CHRISTEL HOUSE, BANGALORE, INDIA

Christel House India

Christel House India is an International NGO with the head office in Indianapolis the U.S. Founded by Christel DeHaan in 1998, the charity has so far set up schools in Mexico, Venezuela, S. Africa, Indianapolis and India. It was Ms. Christel DeHaan’s desire to make a difference to the lives of children around the world break the cycle of poverty and become self sufficient, contributing member of society.

The Christel House Learning Centre in Bangalore was opened in 2001 and moved to newly built campus on the North side of the city in June 2004. The school population currently numbers 702 children in Grades KG to VIII and will grow by 80 children every year until it reaches its maximum number of around 1,040 in the year 2010 in Grades KG to XII. All the children who come to Christel House are from slums, shelters and low-income neighborhoods. Christel House largely caters to the slum population, which is migrant population, settled in the city for more than 5-10 years. We ensure that the total monthly income of the community admitted to Christel House is below Rs. 2500/- per month with an average of 5 members in the family (per capita is Rs.500/- per month). Christel House is secular in nature.

About Our Program:
A quality education program. Access to good health care. Wholesome nutrition. A nurturing and caring environment.  
You’ll agree, this is what is needed to bring out the full potential in a child. This is what we come to expect of childhood, something that any child must have, no matter what economic background, we try and provide that at Christel House

The work of Christel House is longitudinal and transformational—breaking the cycle of poverty and forever changing the lives of its children and the generations that follow.  Because Christel House children come from a culture of neglect, abuse and abandonment they frequently lack not only opportunities, but also self-esteem, confidence and dignity.  Christel House uses multiple strategies to help them achieve success and maximize their potential.  Whether by providing vocational training or supporting university studies, Christel House mentors students until they are integrated into the workplace and society. 
	
Academics
Christel House India Learning center offers impoverished children completely free of cost rigorous academic education, which stresses competency in English, computers and basic skills, while instilling the universal values of Respect, Responsibility, Independence and Integrity.  Regular meals, physical and psychological health and wellness programs, life skills training, enrichment activities and service learning opportunities complement the educational program.  Internships, job placement and scholarship opportunities facilitate workplace integration. Systemic change of this magnitude can only be accomplished through highly skilled and committed staff, and the Christel House program is not inexpensive. But these investments produce rich rewards, as young adults join the formal sector workforce, well prepared, with strong values and a sense of civic duty and social responsibility. We are currently seeking affiliation to the CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education) as an English medium day school.

Comments on Christel House Learning Centre, Bangalore
In a recent audit report on the Centre carried out by three eminent independent educationalists in Bangalore, the team reported that they had “been very impressed with the daily running of the school and its success so far in imparting social values and educational skills to the children”. They also noted that “students are very happy and involved with their education” and that “staff, in addition to the students, share a positive attitude about the school”. They went on to say that “the behaviour of the students towards their peers and their teachers is excellent. They are polite and exhibit sensitivity towards their physical environment”. Also that “it is clear that the students and their parents are benefiting hugely from the present school”.

Ours is a new approach in breaking poverty cycles, and already this new approach is paying dividend.  Our drop out rate is less than 2% as against the government report of 25% - 28% in other Govt. run schools. We have 357 (51%) Boys and 345 (49%) Girls.

We are committed to ensure a high success rate of these children breaking their cycle of poverty and attaining self-sufficiency. We believe that our new approach to breaking poverty cycles by providing a high quality development program is something that will be a benchmark for all other such schools in the future.

Nutrition and Health Care
Christel House provides each student with a thorough physical examination and records data such as height, weight and chest circumference measurements.  In addition, all children are checked and treated for skin infections or other conditions.  Students are taught how to use the toilet, wash their hands and brush their teeth.  All of the students at Christel House India undergo annual and half yearly screenings, including dental, hearing, vision and speech examinations.  In addition, most children who enroll at Christel House have no health records and have never been immunized.  Christel House ensures that each student receives proper immunizations and has a complete, up-to-date medical record.To ensure that all students have access to proper preventative health care, Christel House International partners with local hospitals, doctors and dentists to keep costs low.  Currently, we are working with Ramaiah Hospital and St. John’s Hospital, Dr. Jagdish Rohira for dental treatment and Dr. Shekar Sheshadri, Head of Psychiatry at NIMHANS.

Parent and Community Outreach Programs
Christel House India conducts regular Parent teacher conferences in order to involve the parents more closely in the child’s development. It also gives the school an opportunity to impress upon the parents the difference that Christel House is making to the child and how the parent can support the efforts being made. Most Parents, while desiring to see their children better educated than themselves and able to lead better quality lives are not fully aware of the dynamics of this. The child’s socio-cultural skill’s, hygiene levels and civic awareness are much higher. This is an aspect that parents sometimes have difficulty coming to terms with. Regular interactions through the PTC make parents part-owners of the process and supplement the child’s development. A thrift movement was also initiated to inculcate the savings habit among parents. Christel House regularly conducts outreach programs to increase awareness in environmental, health and hygiene issues among parents and in the community. The most recent outreach program dealt with the issue of AIDS. Besides, each day, an average of 7 parents come to the school to volunteer their time and assist in our day-to-day activities

Facility
The school site extends to seven acres. The first phase of building comprises sixteen classrooms, music and art rooms, a well appointed staff room and administrative room for the Principal, a library, computer room with 40 computers, a dining hall and kitchen and a self contained medical facility and separate Administration Block. The second phase includes a further ten classrooms plus science laboratories.

What makes Christel House Unique?
1. Christel House’s uniqueness lies in the fact that we take up the total responsibility for the children not only during the years in school but also right through vocational training, college education and even job placements.
2. Christel House International, USA has made a commitment that the general and administrative expenses in full would be borne in perpetuity and 100% of every donation you make will directly benefit the children of Christel House India.
3.  We are run by an Independent professional Board of Directors. 
4. Christel House believes in total transparency and quality of its programs & administration.
•    Our Education program is audited every year by three eminent independent educationalists in Bangalore. 
•    Our food program is audited by University of Agricultural science-Home Science department (UAS,Bangalore)
•    Medical program by one of the biggest hospital group in south India, MS Ramaiah Medical College & Hospital.
•    Our financial books & transactions are subjected to rigorous verification process every year by reputed Internal financial auditors and External Financial auditors (V.B Haribhakti & Co, Mumbai).  In addition, Christel House India welcomes all the existing and prospective donors to verify any of our financial transactions and books of accounts at any time.

Come, be a partner with Christel House. You too can be a part of this unfolding story of hope and dreams through your support.
We believe All Children are Equal.

For more details visit--http: www.in.christelhouse.org