We run 20 Community Based Full Alternative Schools within the slum areas, spreading across 9 wards of Kolkata. With the children who are at a stage previous to attending pre-primary, we run a Non-formal Education Center from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the evening at Dharmadas Trust Model School.

This center primarily caters to pre-school orientation and teaching. From this center we develop varieties of Teaching Learning Materials (TLM) for pre-primary, primary as well as High school level students and implement those materials for the school projects. After 6 to 7 months of attendance at this center, we admit them to Dharamdas Trust Model School for formal schooling.

Joint Education Project with Dharmadas Model Trust School (A school of Kolkata Municipal Corporation's Education Department)

Tomorrow's Foundation and Dharmadas Model Trust School jointly run a primary school at Kalighat area during the day time. In the morning TF provides support services to the children and the school authority for smooth functioning.

Under our guidance, daily activities start at this school with the Morning Prayer. An important area of activity is to collect absentee list of children from the day school teachers and follow-up through home visit / counseling team to bring them back to the school.

We provide mid day lunch, uniform, mental and physical health related support to these children to retain them at the school

We work on our project hand in hand with the Kolkata Municipal Corporation run Dharmadas School. The students here are from pre-primary to class V. As these students pass out from class V, we try to get them admitted to the formal schools. We also provide necessary services and see to it that they can carry on under all circumstances.

In order to persuade such matters well, we maintain a good relationship with the local formal schools and also involve the parents of the respective students with our mission. We not only compel them but teach them as well, how to take on responsibilities with us.

Our Formal School placement / Visit and Follow-up cell are directly involved with this project. At present the students from Class VI to College belong to this project.

The Remedial Coaching Center provides educational support to the children already admitted to the formal schools; namely DTMS and other local govt. aided high schools, college. These children are mostly first-generation learners; their parents are not able to guide them to complete their school tasks. For this they cannot compete with their other schoolmates. They gradually lose interest from their studies and ultimately stop attending schools.

The tutorial classes started eleven years back to address this problem. The children are provided with required help to complete their home tasks and prepare the lessons for their next classes. Apart from providing educational backup the children get to spend some quality time in the center, which is much better than loitering about aimlessly in the community.

The evening tutorial classes are held in the DTMS building. For this, TF had to procure permission from the KMC education department and pay an annual maintenance fee.

In evening tutorial we provide educational support from Pre-Primary to college level students.
Apart from this coaching support we provide other support to the children from this tutorial center.
This is a contact place for the community and children

For the last seven years, TF has been providing pre-vocational training support to the children at the primary level of DTMS. It was noticed that children mainstreamed into pre-primary schools, did not always have a flair for education and a few of them could not continue with their education for a longer period of time. This led to dropouts. As they had no positive alternative engagements so there was every possibility of getting engaged into illegal activities.

This pre-vocational training project was conceptualized to address to this problem. Pre-vocational activities in the form of extra curricular activities act as a positive alternative support to the children. Children right from Class I have the facility of learning some activities along with their formal education. These activities are not to be forced upon them but they have the liberty to choose the one they feel comfortable and interesting. The idea here is to develop an interest towards a positive alternative engagement other than studies. So, if such a circumstance arise and they lose interest in their studies they can fall back on these activities and can learn more about them in details gradually.

Within the field area of TF, there are a number of drop out adolescent candidates. Interestingly, the reasons for dropping out are found to be different for each one. As a matter of fact, there are a few dropouts within the periphery of TF Target group as well. TF provides vocational training to these adolescent children so that they can carve out an independent life for themselves.

The process begins with identifying the dropouts. A preliminary counseling session is organized for them and with the help of our Career Counseling Unit; we judge their inherent area of interest.

Next we involve their parents/ guardians and with their consent and support, we admit them to go through the selected training program, following up religiously.

The vocational training is mainly offered in two areas:

1. Our own Card / Gift Item making / Printing (Tomorrows Foundation Card Project)
2. Through other vocational training institutes.

The candidates who show inclination towards printing / card making / gift item making, we incorporate them in our own in-house training center. For the rest who has more potential in other areas, we admit them to the vocational training institutes. Courses offered there are on driving, leather goods making, sewing and cutting of ladies garments, gents tailoring, beautician and technical training such as repairing of TV, radio, phone, fax.

While going through training on these projects, TF simultaneously prepares many candidates to appear for the Tenth Standard School Final Examination through the open school system.

Few candidates have been found showing interest towards training on unique and significantly promising areas. Presently there are two candidates enrolled for the Teachers Training program.

Educational center for the Vocational Trainee:

TF runs this center for the adolescents. These children were admitted to different recognized Vocational Training Institutes. In this center they are offered with trade-based educational inputs, which help them to understand the subject in a much better way. Besides, it helps the team members of TF to have a regular contact with these trainees and provide guidance

The Tomorrow's Foundation Card Project was undertaken to provide a positive alternative to the adolescent girls and boys who are formal school dropouts. These adolescents are provided with a productive vocational training so that they can develop their skills and learn a specific trade that will give them greater opportunities to secure employment. During the tenure of training they receive a stipend that pays for their travel, food and the purchase of training materials/resources. Along with this training, they are enrolled in the Open School program to complete their education from open schools or universities. Finally on the completion of the training course TF will endeavor to find suitable employment for them.

A special education project is held for the children who have dropped out from the formal schools. These children are provided with opportunities so that they can continue with their education through open school or Open University system.

Along with formal education, developing cultural aesthetics help the children to identify their hidden talent and leadership qualities and boost up their self-esteem. Besides, the classes on music, dance, drama, art and yoga have a therapeutic effect on these children and help them to ease out from their up traumatic experiences.

The children participate in different cultural functions and are encouraged to draw or paint for exhibitions, souvenirs and competitions. They display their skills in music, dance, drama, yoga, etc. in front of a distinguished audience during the annual cultural program.

TF holds such cultural classes for the children on Saturdays at the premises of DTMS.

Computer has become a part and parcel of our day-to-day life. TF started this Computer Literacy Program to help the children develop interest in their studies, increase their self-confidence and help them acquire certain skills, which will help them to be established in life.

A little support could contribute well towards establishing many young lives who have been socially or economically deprived. Even children with critical disease could perhaps live a healthier life only through extended help. We at Tomorrow's Foundation are determined to refurnish the rights for such children.

Sudip Mondal did not have the financial means to attain higher education. He had the potential and we stood for him. He qualified through the Joint Entrance Examination for Medical studies. Today, he is a Third year student at the Bankura Medical College in West Bengal.

TF started a Model School with 11 kids last year. The need for such school was felt by the members of the foundation for a long time. This school will provide education for the children in a child-friendly manner through joyful learning. Special course is designed for the children so that education to them does not seem to be drudgery but something to look forward to and enjoy.

Other than educational inputs, in future based on requirement, the children will be provided with counseling support, career planning, computer education and skill development.

TF started an adult educational center, where the adult members of the society are provided with the opportunities of basic education. This helps them to develop their self-esteem and the sense of responsibility towards their children.

This center is presently functioning from the DTMS building.

COMMUNITY AWARENESS PROJECT

This cell works to generate awareness towards the various facets of social development among the community people, parents, influencers and leaders. Every week they organize different awareness programs out of which "The Community Health awareness program" every Thursday is worth mentioning. With a team from CLPOA supported by GOAL, every Thursday we organize this awareness program within the different areas of the community.