History

A group of friends, who wanted to reduce the problem of working children in developing countries and countries of transition and ameliorate their quality of life, founded the KIDS organisation (Kids In Deficient Situations) in 1993. KIDS is a non-profit association which is incorporated in Cologne.

Primarily producers of garments in India were asked to accord the children working in their companies some basic education while continuing paying their salary. Additional regular health checks focussed on problems with their eyes evoked through malnutrition of the kids. The costs were shared by KIDS and the producers.

The extended educational project in Tirupur became operative in 1996 after the foundation of a local Indian KIDS-Society provided the required institutional frame. Existing business relations between the MIGROS and local producers of textile in India as well as a connection of the responsible persons with the KIDS organisation in Cologne made the beginning of the project possible and influenced the local developments. Essential aim was to get the children out of the companies and give them the chance to get a good education.

In the first provisional phase from 1996 to 1998 the school enrolment of more than 200 working children was made possible. At this point the involved persons realized that only an own school with a special tailored pedagogical concept would provide adequate education for children coming from a difficult surrounding. In 2000 the MIGROS-KIDS-Immatriculation School was built and opened as a complete building. In July 2003 the second building phase was launched so that 2004 already all 750 places within the KIDS-School could be filled.

450 children (221 girls and 229 boys) could go to school in five different classes without having to pay school fees. In may 2003 the extended building measures were finished. For the newly created 125 places in school for the year 2003/2004 there were 900 applicants. This clearly shows the great need.

Today in 2007 over 1000 children go to school and to the kinder garden. The school building was heighten and now makes modern education possible. Approximately 30 children are in one class and also a library as well as special spaces for physics, chemistry and biology is part of the school building. Furthermore sports, arts and music are relevant parts of the curricular.

Foundation Council Board of KIDS society

Steering committee:

Mr. Nair / Wellknit Tirupur

W. Beuth / KIDS Cologne

Advisory board:

Ms Visuvasam / YWCA

Mr. Chandran / Eastman

Mr. Kondasamy, Mr. Sankar / Aviram

Mr. Murthy /Hero Fashion

Mr. Annandam / Accountant

Mr. Ramamurthy / Lawyer

Mr. Beat Bühler / MIGROS Genossenschafts-Bund

Mr. Daniel Furrer / MIGROS Genossenschafts-Bund

Project Management

India: Mr. Nair

International: Mr. Beuth

Schools Inspector

Rectorate, educational support etc.