Asha distributed uniforms to all children in all supported SPRINT program schools in Tamilnadu.
Uniform Distributions – June 2025
(by Rajaraman Krishnan – Volunteer at Asha Chennai)
Asha does not provide uniforms to the students as a part of the budget for all our school support projects. We take this up when we have some excess funds and are able to provide this extra. We have found this to be extremely popular with the students, teachers and even parents. We had last distributed uniforms to the students back in July/August 2023. Here is a report of that distribution. That time we distributed the uniforms only at our Sangamam, Pearl and Thulasi projects. This year we expanded that to reach all our SPRINT schools in Tamilnadu.
Our Previous Uniforms Still in Action!
We distributed a red and grey uniform back in July/Aug of 2023. Prior to that we had distributed teal and grey uniforms back in early 2020. But due to Covid these got distributed only in 2022 in some of the schools. Even then, by 2025, they would have been at the very least 3 years old. But every now and then, we still see these Teal uniforms. In April 2025, when we went to distribute laptops from a company (Synamedia) to PUPS and GHS Thirupatchur schools we saw the kids wearing both our Teal and Red uniforms!
The uniforms that we gave had been of good quality and have remained very popular among the children and the schools. While the uniforms given by the schools barely last the full year, our uniforms are comfortably lasting more that 2 years. The red uniforms are still worn at all the schools one day a week. Here are a couple of pictures KaradiPath classes at Narayanapuram and Rajapalayam from this month, August 2025.
Uniforms for 2025
In April 2025, we took the decision to provide uniforms for the children at all our projects in Tamilnadu. As we were very satisfied with the quality of the uniforms provided the previous two times, we went to the same vendor, Shanmuga Apparel, and asked for uniforms of the same quality as the previous times. As this is a charitable cause, they also offered to give us the uniforms at the same cost as in 2023! Shanmuga Apparels were given orders for Sangamam, Pearl, Cauvery and Poorna Vidhya. Thulasi project also went back to the same vendors as last time – a self help group based in Thiruvannamalai and at the same cost.
After a quick vote among our teachers, we decided on the same dark-grey colour for the pants and bright yellow for the T-shirts. One major change this year was in what we provide to the girls in middle schools. Based on requests from our coordinators and Head Mistresses, we had been giving them a white chudidhar set. This year, in a sign of changing times, we realised that the girls (and teachers) also preferred T-shirt and pants instead of the Chudidhar sets!
We placed the orders in April and one tailor from Shanmuga Apparels came to the schools to measure the sample sizes of children. From these samples they came up with the range of sizes for each class. They usually erred on the bigger side so that the children can wear these dresses for a couple of years.
Note that we placed the order for classes other than the first standard as the final numbers for the first standard admission as well as other admissions as well as srudents leaving the school will be known only by July. The uniforms were delivered to us in June and we immediately distributed it to all our projects. For our Cauvery and Pearl projects, Shambuga Apparels packed it by the school and sent it by parcel to our office. Our coordinators received the parcels and distributed the uniforms. At Sangamam and Poorna Vidhya, they directly distributed the uniforms to the schools. The uniforms at Thulasi are yet to be delivered/distributed. The extra order for the first standard students are also yet to be delivered/distributed.
Distribution at Project Sangamam
Uniform distribution kicked off with joy at Asha-supported schools this June! We reached 145 schools across all our project locations—and at Thiruvallur alone, 3,390 students from 84 schools received brand new uniforms. At Thiruvallur Shanmuga Apparels delivered the dresses directly to the schools along with our project staff on 19th June, 2025 and completed by 30th June.
I was also able to participate in the distribution at Kosavanpalayam. Here are some photos from that distribution.
Our project coordinators and teachers visited each school, hand-delivering the uniforms and sharing moments of excitement with students. It was heartwarming to see classrooms brighten with children dressed in cheerful yellow. Their smiles made every effort truly worthwhile. Here is a video from this distribution.
Distribution at Project Pearl
Shanmuga Apparels delivered the dresses to our Project Pearl office on 16th June. These were already separated by schools. Our coordinator Murugan delivered these uniforms to the schools from 19th to 26th June. BEO and other officials also participated in the distribution at some of the schools.
Here is a video from this distribution.
Distribution at Project Cauvery
Shanmuga Apparels delivered the dresses to our Project Cauvery office on 18th July 2025 and the dliveries to the school were completed in the next few days. The Project Steward Ms. Komalavalli also participated in some of the distributions.
Here is a video of the distributions.
Distribution at Project Poorna Vidhya
Shanmuga Apparels delivered the dresses directly to the schools in late June. On July 1st, the stewards for the project Mr Sriram and Mrs Kastui visited the schools and distributed the uniforms. Here are some photos from the distribution.
Here is a video of the distributions.
The uniform distributions were covered by local press at all the locations. Here are some articles from Thiruvallur.
Here is some press covrage we got at our Pearl Project.
Here is some press covrage we got at our Cauvery Project.
Remaining Orders
The orders for the 1st standard children as well as the extra uniforms required has been placed for Sangamam, Cauvery, Pearl and Poorna Vidhya projects. At Thulasi the first batch of uniforms themselves are to be distributed by the end of the month. The extra order are also being placed and they should also be available shortly thereafter.