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- Eleanor Roosevelt
EMPOWER
The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.
RDF strives to instill in students the qualities that will empower them to become agents of change in their communities. Teachers incorporate opportunities for leadership and examples of social action into every school day. Students are encouraged to think critically about the world around them and to take action when they identify moral challenges and social problems by organizing marches, writing petitions, or seeking an audience with the sarpanch (village mayor). Confidence, high self-esteem and a strong sense of self are all characteristics that we develop in our students in order to empower them to stand up for what they believe in and work for social change in their communities.
In an effort to increase the opportunities for student leaders to improve their skills and to encourage their involvement in the school, Student Committees have been formed. These committees are responsible for various aspects of school life. It is a training ground for all the future leaders emerging out of our schools.
-Eleanor Roosevelt
HEALTHY MINDS
Midday Meals: RDF provides nutritious daily mid-day meals of rice, dahl, and vegetable curry, ensuring students can have as many servings as they need. The mealtime environment is communal, with everyone, including staff and students, eating together and starting with a Sanskrit chant. Staff and older students serve the meals and also to ensure no
food wastage.
Textbooks and notebooks: RDF follows the State Board curriculum, providing textbooks and notebooks for all subjects each year. Additional resources include Ratna Sagar books for primary students and government publications for senior classes. The textbooks come with a CD for soft skills development to help students improve their communication skills through listening and speaking exercises.
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EMPOWERING GIRLS
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From its inception, RDF has prioritized equal access to education for both boys and girls. If girls make up less than 50% of a class, RDF teachers visit nearby villages to persuade families to educate their daughters. Initially, convincing families to send their daughters to school was a major challenge. Now, girls occupy 42-50% of class seats. RDF provided fee concessions and incentives for 15 years to encourage families to send girls to school, especially as they transition from primary to secondary education. To further empower girls, RDF offers mentorship and skill development programs, including personality and communication skills training through summer schools conducted by Synchrony Financial. This has led to a significant increase in girl participation each year.
CULTURAL IDENTITY
RDF promotes secularism and celebrates the diverse cultural heritage of all faiths within its community. Through arts, crafts, and vibrant performances, RDF fosters participation from both students and villagers, creating a strong sense of unity and shared identity. Many RDF students belong to the Lambadi tribe, whose rich traditions are at risk of fading away. Recognizing the importance of preserving this cultural legacy, RDF actively encourages students to engage in traditional Lambadi practices, especially the spirited playing and dancing to the iconic dappu drums, keeping their heritage alive for future generations.
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RDF staff has been educating rural people about the importance and urgency of social distancing and demonstrating hygiene practices such as handwashing and wearing masks. Our staff prepared a natural sanitizer using local ingredients and with training, most families are making this at home!
Covid-19 Safety Protocols
RDF institutions focus on students' mental wellbeing during the pandemic, addressing the effects of social isolation. They organized a mental health awareness program with psychologist Ms. Swarna Gollapudi, founder of 'Antar – Look Within,' an online counselling service specializing in mental health.
Mental Health Awareness
Helping Farmers
Field trips were restricted last academic year due to the pandemic. Once restrictions eased,
students visited local farms with their lecturers to understand and assist farmers. They
discussed modern agricultural methods to reduce labour and improve efficiency.
Helping Farmers
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It was identified that children in ‘thandas’ (tribal villages) were not attending online classes when schools remained closed due to the pandemic, including disinterest from parents. Students and staff created an awareness and outreach programme, along with the school management. They met each family individually and in groups to understand their challenges and provide solutions for continued education.This has made a positive change in their minds, with many children returning to classes.
Keeping Students in school.
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AWARENESS PROGRAM
AWARENESS PROGRAM
Covid-19 Safety Protocols
RDF staff educates rural communities on the importance of social distancing and hygiene practices like handwashing and wearing masks. They also created a natural sanitizer from local ingredients, and with training, most families are now making it at home.
Mental Health Awareness
RDF institutions focus on students' mental wellbeing during the pandemic, addressing the effects of social isolation. They organized a mental health awareness program with psychologist Ms. Swarna Gollapudi, founder of 'Antar – Look Within,' an online counselling service specializing in mental health.
Keeping Students in school.
As some children in ‘thandas’ (tribal villages) were not attending online classes during the pandemic. Team RDF created an awareness and outreach programme, they met each family to understand their challenges and provide solutions. This resulted in many children returning to classes.
Helping Farmers
Field trips were restricted last academic year due to the pandemic. Once restrictions eased, students visited local farms with their lecturers to understand and assist farmers. They discussed modern agricultural methods to reduce labour and improve efficiency.