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Information
The ideas behind Alice Project were formed 20 years ago in Italy and as such there are still strong links there, particularly through one of the projects founder members, Luigina De Biasi, who teaches children and teachers the Alice Project method. Since the empirical success of the first Alice School in Sarnath, philosophers, psychologists, educationalists and teachers world wide have visited our schools and some have been inspired to participate in the project, either by implementing Alice Project curriculum in their schools, for example in Taiwan, by research collaboration, by helping us financially, by coming to teach as a volunteer or by visiting us regularly.
When Luigina De Biasi retired from teaching work in Italy she immediately began to explore less conventional and more embracing teaching philosophies. She worked first in Africa before coming to India to help establish the first Alice Project School in Sarnath with Valentino. She continues to work with what is now called the 'Special Programme' teaching in India and Italy. In Italy she trains concurrently both teachers and children in Special Programme curriculum, for example getting across concepts such as interdependence through games, conversation, or visualisation. Training is always given in a practical as well as theoretical way. She uses Valentino's books, translated into Italian, such as Wise Rabbit. Generally Luigina teaches in 3 or 4 government-run schools. In addition she trains 48 teachers from one province, part of a UNESCO Education for Peace initiative. The teachers come from both Government and private schools, some are nuns and others lay. For further information contact Luigina De Biasi For the last two years Alice Project has established a working relationship with a group in Taiwan through Friedrich Grohmann, an assistant researcher at the Fa-Kuang Institute of Buddhist Studies in Taipei. He first heard of us through the internet and invited Valentino to come and work with him in Taiwan for one month. For the last two years Valentino has been back there and a group from the Fa-Kuang Institute has come to our school.
The Alice Project was initially financed solely by the personal funds of the founders, Valentino Giacomin and Luigina De Biasi, who continue to give their financial support to the school. Private donations enable our school to live day by day and grow. Many people have generously helped to support our school financially. In doing so they invariably retain a link with us, continue to visit us, or keep in contact. If you want to help support us financially we now have clearance from the Indian government to receive foreign donations. The easiest and most secure way of sending money is by international cheque sent directly to Valentino Giacomin, (address below). Our bank details are as follows. IF YOU PAY IN DOLLARS "PLEASE PAY J.P. MORGAN CHASE BANK(SWIFT ID-CHAS US33) FOR CREDIT TO BANK OF INDIA NEW YARK BRANCH ACCOUNT 544774311 FOR FURTHER CREDIT TO ACCOUNT No. 300025009 OF BANK OF INDIA KOLKATA OVER SEAS BRANCH FOR CREDIT OF BENEFICIARY ACCOUNT NO-CD-10 AWAKENING SPECIAL UNIVERSAL EDUCATION WITH BANK OF INDIA- BODHGAYA BRANCH " IF YOU PAY WITH EUROS "Please pay Bank of India - Peris Branch (SWIFT ID BKIDFRPP) for further credit of A/C No- 4317000646 of Bank of India Kolkata Overseas BR (BKID INBBCOS) for further Credit of beneficiary Account No-CD-10 AWAKENING SPECIAL UNIVERSAL EDUCATION with Bank of India -Bodhgaya branch(Gaya, Bihar-India)"
Awakening Special Universal Education Society Giacomin Valentino Giacomin Valentino
SWIFT CODE No-CANARA BANK FD, KANPUR SWIFT CODE- CNRBINBBAKFB
Awakening Special Universal Education Society Singhpur, Sarnath, Varanasi, U.P. (INDIA) CANARA BANK Account Number- SB-.11317 SHIFT CODE- CNRBINBBAKFB EURO- CORRESPONDANT BANK, DUESH BANK FRAK FURT GERMANY-DEUTDEFF I BAN NO-DE41500700100953458710
U.S.D.- CORRESPONDANT BANK BANK OF NEWYORK- IRVTUS3N ABAROUTING NO-001UID No. 256911 Volunteers are welcome to Alice Project School, particularly those who can give a good length of time to develop projects or skills with the children. Past volunteers have included people teaching vipassana, yoga, English, environmental issues and music. No accommodation is provided at the school, although it is easy to find in Sarnath; there are rooms for rent in several guest houses and many monasteries offer rooms as well (prices range US$1-2-3 a night). The climate here in May, June and July is almost unbearably hot, and the school closes in May and June. Although the school is Hindi medium, English is the only prerequisite language for volunteers - there is no need to know Hindi, although you could learn it while you are here. To get here, the nearest international airport is in New Delhi. From there take an overnight train or flight to Varanasi (Benaras) and from Varanasi a motor rickshaw to Saranath (Rs 70 and about 40 minutes duration ). Do correspond with us first via email, but be warned that telephone lines in Sarnath are fragile and swift replies to queries are not guaranteed.
We encourage research and field work from university students or professors. Research groups or individuals regularly visit us to study how our method of education works so effectively. These people are mainly from the west and include researchers in the fields of philosophy, psychology, and science of education. Visitors to Alice Project Many people have come to visit our schools in Sarnath and Bodhgaya. They come to give us teachings, they come to bless our work, and sometimes they come just to see what we are doing. Some are from India while others come from abroad. Some run schools like ours and come to see how we are learning.
Interview
with Valentino Giacomin by Mark Singleton
Alice Project is recognized by the Indian Government as a scholastic program. It's status is as a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) registered in Varanasi in 1994, and with a FCRA (Foreign Contribution Regulation Act) number 031090045. You can contact us by email or post. Our details are at the bottom of each web site page, including this one. But one request - telephone lines are fragile and irregular in India - please do not send large files by email!
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Alice Project Updated Oct 2006 |