Our Director meets Bill Clinton

In a historic moment for RIVER, our Director, Padmanabha Rao was felicitated by USA's former President, Bill Clinton for the work we have done in the field of Education. Rao met Clinton at the Clinton Global Initiative meet held in New York in September 2010.

India School House Fund Team at RIVER

The India Schoolhouse Fund, a Harvard Business School students' initiative to establish a school in Rajugella village, Mathura UP India sent its team to get inducted into the RIVER Methodology. The team was given an in-depth exposure to the materials developed by RIVER. The team, in their road map for the future, decided to develop upon their existing materials, on the lines learnt at RIVER and use them in their two schools.

RIVER's Workshop for Sri Lanka Govt Team

RIVER conducted an exposure cum semi-induction workshop for a Team from the Ministry of Education, Sri Lanka. The 10 – day workshop was conducted from 02 July 2010 to 11 July 2010. 15 Officers participated, 2 from the Ministry of Education, Sri Lanka, 2 from the National Institute of Education and 11 officers from 9 Provinces. The Team was given a detailed exposure to the RIVER Methodology. They visited RIVER schools and observed this Methodology being used in the classrooms. The members were inducted into making of milestones in three subjects and presented their efforts at central discussions. The Team was taken on a study tour to the neighboring State of Karnataka where they saw the ‘Nalli kalli’ (Joyful Learning) being practiced in Government Schools there. The ‘Nalli Kalli’ program was initiated in Karnataka with the expert guidance of RIVER. The Principal Secretary, Government of Karnataka gave a detailed briefing of this program when the Education Department hosted and felicitated the Sri Lankan Team. The Sri Lanka Team, to RIVER, was led by the Director, Primary Education, Ministry of Education, Sri Lanka, Mrs. Asoka Pandithasekera.

RIVER's Director Rao in Singapore

Quoted from a news letter of the Ashoka Fellowship

Fellow Traveller Programme (5-9th April 2010)
Hosted by Ashoka & the Singapore International Foundation

In early April, we were excited to host the first Fellow Traveller Programme for Ashoka in Singapore. Organized in partnership with the Singapore International Foundation, three Fellows from Asia took part in a series of meetings, public forums, and site visits to share their insights with local groups and explore potential partnerships.

We were honoured to have the following Fellows join us for the Fellow Traveller programme:

Padmanabha Rao | India

Padmanabha and Rama Rao have developed a learner-guided method to teaching that not only increases learning but also reengages teachers in their responsibility as educators. They have proved the effectiveness of their comprehensive plan in over 75,000 schools across India. Low-cost but highly effective, their methods aim to make learning an enjoyable and sustainable continuum for India's rural children.

Governor visits RIVER

His Excellency, Shri E S L Narasimhan, Governor of Andhra Pradesh visited one of our Satellite Schools on 11 March 2010. At the school he was explained the essentials of our methodology in practice. Needless to say, the Governor expressed his liking of this methodology after having seen its impact on the children first hand.He was, later, given a presentation on the RIVER Methodology, its successful implementation in different states of India, an overview of our effective training programs and a road map of RIVER’s future. According to a report the Governor expressed the view that, “all government schools of the state should adopt the model of higher standards of teaching and learning that is imparted at Satellite schools by Rishi Valley Institute for Educational Resources (RIVER).(http://updates.highereducationinindia.com/2010/rishi-valley-institute-for-educational-2349.php). His Excellency was accompanied by his wife, Smt Vimla Narasimhan.

RIVER wins yet another award

Rao and Rama were honored at the India Economic Summit on Monday 9 November in the presence of Anand Sharma, India’s Minister of Commerce and Industry, and Venu Srinivasan, President of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). They were declared, winners, of the "SOCIAL ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR" INDIA WINNERS - 2009. The results were announced by Prof Klaus Schwab, Founder,The Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship. This is the 5th edition of the award, which has been given annually since 2005, to individuals that have founded organzations that do not maximize profits, but benefit society or the environment.

Orientation Workshop Conducted at RIVER

Members of the Jana Kalyana Samakhya, Parvathipuram, Andhra Pradesh and PREM/PLAN, Koraput, Orissa participated in an Orientation Workshop at Rishi Valley. In this workshop, the participants were exposed to the basics of the MGML Methodology. They were taken to the satellite schools to see the Methodology being implemented. A very keen interest to further learn this Methodology was shown.