Education Center

While India is a superb software production center, digital literacy is concentrated mainly in the urban centers. Most of the rural places, where two-thirds of the population reside, digital literacy is almost zero and very few training resources are available to the local students. We can reduce this "digital divide" by making available the necessary hardware and software in the rural areas. We are trying to achieve this by setting up computer centers in smaller towns and rural areas.

For those high school students who go for higher education in colleges, a computer-trained background provides a confident platform to leap into the realm where search for knowledge through libraries around the world never stops.

Responding to the need, Lily Foundation has ventured to establish education centers and vocational centers.

	Ghatsila JC High Computer Center [click here for photos & info]
	Dhulai Education Center [click here for photos & info]
	Hotar Education Center for Women [click here for photos & info]
	Narrah Vocational Center [click here for photos & info]

Jagadish Chandra High School Lily Foundation Computer Center

JC High School

Jagadish Chandra High school and Lily Foundation have joined hands in planning the center in early 2003. The town of Ghatsila in Jharkhand does not enjoy all opportunities that a city usually offers. Thus for a community where home computers or PCs are still a dream, availability of such opportunities is almost heaven-sent. The Computer Center has now started operating since 6 Feb 2004. In the inauguration ceremony addressing the students, the presiding Chairman Dr. Vivek Sadashib, Principal of Ghatsila College, said, "Aspirations abound, one can become Kalpana Chawla yet again" - quotes Dainik Jagaran.

Santi Thakur addressing

Current vital data are:

Number of Computers	7
Number of Teachers	2
Course Taught	Micro-Computer Applications; Computer Science
Students getting Computer literacy every year	600+

The numbers obviously indicate the availbility of computers is far too short of the need. But, the foundation is hopeful help and support will arrive to supplement the need. How? With your support. [If you want to help let us know]

Students - Current and Ex

Dr. Sadashib opening

Dhulai Lily Foundation Education Center

Dhirendra Mohan Sarkar Institute

Dhulai Education Center

Dhulai is a village in Bankura surrounded by villages which do not offer any computer education in high schools or as a privately-funded learning opportunity. The nearest town that offers any of the sort is 2 hours away by bus. So, the computer-learning facility in Dhulai serves as the epicentre of high-tech opportunity for three area high schools - Dhulai Ramkumar Mrinmoyee Vidyamandir, Dhulai Girls High School and Palasdanga Higher Secondary School. The Center is housed in a building built by the foundation on a donated piece of land - courtesy of Msrs. Prasenjit Banerjee and Saroj Kumar Mondal. The class-hours have been designed to facilitate the high school students to attend the Center after-hours. The sponsor for the project is Jogeswari Prasad Sarkar who dedicates the Center in memory of his late father Dhirendra Mohan Sarkar.

November the 8th, 2007 Dhulai Education Center was inaugurated by J. P. Sarkar. The Lily Foundation President Ms. Sandhyamalati Chatterjee, Secretary Kalyan Mukherjee and other Lily Foundation officers and local dignitaries were present. Prasenjit Banerjee was the organizer of the event. The Bardhaman newspaper SANBAAD reported, "Lily Foundation came forward to help the distressed and disadvantaged children."

Students heading to Center

Current vital data are:

Number of Computers	4
Number of Teachers	2
Course Taught	Micro-Computer Applications
Students getting Computer literacy every year	120

The number of computers is short of the need. It is expected that the second phase of development will ease the situation by building a floor above that can house more computers.

President visiting Center

Center inauguration

Hotar Lily Foundation Education Center for Women

Rabindranath Pal Institute

Education Centre classroom

Barely 45 minutes away from the heart of the metropolis, yet it appears a remote place on earth where the light of high tech civilization has never reached the aspiring youth of the society. The Sarada Ramakrishna Ashram has been dedicating all their resources to the benefit of the local girls by providing opportunities of schooling, learning handicraft works and job-oriented trade training. The lily Foundation takes the organization and facility of this outfit as the ideal platform to promote women's education. With the sponsorship of Dr. Mila Pal and Mr. Gopal C. Pal the foundation renovates a floor of the ashram ( thanks to the Ashram for their permission to use the facilty cost-free) to build the Rabindranath Pal Institute of computer learning.

Mr. Gopal C. Pal inaugurated the center on February the 10th, 2007 dedicating the institute in memory of late brother Rabindranath Pal. Several local dignitaries and Lily Foundation officials and volunteers were present. The Ashram mothers addressed the participants with a brief history of the Ashram and lots of encouragement to the local youth, who were beneficiary of the project. The Ashram girls entertained the crowd with their special talents in music and acrobatics.

Gopal Chandra Pal at inauguration

Current vital data are:

Number of Computers	4
Number of Teachers	2
Course Taught	Computer Applications; Business Software
Students getting Computer literacy	65

The second phase of the project is to revamp the system with several more computers and library books.

Sarada-Ramakrishna Ashram students performing

Lily Volunteers

Narrah Lily Foundation Vocational Center

Narrah Vocational Center is located in a small town not too far from Bankura district town. Lily Foundation is already a familiar name in Narrah because of its AALO center. The boys and girls of of Sanchari often do not know what they would do after finishing high school. Particularly the girls who have less mobility than the boys are seen as liability at home, even after their high school grduation. For those who can afford to go to college, it is a little different scenario. But, they are in minority. Mrs. Keya Mukherjee, Advisor of The Lily Foundation, tries to find an answer to the problem of girls' future in a different light. She wants to make them an earning member of the family. Once they are able to supplement the family income, they will be seen in a better perspective - reckoned as a voice in the household. With the sponsorship of Mrs. Mukherjee, Lily Foundation now manages the already-established facility of vocational training (originally started by Mrs. Mukherjee herself), where girls and women are taking tailoring lessons.

Students practicing lessons

One-year training in cutting and sewing provides the students with enough skill to make shirts, pants, trousers, undergarments and nets. With this skill, they should be able to accept home-orders from suppliers. Next phase of the training in planning is when the students are able to prepare complex stiches and designs such as, suits and ladies fashion garments.

Current vital data are:

Number of Sewing Machines	3
Number of Teachers	1
Course Taught	Cutting, sewing garments, uniforms
Students getting training	15