1) School Admission Campaign:

i) To encourage the parents of socially and financially disadvantaged families to send their children to school.

ii) Run special programmes during the new school term season to identify children of school age and convince the parents to send their wards to schools.

iii) Organise door-to-door campaigns before and during the new school term to identify out-of-school children.

iv) Conduct community meetings with parents to highlight the importance of education for children’s future.

v) Utilise various Government schemes for admission, such as the scheme for BPL (below poverty line) families.

2) School Retention Campaign:

Objective
One major objective of IMESA is to encourage parents not to pull their children out of school during primary or secondary classes. Each child should complete a minimum of class XII. IMESA volunteers/staff in each project get in touch with parents if children stop attending the IMESA tutoring centres. If the children have also stopped going to school, the volunteers make an extra effort to speak with the parents and encourage them to keep their children enrolled and learning.

3) After-School Tutoring & Learning Centres:

IMESA operates evening tutoring centres at each project site to provide local children with a conducive academic environment for after-school study, an opportunity often unavailable at home due to parents’ limited educational backgrounds. These centres play a vital role in enhancing students’ academic performance and improving school retention rates. This initiative constitutes the core activity of IMESA.

Each project engages qualified teachers and support staff, led by a Project Coordinator, typically a respected local guide, retired academic, or professional, who oversees the project on a voluntary basis to ensure smooth operations and effective implementation. Additional volunteers contribute by supporting school enrolment campaigns, facilitating parent–teacher meetings, and assisting in the functioning of the tutoring centres.

Very often, a community member in Australia with connections in their town or city introduces IMESA to a potential Project Coordinator in India, who can then assemble a local team to establish the project. This approach ensures that we can trust the Project Coordinator and the team members who are well-regarded within their communities, fostering stronger relationships and accountability at the grassroots level.

4) Financial Incentive:

IMESA provides financial assistance to families who are compelled to send their young children to work instead of attending school. This support helps meet essential family living expenses while enabling children to continue their education.

5) Coordination with Muslim Majority Schools in The City:

IMESA Project Coordinators and volunteers hold special meetings with the management of local Muslim government schools to ensure that government funds are utilized effectively, schools maintain a conducive educational environment, and the performance of Muslim schools ranks among the best in the town. Muslim schools often lag behind other schools in the area due to the socio-economic challenges faced by their local communities.

6) Coordination with Private Muslim Schools:

IMESA teams work with the management of private Muslim schools to ensure access for economically disadvantaged children. They request that schools provide admissions to poor children, waive fees for a portion of the class (e.g., 10%), or charge reduced fees for children from disadvantaged backgrounds.

7) Education Awareness Programme:

IMESA’s volunteering teams at project locations conduct special campaigns within Muslim communities to emphasize the importance of education. Many community members do not view education as a reliable path to livelihood, as a significant number of average-educated Indians struggle to secure decent employment. These campaigns aim to convey that basic education equips Muslim youth with the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in any form of work or business, thereby enhancing their opportunities and prospects.