Each
year Mango Tree provides hundreds of uniforms for
disadvantaged children. The Government does provide a
set of uniforms for the youngest children (1st to 4th
standard) but nothing is provided thereafter. Children
are not allowed to enter school without the correct
uniform and appropriate footwear. It might only cost
around £5.00 to provide a uniform but it is out of the reach of
many families It is yet another potential barrier which
can mean a disadvantaged child either cannot attend
school at all or attends in a uniform in a very poor
state. Attending school in a neat and tidy uniform can
make a huge difference to a child’s confidence and
self-esteem and how they feel about attending school.
We provide at least one set of uniform to around 250
of the most in need and also provide around 150 uniforms
to pre-primary children. We provide good quality rain macs for the 1st
to 4th standard children every other year and through
our Bags4School project we provide umbrellas for all
children in 5th standard and above. You can read more
about what a difference providing a raincoat can make
here.
The new academic year in India starts in June after
the long summer holidays. Well before school breaks up
in April plans are being put into place to ensure that
uniforms are ready for the new year. Providing uniforms
is a complicated business since the children attend
several different schools, most of which have different
uniforms. Some are ready made whilst the majority are
individually tailored. A change of uniform takes place
when children move from 4th standard to 5th standard and
at 8th standard boys change from shorts to long
trousers. All children have to be measured by the
tailor, the necessary cloths for the various uniforms
are purchased, uniforms are stitched and the readymade
uniforms purchased. It is a big task for the Mango House
team to ensure all children have the correct uniform for
the new year and we always appreciate their work to make
this project a success.
If you would like to help with uniforms or
educational items in general please click
here to donate
on line and don’t forget to leave a message to tell us
that you wish your donation to go towards our
educational projects. |