Our Initiatives
Model Anganwadi Projects
The Model Anganwadi concept is designed to ensure a holistic development of the child. It is aligned with the vision of National Education Policy 2020 and seeks to develop the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Anganwadi system by providing quality education to children. The holistic development model covers five major domains namely, Physical and Motor Development, Social and Emotional Development, Cognitive Development, Language Development and Creative Art and Aesthetic development. The goal is all-round development of children aged 3 to 6 years.
Besides educational tools, our Anganwadi concept includes a hygienic infrastructure with the following features :
- High quality infrastructure which offers a safe and inclusive space for children to learn – it includes the availability of safe drinking water and clean sanitation facility.
- Free access to scientifically-designed Teaching-Learning Material.
- Availability of skilled early childhood educators.
Kilbil Model Anganwadi Project: Impacted 551 Anganwadis and 13568 students
This Public-Private Partnership initiative, called the Kilbil Project, was aimed at transforming the education system at existing Angandwadi Centres (AWCs). Started in 2013, the initiative, in collaboration with the Department of Women and Child Development of the Government of Maharashtra (GoM), Jindal Steel Works (JSW), successfully carried our ‘Model Anganwadi’ concept to rural communities across Vasind and Shahpur.
Ongoing Model Anganwadi Projects :
We had collaborated with the JSW Foundation for the implementation of ‘Model Anganwadis’ in certain blocks of Nagpur, Vasind, Palghar and Patiala. The project is still underway and aims to transform government-operated ICDS Anganwadis, with particular emphasis on increasing parental awareness, training teachers, and fostering a child-centric classroom environment.
Kalmeshwar: Impacted 112 Anganwadis and 2500 children in 5 blocks
Vasind: Impacted 60 Anganwadis and 1500 children in 3 blocks
Palghar: Impacted 30 Anganwadis and 1236 children in 2 blocks
Patiala: Impacted 12 Anganwadis and 300 children in 2 blocks
Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) Programmes
We launched the FLN programmes across several Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Schools to improve reading and arithmetic competency in children. The goal is to build a strong foundation for future academic growth of the students. The programme includes the development of reading, writing and basic mathematics skills. The five major pillars of the FLN programme are:
- Early Childhood Care and Education
- Foundational Literacy
- Foundational Numeracy
- Continuous progress monitoring
- Remediation
The aim is to develop these foundational skills among children from 3 to 9 years of age and providing the basic care and education in the early childhood years, laying the base for building strong educational growth in the future.
Carvaan
Our Carvaan Initiative is an annual camp, open to children from the underprivileged society in Mumbai. Carvaan aims at making children independent, self-confident and socially cordial, the essentials for remaining creative and productive individuals. Having conducted the camp for more than 15 years, these camps have seen participation from more than 25000 children. The activities at these camps take children on a journey through the world of wonder, awe, and curiosity and expand their knowledge through experience. The activities touch different areas, including astronomy, nature, math, science, creative art, social awareness, performing arts and sports. We conduct winter camps, summer camps, rural and tribal camps and astronomy camps – each one with its unique set of activities.
Shodhak Community Library
We launched this initiative with the intent to provide free library access to children from the densely-populated slum settlement near IIT Bombay. The objective of this ongoing initiative is to provide quality reading and learning opportunities, easy and regular access to books, exposure to various book-centric hands-on activities and healthy and active participation of community members for all-inclusive learning. Through the free library we aim to promote early literacy, develop a reading culture and ensure proper use of community spaces for child development. The library involves community volunteers as we conduct book fairs, community book reading activities and several other reading-centred activities. The library is managed by a trained library facilitator and kept open for children to ensure regular access to educational books.
The Free community library helps break the chains of poverty's limitations, liberating the imagination, expanding thinking horizons, and providing the much-needed guidance for children and or adults to envision a world beyond their current circumstances.
