Bunk Beds - a need to accommodate more no. of children at VSSM’s hostel...

Nomadic children at our Vatsalya hostel

Sleeping accommodation needs to be suitably furnished and of sufficient size for the number, needs and ages of children accommodated, with appropriate design or pattern comfortable for all age groups of children.

The idea behind purchasing bunk beds for VSSM, Vatsalya hostel was to accommodate more number of nomadic children in small place.

Sleeping area size for girls hostel is apparently huge enough to accommodate all 73 girls. For Boys sleeping area, 12 rooms with 6 beds each are provided in each room along with there is a huge area at the ground floor to accommodate all remaining kids.

Size of each bunk bed is 2.5 x 6 ft.

No of Bunk Beds purchased are 100 – Two tier, cost of each bunk bed is Rs.5500/-.

Hostel accommodates more than 263 nomadic children..

Sleeping area, for both boys hostel & girls hostel is of adequate size and not overcrowded.

Beds are of sufficient size, stable and of sound construction, with mattresses of reasonable depth, clean and in good condition. Mattress are sufficiently warm in winter & separate bedsheets are given and alternately changed. Blankets are received from our beloved Donor Smt. Madhuben.

Bunk beds (beds fully one above the other, as distinct from cabin style beds with desk areas or storage beneath) and apparently does not lead to overcrowding of bedroom or studying space. Beds have adequate space around them for children to change comfortably, and sufficient headroom above them (particularly above bunk beds).

All kids have single bed and individual sleeping cubicles have a good air flow. There is adequate storage space either in or adjacent to sleeping areas for kids clothing and property. Kids can if they wish personalise an area with suitable posters and personal items. Staff, staff family and visitors’ sleeping accommodation is separate from children’s sleeping accommodation. Requests from children to change bed for good reasons are properly considered by hostel in charge.

Pattern of Bunk bed : We have selected a comfortable ladder style pattern of bunk bed, keeping in mind our children are from remote villages they are not used to such style of beds. Firstly they were excited of getting up onto the top bunk. Climbing ladder to reach their own bed was fun now. Earlier kids used to sit or stand on bed and challenge their physical capabilities with other mates or just flop back down while trampling over the other kid, they had quarrel for who will sleep below as there is no ladder.

Apart from the nuisance of a bathroom run in the night there is also the obvious hazard of falling out. Our hostel bunks have proper barrier or side bar and have not heard of any occasions when children in sound sleep have plummeted off.

Safety of children : Our hostel in charge always make a quick check of the slats underneath to ensure that they have not migrated off their tracks – and this will hopefully minimise the risk of a swift descent in the night or worst a severe squashing.

These children have inclination to jump on the beds, while top or bottom bunk there is always the potential to crack their head on the ceiling or the underside of the bed above, hostel in charge take cares that children should not face such injuries.

If given a choice kids always opt for the top bunk. As they experience peaceful sleep on the top. Children need good & sound sleep to ensure proper body and mind development and we at VSSM take care of this important aspect.

Commuting to school by Van & Bus , an requirement fulfilled by VSSM.

Unnati Girls Hostel children going to school & Van
at the doorstep

VSSM’s Unnati  Girls Hostel : The 40 girls staying in Unnati Hostel are ferried to school in a private van. The distanceis not far but the city traffic is going bad to worse and it isn’t safe for small kids to walk that distance. Hence to address this issue we have arranged vans to help us ferry nomadic children to their schools.

Previously the students used to reach school by auto rickshaws or hired vehicles, as these arrangements were time consuming & to arrange more no of private wheelers at same time was challenging, these arrangements were also costly compared to the current arrangement. Now children commute by Vans, though they are private but the school timings are maintained. It costs Rs.300/- per child per month.

Vatsalya Hostel children going to school 

VSSM’s Vatsalya Hostel :  Managing the transport of 275 children of Vatsalaya Hostel to 5 different schools has been quite a challenge. The distance is more, the early morning traffic in the city near Naroda (north side of Ahmedabad) is worse due to factories & industries exist here. While it’s not safe for small children to walk that distance. Hence, to address this issue we have purchased a School Bus SML ISUZU 50+ Seater. The Purchase Cost of Bus is 14,51,000/-. It’s  being supplied on a very concessional price, below their ex-showroom price through one of our well-wisher Shri. Kiritbhai Shah. It gives immense pleasure to share with you that CIMS Hospital,Ahmedabad, has sponsored rupees 9 Lacs under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), for this generous cause. VSSM has contributed the balance amount of Rs. 5,51,000/-, for the purchase of bus.

We favoured the decision to buy our own school bus the reason being plying kids to/fro hostel and other multipurpose use including that of an education trip to enhance outlook of these nomadic children.
Our objectives behind buying school bus & the procedures our children & staff observe are as :

1. Prescribed information of children their respective school, individual timing to & fro are maintained by the bus driver & bus attendant.
2. Bus service is for N.V. Patel Vidyala, Nutan Vidyalaya, Satyam Vidyalaya, Anand Vidyalaya & Kanya Shala 1 & 2 No. Our children study in these five different schools, according to their standards.
3. Using the school vehicle is an opportunity for the pupils to cultivate good habits like patience, forbearance, tolerance, sympathy, team spirit, cooperation and consideration for others.
4. Children maintain order and discipline in the school bus.
5. Drivers and bus attendees are empowered to report complaints to the Hostel incharge for any action of the pupil which does not befit a cultures personality.
6. Children behaviour is monitored while waiting for the bus, entering the bus only in single line, special consideration is to be given to girls and small children.
7. No choral, shouting or throwing articles out of the bus is allowed. Making comments on the pupil outside, arguing with them etc., will invite stringent disciplinary action.
8. Maintenance of Bus is monitored by Bus driver & attendant. And Log book is maintained for the same.
9. If any child is late for school, bus doesn’t wait they have to adhere to other students timings. Such left out kids are sent separately by hostel in charge.
10. School timings are maintained & children return to hostel happily and in good spirits.