knowledge is shared.
Our Organisation
Established in 2001, MovingSchool is a small charitable foundation that is based in Denmark and India and supported through a global based donor circle. Through the generous support by individuals, companies and organisations like Rotary the work of Moving School and the education of the young children has thrived for the past 21years and will continue to grow with the needs of the children.
All proceeds of the donations are used exclusively for MovingSchool in India and only strictly financial and audited administrative costs are incurred, due to generous volunteer support.
