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Updates from Uttar Pradesh
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In this quarter, our focus has been to ensure that children are in schools after a long gap induced by the Covid-19 pandemic and efforts have been directed towards ensuring that the classroom learning process becomes interesting leading to an increase in retention of children in the schools. Efforts have been made to engage and strengthen the anganwadis during this quarter.
Training of Anganwadi workers to develop TLM
A major focus of Prajayatna’s work has been on strengthening the state-run anganwadis. With the focus on ensuring a child-centric learning process in the Anganwadi centers.
Prajayatna team members provided training to 49 Anganwadi workers to make teaching-learning materials. The training was organized in Chitrakoot and Bahraich districts (Sector Bamboura and Kapsethi of Jarwal and Karvi development blocks) in collaboration with the Department of Women and Child Development. The training aimed at empowering teachers to create educational resources in puzzle making, puppet making for children's stories, sound boxes, etc that would make pre-school education lively and interesting. The workshop was organized so that teachers are equipped to understand the process of holistic development of a child keeping in mind their emotional, cognitive, language, and social development. In the workshop, not only the use of learning material was discussed with the Anganwadi workers, but suggestions were also given to prepare learning materials from local resources that could be found around the village.
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Profiling of Children with Disabilities
In an effort to understand the needs and challenges being faced by the children with disabilities, (such as certificates, Aadhar cards, bank accounts, etc) Prajayatna team members visited the homes of such children and met their parents in both Chitrakoot and Bahraich districts. The objective of knowing the needs of children with disabilities was to ensure that the children received their entitlements from the government from time to time and to ensure that the child's family was also given information and the necessary support to provide a conducive environment for the child.
Orientation of Head teachers
With the beginning of the new academic year, to make the process of Kalikayatna, our quality learning initiative, in schools more robust, orientation was done with the head teachers of schools of Bambhaura and Badrauli Nyaya Panchayat regarding the Kalikayatna process. In this meeting, a presentation was given on National Education Policy (NEP) & National Initiative for Proficiency in Reading with Understanding and Numeracy (NIPUN), and its alignment with Kalikayatna was discussed in detail. Teachers from 15 schools participated in the orientation program.
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Parents Meeting
Parents play an important role in the education of children and help in continuing the learning process beyond the classrooms. Prajayatna has always taken measures to empower the parents’ community so that they can further enrich the process of learning in children beyond classroom hours.
At the end of the 27-day summer vacation, when the school re-opened, it was observed that the number of children coming to school was very less. To increase the number of children and to make parents aware that the schools had re-opened and the children needed to attend school regularly, a meeting was held in the communities of Jolahanpurwa and Abullahpur. In this meeting, a discussion was held about sending children to school every day and ensuring their enrollment.
A total of 4 meetings were held with 49 parents in different communities of Bahraich and Chitrakoot to discuss the education of children. Along with enrollment and regular attendance of children in schools, issues of ensuring that children with disabilities were also regular was discussed along with ways of enabling their learning in the classroom.
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Events
We at Prajayatna believe in the holistic development of a child. Taking part in events helps to boost a child’s confidence levels and develop their leadership skills. Following are the key events in which children participated in the districts.
World Environment Day was celebrated in Khutha village in Uttar Pradesh on 5th June in Khutaha Gram panchayat in which the Block Development Officer, District Welfare Officer, President of District Business Board, and other community leaders participated. People of the village also participated in the event wherein children showcased charts on environmental issues. Later, a tree plantation drive was also undertaken in presence of the respected dignitaries and children. Certificates were awarded to children by the Block Development Officer and District Welfare Officer.
Prajayatna has always emphasized the need to foster the holistic development of a child through its various programs and ensured that learning is activity-based, experiential and interesting.
To this end, Prajayatna organized a 5-day summer camp which was kick-started in Bhabhai village, Kapseti cluster, Chitrakoot district, and later also held in other schools in Kapsethi and Asoha clusters, Chitrakoot district and two clusters - Badrauli and Bambhaura - in Baharaich district.
