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PROJECT SUMMARY:
Prism Foundation, Pune, Maharashtra:

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GROUP:

	Prism Foundation (Pune, Maharashtra)
	

PROJECT:

	The Prism Foundation, a registered public trust, runs two schools in Pune.  
	One school , LARC, serves sixty students with multiple special needs (i.e.
	disabilities).  A second school, Phoenix, serves 110 drop outs, including 20
	students in a vocational unit.  

	The foundation's literature indicates that it serves both students which
	physical and mental disabilities and students "with average intelligence but
	having some emontional, socioeconomic, or other problems" who "do not fit into
	the mainstream of education. "  The schools thus operate on a "one child one
	curriculum" approach:  they modify each student's program of instruction based
	on individual need and continuous assessment and evaluation.  
	Approximately half of the foundation's 35 teachers are trained in special 
	education.  

	The schools are English medium and Marathi medium.  Phoenix (?both schools--it
	wasn't clear from the literature) offers langauge arts, math, science, social
	studies, and home science, as well as physical education. There seem to be a
	variety of special classes and activities ranging from knitting, stitching and
	canning to drama, debate, a student newspaper and vocal and instrumental music.
	The staff focus on practical applications to learning and cooperation among
	students.  The foundation reports that they "bring students to the level where
	they can appear for the SSC Board or the National Open School."  
	Students who go for a secondary school certificate board examination after 
	grade 8 receive formal coaching. 

	The foundation reports that LARC students range in age from 18 to 21.  
	They are trained in "vocational and functional" academics so that 
	they can become independent.

LOCATION:

	Pune, Maharashtra

CONTACT:

	???????????

FUNDING REQUEST:

	No specific amount or project specified and no foundation budget included.  
	The foundation's brochure indicates that tuition for one year is Rs. 25,001
	and a non-refundable building fund deposit of Rs. 50,001 is required to 
	complete a new student's registration. 
	(Note that they translate this into $100 and $200, respectively, but I 
	have assumed it's the rupee figure which is correct).

	The foundation requests guidance in applying for aid for "building, therapy
	equipment, or furniture."  

COMMENTS:
	This doesn't sound appropriate for ASHA.   Based on the literature provided, 
	the foundation seems to be interested in serving students whose parents
 	can pay a significant amount for schooling.  There is no mention of 
 	scholarships or special services for students whose families cannot affort 
	to pay in the Rs.75,000 range.  If the foundation wanted to pursue its 
	request, it would need to submit additional information; but I would not 
	encourage them too much based on what they have told us so far.


SOURCE: 

	Proposal sent to Asha-MIT


HISTORY:

	Summary by Amanda, 5 March 96 (info from Anuradha R.)

STATUS:

	Pending (rejected)
	We rejected on the grounds that their fees were hige and it didnt look like 
	they had emphasis on poor kids.  They have responded to these concerns.

FOLLOW-UP:

	Prism Foundation, Pune:  They have a couple of schools for "special needs"
	students.  We originally rejected their proposals on the grounds that their
	fees were huge and it didn't look like they had any emphasis on poor kids. 
	They have written back saying that they do offer scholarships for kids who
	couldn't otherwise afford their program.  They've given a list of 8
	students whose parents annual income is Rs. 7,000-Rs. 20,000 per year. 
	They are asking for per-student annual scholarships of Rs. 3,000 for
	tuition and Rs. 2000 for uniform, shoes, books, and stationary.  The amount
	is much more reasonable than what they had listed for tuition in their
	original proposal--and it does look as though they are offering a very
	serious, enriched special education program for disabled students.  These
	kinds of programs are expensive to run.   I suppose the policy question we
	need to answer is to what extent we want to put money toward scholarships
	at a school which is mosty funded by tuition fees of wealthy kids--and to
	what extent we want to focus on schools which put most of their efforts
	toward serving the poor.   I don't know if we have any position on this.