• PRE-PRIMARY EDUCATION (PPE)
• NON FORMAL EDUCATION (NFE)
• TUITION & SKILL DEVELOPMENT (TSD)
• WOMEN LITERACY PROGRAM (WLP)

The Pre-primary Education (Balwadi) program is to provide proper development to vulnerable and underprivileged children, primarily in the slum communities of Mumbai and Thane Dist. The Balwadi program focuses on the pre-primary education of underprivileged children between the ages of 3 and 5 years old. The program’s objective is to provide proper development during these crucial years and prepare children for formal schooling, making them less likely to drop out at a later age.

These underprivileged children of poor parents working as domestics are likely to drop out. This program encourages the development of school-going habits among the children from the beginning. This strengthens the foundation for the future education of these children.

In the community where we work, there are a number of out-of-school children. This non-formal education is greatly aimed at mainstreaming them into the regular school system. Generally only 20 to 30 percent of these children continue going to school. The rest are left with no choice but to resort to child labour.

They have to work to survive. The school hours do not suit them. Besides, the public school system’s teaching standard has gone abysmally low. It does not hold any attraction for them. And the fact is that, the children these schools churn out are half-baked and ill-equipped to join the middle and high schools. They swell the army of drop-outs. NFE classes are mainly focused on children who cannot attend school because they have to work.

These classes are for out-of-school children with a special focus on basic literacy skills, language, mathematics and basic life skills.

The underprivileged school-going children are helped in coping up with their schoolwork and are provided with a better ambiance, care, teaching and other facilities which they normally do not have access to. A quiet place combined with proper guidance makes all the difference.

We also provide tuitions, school fees, uniforms and moral support to ensure that these children do not drop out of main stream school due to lack of resources and support at home.

Against the background of the patriarchal system of society, the women need special attention to ensure their development and participation in the decision making process at home, in the community and governance.

This program emphasizes on training the uneducated mother of the underprivileged children, on the importance of education. It is also to teach them basics of reading and writing, importance of saving and opening a bank account, financial management at home, etc.

This program also spreads awareness on child education and motivates mothers to support their children’s education.