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The purpose of the summer camp was to create an environment for children during the school holidays in which children could develop their creativity and learn through sports and other activities. It was also to keep them engaged in the learning process during the holidays and get them back to school when it reopened.
In the camp, children engaged in various activities such as drawing, playing games, making clay toys, storytelling, reciting poems, and learning the concepts of mathematics in a structural framework through various interesting activities.
The activities conducted in this camp were planned carefully by local volunteers and were presented in a very exciting way to the children to ensure their active participation.
In the Chitrakoot district in UP, a total of 5 summer camps were organized in which a total of 173 children participated. Similarly, in the Bahraich district in UP, a total of 5 summer camps were organized in which a total of 81 children participated.
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Workshop for parents of children with disabilities
Prajayatna has been interacting with the concerned stakeholders at different levels for the last five years to protect and promote the rights of children in the Chitrakoot district. At present, there are some children around us, in society and school, whose needs are slightly different from other children and whom we also refer to as children with disabilities. The parents of these children not only need the training to take care of their children and help them to live independently, but the problems of these parents are also of a different kind in themselves
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Recognizing this, a parents’ meeting was organized on issues related to education and care needs of children with disabilities in which 52 parents of Kapsethi and Asoh clusters in Chitrakoot district participated. In this meeting, a committee was also formed, whose main objective was to place the issues related to children with disabilities in front of the responsible authorities. In the meeting, representatives from the Inclusive Education Department, CHILDLINE, and Children’s Welfare Committee (CWC), tried to resolve various problems of children with disabilities and their parents. An advocate working on human rights in the district along with an activist who works for the community apart from the parents were also part of the meeting.
Key outcomes of the meeting:
- A group of parents of children with disabilities was formed to take up the issues related to the children with the competent authorities.
- 6 children with disabilities were enrolled in different schools.
- Children's disability certificates are now easily made by the health department on the prescribed days.
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Did you know?
National Education Policy (NEP) 2020
The National Policy on Education was framed in 1986 and modified in 1992. Since then; several changes have taken place that calls for a revision of the Policy.
The NEP 2020 is the first education policy of the 21st century and replaces the thirty-four-year-old National Policy on Education (NPE), 1986. Built on the foundational pillars of Access, Equity, Quality, Affordability, and Accountability, this policy is aligned with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The National Education Policy 2020 proposes various reforms in school education as well as higher education including technical education
The NEP also stresses the importance of the universalization of Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) with a 2030 target to ensure that all students entering Grade 1 are school ready.
It aims to transform India into a vibrant knowledge society and global knowledge superpower by making both school and college education more holistic, flexible, multidisciplinary, and suited to 21st-century needs.
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This quarter the focus has been to make the School Management Committees (SMC) more active and empower the community. Special emphasis was put on making the community aware and enrolling the children back into schools. Responsibility was entrusted to the school to solve problems affecting learning such as shortage of teachers, construction of boundary wall and availability of water.
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Community meeting and SMC follow-up meeting
We at Prajayatna have always believed in a theory of change that relies heavily on community participation and empowerment. Prajayatna regularly participates in these meetings where the parents of the children (some may be members of the SMC) are made aware of the importance of education. They are also made aware of the importance of sending their children to school regularly, following a daily study routine when at home, taking care of cleanliness, and how the community can take an active part in the management of the school. In this quarter, a total of 70 community meeting were held in Ghaghra block of Gumla district to discuss the responsibilities of the community in ensuring the smooth functioning of the school and developing a sense of ownership so that children have access to quality education. Following the meeting, the community members took proactive steps to get children enrolled in the school. Similarly, a total of 8 SMC meetings were conducted in which the topic of discussion included the enrolment of children and the roles and responsibilities of the SMC members.
