As if the challenges were less, Covid19 related restrictions and school closure excerbated the problems faced by children like Gayatri from a poor family living in the rural areas and pushed them out of school without any options available to them for on line or distant learning. Community Schools run by local educated youth volunteers engaged with these out of school children are the only hope for these children, but they are also not able to continue because of lack of funds.  Community Schools use innovative approaches like learning through games, which helps children to acquire confidence along with many life skills such as leadership, team work, problem solving and communication.  We gradually also start working with the local government school teachers to adopt this approach.
Gayatri says, “I had so much fun playing Cricket with other boys of the village”. She was thouroughly enjoying her game as well as learning. This had also helped her continue with her education because of the support given by the Volunteer Educator of the Community School in her village. The hardships caused by Covid19 restrictions have forced Gayatri’s parents to do much more work to earn their livelihood and Gayatri is forced to take care of her siblings at home and she is deprived of any schooling.