Europe

Project Proposal – Emergency aid request for Bucharest Kindergartens

Applicant:
Asociatia de Ajutor AMURTEL Romania
Str. Bozieni 7, Bl 830 Sc 2 Ap 85
Sector 6, Bucharest Romania

Telephone: +40214138359
Email: romania@amurtel.net

Webpage: www.romania.amurtel.net

Representative: Didi Ananda Devapriya (president)

Objective:

To continue to offer high quality Neo-humanist education, integrating special needs children, in the “Gradinita Rasarit” kindergartens in Bucharest

Background:

Recent accomplishments:
In the past year, AMURTEL successfully obtained authorization from the Ministry of Education for Gradinita Rasarit in Mihai Bravu, Bucharest, which represented a major turning point in quality and recognition in the society for NHE. In addition, two senior teachers that have been employed 17 years in the kindergartens completely their university education, sponsored by AMURTEL and are now qualified teachers, with extensive NHE experience, and an important asset for improving the professionalism of the project. We also have hired an educational director with 30 years of experience, and well connected within the educational community of Bucharest, thus positioning us to be able to increase the visibility of NHE.

Renovation project in the summer:

The buildings were deteriorating, and in order to pass inspections and obtain 2 types of authorization from the Health Department, this summer, we received a grant from Amici Nel Mondo Italia of 7000 euros to renovate the kindergarten in Bucuresti Noi. AMURTEL additionally invested another 3000 euros to complete the renovation.

Further emergency renovations required overbudget. When the inspections arrived in September, after the grant money was consumed, the inspectors insisted on further renovations that had not been planned in the budget. Consequently, we were obligated to invest in thermopane doors, new tiling in the bathroom, and other repairs. To cover these expenses, money that was being saved for the wage tax payment in January was spent, and we must find funding to reimburse it by then.

Unfortunately, the financial crisis has severely impacted Romania – and enrollments in the schools have dropped, as parents have lost jobs and seek cheap or free alternatives for childcare – so we have not been able to recover these expenses, and we remain in a minus for paying the wage taxes. In addition, we are unable to buy certain necessary and urgent supplies – such as vacuum cleaners for each location (they are broken in both places).

Urgency:

We are in urgent need of 2000 USD to reimburse the emergency repairs done in order to keep the school authorized. Without such funds, we are at risk of bankruptcy which could lead to a closure of the projects and a loss of properties.
In addition, we have submitted a 20,000 euro project proposal which we expect to receive in June 2010 for extensive renovations of the kindergarten in Mihai Bravu zone, but if the kindergarten closes before then, we will lose this funding opportunity.

Sustainability:

As the kindergartens have low enrollment, our plan is to transform the one which is not yet authorized into a social service project for homeless mothers and children and receive state funding and grants to sustain the project. AMURT has already received funding for a similar project, and there is a great need in Bucharest of such services, so the probability of funding is quite high.
In 2010, the recession in Romania is expected to lighten, and we will be investing in a publicity campaign to increase the enrollments. We also have a strategy to promote the visibility of NHE which is being followed by our educational director. The authorization by the Ministry of Education, qualified teachers, and health authorizations were major achievements for the school and represent an opportunity to promote NHE on a much broader scale in Romania, an opportunity which must not be lost.

Expected Results:

• Successful attainment all of the necessary Health Authorizations
o this has been achieved

• Participation in roundtable exchanges of experience with other educational institutions (result of authorization)
• Partnerships with other authorized kindergartens and educational institutions

• Increased visibility of NHE in Romania

• By October 2010 – the kindergarten in MB to be a main income-generator for sustaining AMURTEL Romania

PROJECT HISTORY:

The Albanian Sunrise School is a project of AMURT Albania. It was started in October, 2000 and has been running continually since then.

The school is situated 15 km from Tirana, the capital of Albania. The district where the school is located is called Bathore. This area was a large state owned farm during the communist period (1945-1990).

Following the collapse of communism in Albania, migrants from Albania’s northern provinces began to settle on this land (as squatters). They built houses and some of them did some small cultivation (though the plots are small). During the 1990s more people settled and today this area is a suburb (with a rural feel, as many people still keep cows and chickens) with over 35,000 people.

The people who settled in Bathore did so because there was no employment in the rural areas where they came from, as the state economic structure of the communist years suddenly collapsed. They came to the Tirana area in hopes of jobs. But even today, more than 50% of the population in this district is unemployed and some of the families face extreme hardship.

The state and municipal authorities were slow to provide infra structure to this community (electricity, roads, water and sewage) and presently one government school serves the entire area. Though conditions have improved in the past eight years, there is a shortage of kindergarten places and that is why we established our school here.

We started in October 2000, with one teacher in one classroom and 20 children. We expanded to two classrooms and two teachers and 40 students in January 2001. In March 2003 we moved to our present building which has three classrooms, three teachers and up to 65 children.

In January 2008 we took over the management of another kindergarten which is located 2 km away from the first kg. There are two teachers and 45 children at this new school.

In the past seven years several hundred children have been educated at our institution and they are doing very well in the state-run primary school system. Our school has won a reputation of academic excellence as a result of this.

PROJECT MISSION:

To provide high quality, neo-humanist education to children living in Bathore, Albania at an affordable price.

PROJECT BUDGET:

Monthly Expenses

Teacher Salaries (three) $650
Rent 360
Supplies, utilities 35
Administrative costs 65

total 1110

Income

Fees paid by parents 692
Donations 418

total 1110

note: these are the expenses of the first school only. The financial arrangements for the second school are still being worked out with the former manager but there will not be a deficit on this new unit (as the fees paid by the parents are higher)

FINANCIAL SOURCES:

Fees of the parents provide some of the income (see above budge) and the donations have come mostly from the whole time worker attached to the project. During the last fiscal year AMURT Italy gave $2800.

WISH LIST:

We would like to construct a play area in the back of the first kindergarten. The landlord has been using this area for his carpentry equipment, but he is removing it now and we would like to put in swings, slides, play equipment and landscaping now. The amount needed is $ 1500.

BANK ACCOUNT:

Account name: AMURT Albania
Bank: American Bank of Albania
Rr. Ismail Qemali 27
P.O. Box 3818
Tirana
Account # 1004031802
SWIFT: USALALTR

CONTACT: Mr. Donald Nelson
info at albaniansunrise.com
http://www.albaniansunrise.com
AMURT Albania
PO Box 1706
10000 Tirana, Albania

The Albanian Sunrise School provides neo-humanist kindergarten education for children residing in Bathore, a relatively new community located 15 km from Tirana, the capital of Albania.

Three local teachers supervise 65 children (in three class rooms) and the education is supplemented by Mr. Nelson who teaches English, music and meditation.

A second kindergarten, located 2 km from the first one, was set up this month. There are 45 students and two teachers at this new kg.

For detailed information about the project, including history, budget, etc click here