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CLCC centers operational in Raidih, Gumla
Community Learning and Cultural Centers (CLCCs) were established by Prajayatna in response to the demand for alternatives for the children by the parents to keep them engaged after school. CLCCs are entirely managed by the community. The centers are creative learning spaces where children come together and learn and do various activities that are interesting for the children and develop different abilities in the child along with academic support. The centers also serve as a source for conducting various cultural activities. The centers are run for 2-3 hours after the school closes. During the weekend, special sessions are conducted on art, craft, and other activities. In Raidih block, 4 such CLCC centers are run by Prajayatna.
The activities conducted at the centers are designed to develop various lifeskills such as leadership, collaboration and ability to work in groups etc. The activities and environment in the centres also ensures that values are inculcated in the children which enables them to develop into responsible and empathetic individuals.
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The focus of this quarter was to engage and build a relationship with the teachers and enrich the learning processes within the Anganwadi center along with strengthening the Bal Vikas Samitis. Efforts have been made to orient teachers and helpers/ assistant teachers on several aspects of Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) that would help them understand the objectives behind the care and learning activities
Bal Vikas Samiti (BVS) workshops follow-up meeting
Prajayatna's work on improving the State-run Anganwadis has primarily focused on facilitating stakeholder involvement and on institutionalizing these initiatives through our work with community-based and constitutionally recognized structures thereby ensuring that the Anganwadis become dynamic centers for the overall development of the child. The key objective of such intervention has been to bring a focus on early childhood needs, especially in the areas of learning and health, and enhance the all-round development of a child. Bal Vikas Samiti meetings and workshops are conducted frequently towards this end.
In this quarter, BVS workshops held in Karnataka have enabled BVS members to understand their roles and responsibilities in the development of children and thus ensure the efficient functioning of the Anganwadi centers. BVS follow-up meetings have been held in 3 AWCs -Venkatala, Kondappa Layout AWC 2 and in Manavanthi Thota AWCs to discuss the progress of the plan that the Angnawadi workers and BVS members had drafted in the BVS workshops.
As a result of the workshop, the committee, which used to meet once in a while before the workshop, was seen to be more proactive towards making efforts to understand the issues faced by the anganwadis, as well as take proactive steps to resolve the issues faced by the teachers and children.
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Assistant teachers' training
The role of the Anganwadi helper is not just limited to taking care of cleanliness, maintaining a hygienic environment of the center and preparing nutritious food, and feeding the children. It is difficult for a single teacher to handle 25-30 children in a center and hence the helper needs to play the role of an assistant teacher who helps out with the learning activities in the center. Hence we have redefined the role of the helper as an ‘assistant teacher’. Her role becomes all the more crucial when the teacher gets engaged in other department-related work, goes away for department-related meetings, takes leave, etc. Sometimes, it has been observed that when a teacher retires, the recruitment and appointment process takes so long that all the responsibility of the managing center falls on the shoulders of the assistant teacher. An equipped assistant teacher can handle it much better in creating a safe and nurturing environment within the possible limitations than an untrained assistant teacher. Keeping this in consideration, assistant teacher training has been designed and implemented in all three new circles. The total number of Assistant Teachers who participated in the training in Abbigere, Shankarnagar, and Chikkabanawara circles are 18, 24, and 26 respectively.
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Distribution of play and learning materials in Anganwadi centers
In the early years of childhood, learning happens effectively through play. This helps children learn about how to conduct oneself in society, connect with others, and much more. Learning through play helps the development of different domains of a child. Understanding the significance of play and learning materials, Prajayatna has provided learning kits consisting of teaching-learning materials and stationary items to AWCs which would help teachers engage with children and use them in facilitating the learning process as per the weekly theme.
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Teacher training for the planning of daily activities
After the first round of the teachers' training, teachers gathered at a commonplace to prepare an Anganwadi learning activity plan as per the theme or the concept of that particular week to impart the activities at the center and make the learning processes interesting for the children.
