By TCN News,
Gorakhpur (Uttar Pradesh): Some AMU alumni associations in the US are helping for educational uplift of the downtrodden in the Gorakhpur district of Uttar Pradesh. The alumni associations are involved in helping the students from the marginalized sections of the society here in many ways.
Here is a brief report.
A few years back Aligarh Alumni Association of New England donated a diesel generator to Maulana Azad Memorial High School in Gorakhpur.
Tanvir Salim and Aftab Alam Ansari with the students of Imambara Muslim Girls College being awarded the scholarship
Aligarh Alumni Association of Washington DC (AAAWDC) under the leadership of Dr. Razi Raziuddin joined hands with Ashfaq Husain Ansari Memorial Society (AHAMS) of Gorakhpur to award financial scholarships to the needy and deserving students of Imambara Muslim Girls Inter College of Gorakhpur. Under this endeavor twenty students are provided Rs. 250 per month towards their tuition, uniform and other supplies for the last two years. In July 2011 a representative from AAAWDC (Dr. Aftab Alam Ansari) visited the school and met the students and the volunteers from AHAMS who are overseeing this program. The principal of the Imambara Muslim Girls Inter College, Mrs. Shahina Khatoon thanked AAAWDC and provided a brief overview of how this endeavor is helping the students in many ways. Mr. Tanvir Salim, one of the Patrons of AHAMS who was present on the occasion was surprised to see the number of students who were opting Mathematics as a subject to enter the field of engineering.
Another novel endeavor by AAAWDC and AHAMS along with The AligarhForum@yahoogroup is going to establish a coaching/Guidance Center for the students from deprived and under-privileged neighborhoods in Gorakhpur.
The coaching will be as following:
1-Science Stream
For the students who are presently enrolled in Classes IX to XII in accredited institutions. The courses offered will be based on the syllabus of the entrance examinations for Engineering and Medical courses (Class XII level).
As an extra incentive, Class IX to X syllabus will also incorporate the subject matter applicable to the entrance examination of (10 +2) at Aligarh Muslim University (AMU).
2- Education Stream
This will be for the students opting to take B.Ed. admission test. At present, this will be open for the female candidates only.
3-Civil Services
For the students wishing to opt for the civil services examination, some of the courses offered will be:
i- General Knowledge,
ii- Personality Development,
iii- Group discussion,
iv- Interview Approach
v- English Speaking
Initially the courses will be offered on first come, first served basis. Later some selection mechanism will be implemented to enroll based on need or merit. Preference will be given to the marginalized sections of the society.
It is expected that in the beginning approximately 100 students will be enrolled.
Guidance Center
To provide guidance to the students there will be at least one guest speaker per month who can enlighten the students as per their expertise. This should not be limited to the experts who are visiting Gorakhpur on personal visits. Efforts will be made to invite intelligentsia who can make positive contribution. Some of the invited guests will be the counselors from AMU, JamiaMillia, Jamia Hamdard, retired civil servants, professionals etc.