Scholarship
Craft as a sought after livelihood for GeneratioNext
For an artisan, sustainability means being able to continue in a tradition, being able to feed one’s family, live a decent life, educate one’s children, and maintain a balance with raw materials, market access and pride in one’s work. In the world of the artisan, a generation is a measure of survival – family survival and survival of craft skills. When for a generation, skills not handed down and they are not practiced, they are lost.

http://craftscouncilofindia.org/

Objectives -
The scholarship scheme aims at
** providing opportunities in both formal education and training in craft skills
** providing a value added link between formal education and future enterprise / employment
** Successful artisans from a given craft cluster
** Leading NGOs in the area
** CCI has a network of affiliated Councils in different States

Disbursement of funds - The money is sent by Demand draft to the mother’s account
Evaluation - This is done constantly. The checking of the Annual School Report is seen as essential for the continuation of the scholarship
Contact Programme -
There are three types of contact programs planned
** CCI members visit each cluster once a year. The parents and children are introduced. The children show / demonstrate their skills in the craft. A short note on the scholarship plan in the local language is distributed to the parents. A short questionnaire is given out for the children to respond to.
** The three day contact program is conducted at a suitable venue near more than one group of about 15-20 children eg Shantiniketan for West Bengal and Orissa. This will involve their meeting suitable role models, exposure trips, which will include visits to retail outlets. This will be once a year.
** Every group of 10-15 children who have been supported upto the tenth standard will be invited to a week long camp at a suitable venue. This will be a very structured course. There will be classes in spoken English, Montessori maths and history. Each child will have a mentor during their craft demonstration time every day. At the end of the week, an exhibition of their work will be held, with a small ceremony.
** The crafts council of India has launched a programme for “Education of Crafts persons’ Children” in 2007. We started with 14 children and with response from some of you to our appeal last year; we have reached out to 46 children in 2009.

We appeal to you to support this endeavour. The support options open are:
** 1 child Rs. 5,000 for 1 year
** 1 child Rs. 15,000 for 3 years
** Support for more than one child.
You can make all the difference to the child by joining hands in this unique project and at the same time, saving a craft and a tradition from dying out.

Contact Us:
CRAFTS COUNCIL OF ANDHRA PRADESH
H.No. 6-3-713, G-7, Emerald,
Amurtha Hills,
Punjagutta
Hyderabad – 500 082