The team enabled the teachers to identify questions relating to free talk/ open conversation with children on the topic, and also conduct pre-literacy and numeracy activities, and outdoor games
A format has been used where teachers had to fill the planned activities in the format as per the timetable of AWC. This process helped the teachers to understand what is a concept, and plan concepts-based daily activities in the classroom where each component of the theme is made explorative and interesting for the children. In this quarter, the team has held planning sessions covering all the new 97 AWCs.
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In the Spotlight: Meet our Anganwadi teacher Ms. Anitha G
Working as an Anganwadi teacher in Gandhinagar Anganwadi center, Anita G is a shy woman who is reticent about her achievements. Be it educating people about how to protect themselves from Covid or providing pregnant and lactating women with supplementary nutrition, she takes her duties seriously braving the adversities that come her way wearing a smile and a positive attitude. In this brief interview, she shares her work as an Anganwadi teacher in a candid conversation with Prajayatna team.
Any challenges that you face in your job?
During Covid times, while doing the Covid survey; all I had was a mask and sanitizer. Even though I was scared to deliver the rations at home fearing I might contract Covid, I visited the households.
We did a Covid awareness rally and talked with the parents on how to protect themselves during Covid, the precautionary measures to be followed and even referred those suffering from Covid-related ailments to hospitals.
I also faced a lot of hurdles in the implementation of the Mathrupoorna scheme, especially in the enrollment of eligible beneficiaries. However, with regular counseling, things have improved.
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How has your association with Prajayatna helped you in your work?
I owe a lot to Prajayatna. From learning how to mobilize the community to how to conduct meetings with parents, it has been a great learning experience. After joining Prajayatna, regular training has helped me to improve as an Anganwadi teacher.
What do you wish to do to improve the functioning of the Anganwadi center in the future?
Going forward, I want to ensure that locals do not dump garbage on the premises of the center on the days it is closed. My wish is to make sure that the Anganwadi center has a compound gate. It will also be a dream come true for me when the center is housed in its building. Right now, we operate from rented premises. I enjoy working with children the most. They are a source of joy. I love my work as an Anganwadi teacher and every day is memorable for me.
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Inspiring stories from the ground
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Including every child: Ensuring access to education for children with disabilities
Children with disabilities in India are subject to multiple deprivations resulting in limited development opportunities. Their families also go through challenges in having a person with a disability at home, especially in rural areas which ultimately leads to further discrimination and often isolation of these children.
Inclusive Education (IE) is an approach that believes in educating children with disability and learning difficulties along with mainstream children and seeks to maximize their potential.
Prajayatna believes in inclusiveness and providing quality learning opportunities for groups who have traditionally been excluded including children with disabilities.
Living up to its principle, Prajayatna reached out to help a child named Abhijeet (name changed) who had lost his parents to the deadly pandemic two years ago. The child is suffering from hearing impairment and didn’t have the opportunity to go to school and learn. He lives with his sister in Kapsethi block in Chitrakoot district in Uttar Pradesh. Prajayatna team working in Uttar Pradesh ensured that the child is enrolled in Amanpur school in the seventh standard. The team is also putting in efforts to get him a disability certificate. According to an estimate, about 4-8% of the population in India is differently-abled which means one in every 10 children is born with or acquires a physical, mental, or sensory disability. Only 35.29% of all people living with disabilities have access to schools.
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Carry books, not bricks: Enrollment of children of Para Parasrampur brick kiln
A survey of brick kilns in Para Parasrampur Gram Panchayat of Bamboura Nyaya Panchayat in Bahraich was done with the help of a teacher. Prajayatna team members also spoke to workers of brickkilns which revealed that they were originally a native of western Uttar Pradesh (Bareilly, Pilibhit). The education of their children was hampered as they migrated from one place to another in search of livelihood opportunities.
It was found in the survey that the enrolment of some children is at their native place, while some children are not enrolled in school at all. During the survey, a total of 7 children, who were never enrolled in school, were enrolled in the neighborhood Composite School Para Parasrampur in age-appropriate classes with the help of a teacher.
