Migros KIDS-School

The Migros KIDS-School was founded in 1999 jointly from Migros, the biggest retailer of Switzerland and the German foundation K.I.D.S. e.V. The common goal was „School instead of Work“ because the educational situation of the textile workers´ children should be improved and the children should be given a promising alternative to child labour.

Migros made all necessary funds available for the site-development, the building, the furniture and facilities and also the shool buses.

The planning and construction work took four years and although the school was at no charge for all children, their parents first had to be convinced that visiting the school will fundamentaly enhance their children´s life in a sustainable manner. Only 29 pupils were counted in the first year visiting the school which was not more than a small provisorium covered by palm leafes.

In December 2000 the new school building with 14 class rooms was officially opened. The number of pupils increased to 43. But the building had to be reconstructed and enlarged already in 2005 as of the steady increase of the number of pupils. For this purpose, a suitable estate was bought and all bureaucratic and constructional barriers were cleared.

The Migros suppliers were deeply involved into the project from the beginning in order to achieve independence for the school and to create a „help to help yourself“ situation. Today, the construction of a full-time school as well as an associated center for daily meals and medical care of more than 1.400 children was realised.

The project targeted the following services:

 

  • A full-time school for currently 1.424 children and juveniles
  • The school is open to all children and especially those from poor families
  • The children and citizens of surrounding villages are taken medical care of in a health station
  • All children get a ride from their homes to the school and back by the school busses
  • The project is mainly funded by the regular knitwear suppliers of Migros in the region.

 

Since November 2002, a project coordinator is hired to administrate and coordinate all activities within the project. She is in charge of the smooth development of the project activities in Tirupur and is the coordinator between the teaching staff, the KIDS Society Tirupur and KIDS e.V. Cologne.

The school hosts many possible uses:

  • 32 class rooms
  • Three laboratories for natural science class
  • A computer room
  • A teachers room
  • A football- and volleyball court


Also Wells, roof-water reservoirs, electricity and drain facilities are part of the schools infrastructure. New educational material has been purchased and trainings for the teachers in pedagogical and methodical skills were held. The teaching staff is currently composed of:

  • 54 teachers, respective assistants and the principal
  • 36 non-teaching employees including
  • Service personnel
  • Security personnel
  • Cleaning staff
  • Bus driver