OUR SUPPORT EDUCATION COMPLEX RAMRATI (REC)
The RAMRATI EDUCATIONAL COMPLEX in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India groups several schools, including the Hillary Clinton Nursing School (HCNS) with whom collaborate Skilled Women Worldwide.
There are two training programs, the first is the basic nursing program, basic training for a nursing degree, which is a three years program. After the acquisition of the latter, graduates may be engage in public and private hospitals. However, they have the opportunity to deepen their knowledge by continuing the post-nursing program, a two-year program that offers them more opportunities; including the possibility to work in government hospitals offering a salary two times higher than that in the private sector. This diploma is recognized by the state, they also have the opportunity to teach their subject in any institution in India.
The existing infrastructure is one of quality, six auditoriums are equipped with projectors and blackboards. The library offers a wide repertoire of scientific literature guaranteeing student access to standardized knowledge in nursing. Six laboratories have also been developed for practical work: they are equipped manikins, monitors and tools to help students master the technics required for their courses. The school is in partnership with various public and private hospitals where students perform internships. Three buses belonging to the REC allow them to travel safely.
A dormitory for thirty-three people reserved for women offers the opportunity for those who live in remote villages to attend the training. For girls who could not get a room, one hundred and twenty bicycles are free for them to use; this service is especially important because it allows students to move without the help of their father or brother who sometimes refuse to finance their education through lack of means of transport. For those who live on site, the campus canteen provides three meals a day; two meals a week are offered to all students by the Bill Clinton Association.
The 180 students of Ramrati Education Complex are between 17 and 30 years old and often work alongside their studies. Rampur is in a rural area 180 km North of New Delhi, the majority of the inhabitants work in agriculture and are part of a traditional lifestyle. In this context, children, until they marry, help their parents in the family business. Students participate in family work on weekends and after school. They make jewelry, saris, working in shops and in the field.
The HCNS is a partner that promotes women’s empowerment by working with other associations and organizations such as the Women’s Center in Rampur, a cooperative of twenty independent women manufacturing cloths. The ethics of HCNS is also reflected in the wearing of the mandatory uniform, this allows the differences related to caste to be omitted and guarantees equal treatment. Finally, the programs allow young women access to highly sough after position in the labour market: nurse, midwife, head nurse, medical teacher.
Skilled Women Worldwide financially supports highly motivated but financially challenged students who are unable to meet the cost of the training programs.
All these local initiatives result in social changes, for which you can act now !
Ilona Rezso, President and Xenia Villiers, Secretary, travelled to Rampur to visit the REC. From 31 January 2018 to 2 February 2018, they met the main founders of the complex and Mrs Rajkamal Saxena, President and Mr. Saneesh Director, who presented the different educational programs that are offered by HCNS. They spoke with students and teachers and visited the Medigram Hospital where students perform their internships.