A report and documentary by Anti-Slavery International and its partners have revealed “appalling” levels of slavery in India’s brick kiln industry, including the endemic presence of debt-bondage and child slavery.
There are at least 100,000 functioning brick kilns in India that employ an estimated 23 million workers.
Prajayatna is working in the field of education of children for the last 6 years in Bambhaura Nyaya Panchayat of Jarwal development block and the main objective of the organization is to provide access to quality education for every child so that no child is deprived of his fundamental right to education.
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Donor Testimonial
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Testimonials from other stakeholders
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Here's what Ms. Garima Singh, Lead CSR-Cargill India has to say about us!
"We had the good opportunity to support the Kalikayatna learning initiative of Prajayatna in Arakera K and Kandakur clusters of Yadgiri district of Karnataka. We partnered with Prajayatna and supported their efforts especially when schools were closed during COVID times. It was heartening to work with a team that is committed and always willing to walk the extra mile towards the goal of providing quality education for all children. The team's relentless efforts to reach out to the disadvantaged children and communities during the difficult Covid times are commendable. It has been our pleasure to work with this wonderful organization. I wish the team all the success!"
Ms. Garima Singh,
Lead CSR-Cargill
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“We got to learn about various developments in children and ways of conducting learning activities”
Ms. Nitya Sri,
Kempapura Colony AWC. Chikkabanawara Circle
“So far, we thought conducting learning activities is the job of a teacher alone but now we got to learn a lot more about children, developmental domain and what role we can play to support children's learning.”
Ms. Manjula,
Assistant teachers. Abbigere AWC2, Abbigere Circle
“We use to conduct learning activities without knowing the reason behind them, but in this training, we have been able to understand the abilities that get developed from every activity that we conduct."
Ms. Sowbhagyamma C,
Goraguntepalys AWC, Shankarnagar Circle
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You too can join our journey!
At Prajayatna, we believe that each one of us can contribute in our little ways to enable children’s access to universal education. Our strength lies in our ever-growing supporter base --- volunteers, donors, and the media and together we can do so much more in championing our cause. If you’re equally passionate as us and want to be a part of our journey, spread the word about Prajayatna with your friends, and relations.
Are you a student and looking for some great opportunities to make an impact through your work? Here's your chance. We at Prajayatna have excellent volunteering opportunities that will not only provide you with an opportunity to champion the cause of children’s access to education but also build your skills in your chosen area of expertise. It will also provide you with a first-hand experience of understanding the ground realities in India.
We also provide our volunteers and interns with a Certificate of Experience on successful completion of the project assigned. If you find our work exciting and would like to join our team as a volunteer, please write to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Donate to our Cause!
Prajayatna meets India's education challenges at the community level every day by engaging directly with the schools and Anganwadis, creating training materials, and educating and empowering communities and teachers. Your donation, no matter how small, will support the work and help our children access the means to quality education. As they say, the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step!
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All donations to Prajayatna are tax-exempted under section 80G of the Income Tax Act, 1961. In recognition of the good work being done by the Prajayatna Team, we have been awarded the Guidestar Certification. Guide Star India validates NGOs based on their legal and financial compliance, as well as on their level of public disclosure of information.
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Donor Spotlight
We take this opportunity to thank our donors for this quarter, Nevin Gonsalves, Nandini Vasudevan, Dominic Sunil Jacobie, Mona Maria Pakianathan, Sandra DSouza, Johnson Bandela, Seema Mathew, Balmurli Natrajan, Alexander, Vinod Thomas and Aparna Sundar for believing in us and donating to the cause of education for children. Your generous contributions have helped to implement our campaigns and programs on the ground at a time when we are still grappling with the aftermath of Covid. We look forward to your continued support.
For partnerships and donor-related queries, write to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Prajayatna is in the news!
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Bengaluru
Prajayatna - Head Office
No. 331, 1st ‘A’ Main, 7th Block,
Jayanagar (West), Bengaluru 560 070
P: (+91) 080-26769676 www.prajayatna.in
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