The library located within the Rural Science Centre offers a collection of more than five thousand books spanning various genres including fiction, technology, science, agriculture, and health. It serves students and teachers from collaborating schools, individuals from the local community, as well as staff and workers affiliated with HMF, including those from Halo Nursing School.
Late Dr. Shashikant Ahankari, the President of Halo Medical Foundation, believed in the transformative power of reading and education. With this in mind, Dr. Shashikant Ahankari and Dr. Shubhangi Ahankari initiated the establishment of a comprehensive library that aimed at enriching the educational experience of various stakeholders.
Aiming at fostering love for reading and providing educational resources, the library caters to the following stakeholders:
- Students and teachers of the collaborating schools that use the Science Lab
- Students and faculty of Halo Nursing School.
- Participants in activities at the Rural Science Centre
- HMF organization’s workforce.
- The community members
Additionally, it tries to address specific gaps in education. For instance, textbooks for 11th and 12th grade students were unavailable in the rural area. To tackle this issue, HMF partnered with Siddhivinayak Book Depository in Mumbai to supply course textbooks for students in Andur and its vicinity. These books were lent to students free of charge until the conclusion of the academic year, after which they returned them to the library. Each book bore the signature of the respective school principal to guarantee accountability.
Contributions:
- Individuals, including writers and scholars associated with HMF contributed high-quality books on a wide range of subjects to the library.
- Siddhivinayak Book Depository, Mumbai contributed the textbooks prescribed for students of grade 11 and 12
Rural Science Centre Library: Where Books Open Doors to Discovery for Students, Teachers, and Community Members Alike!
Library in a bag
Witnessing the successful use of The Rural Science Centre’s library by students from 80 schools in Tuljapur and Lohara talukas connected with HMF, Maharashtra Foundation USA donated the ‘Library in a bag’. This portable library contains over 200 books in English, Hindi, and Marathi for primary-level school students. The books are made of durable paper that is resilient to wear and tear.
Students in recipient schools continue to actively engage with these resources. Monitoring has revealed that proactive teachers in some of these schools have encouraged students to not only read them, but also share stories as part of their morning school routine.
Funding Partners
Maharashtra Foundation, USA.
Join us: appeal for donations may be added.