Safe, secure and happy childhood is the birth right of every children. But still there are millions of children who are trapped in the vicious cycle of child labor. According to Census of 2011, there are 4.5 million child labors (between the ages of 5 to 14) in India. These children often live on the street and earn a livelihood to support their families and in the process become vulnerable to exploitation by others and to a variety of physical and moral dangers. Around one-third of them works as ‘Waste Pickers’ or garbage / rag pickers as it is popularly known. Pratiksha is one of them!

To create spaces of learning and support for child waste pickers we (Vardhishnu – Social Research & Development Society) started an initiative called as ‘Anandghar – A Home of Happiness’. it is a community learning center. We started our first center in Tambapura area of Jalgaon where Pratiksha lives. Pratiksha and her brother was one of the very first children who started attending it.

As the name suggest the idea of Anandghar is to make the process of leaning more joyful for children as well as educators. Based on the core values of love and compassion, Anandghar works on academics, life-skills, health & hygiene, de-addiction from substance abuse and enrolling and sustaining these children into the main stream education.

In last 4 years we succeeded in enrolling and sustaining 250+ children (including Pratiksha, who is in the 4th standard now) into the schools. The avg. HB of the center went to 9 gms in 2019 from 7.5 gms in 2017.
Currently 125+ children are studying at 2 different centers in Jalgaon.
But this is not enough. There are thousands of children who are miles away from the main stream education. We want to reach up to them. For the same reason we are planning to initiate 3 new learning centers in next coming months.
We need your support. Your contribution will help to:

• School Enrollment: Schools Fees, Uniforms, Note-books, Stationery
• Provide nutritional supplements (thrice a week)
• Buy required stationery for teaching academics, arts & crafts
• Take children out on exposure visits.
• Pay rent of the premises
• Honorarium of educators teaching at Anandghar.

Help us in our endevour of giving these children a fair chance to stand up and take control of their own life. To live a life with dignity which they deserve, just like us.
​