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Nazia, age 10, is a bright child. She shows responsible behaviour toward her teachers, but finds it tough to focus in class. She is often seen picking fights with her classmates. at the heart of her behaviour is her situation at home: a visually-challenged mother, numerous chores, and the responsibility of caring for her siblings, all of which have led to a sense of helplessness in Nazia. If this continues, it is likely that she will simply drop out of school, or if she graduates, find it very difficult to hold a job.
This is not just Nazia’s story, this is the story of millions of children from vulnerable backgrounds, all across India. They are at risk of not achieving equitable adulthood and life outcomes—what is generally understood as well-being—because of a lack of optimal social and emotional skills.
What can we do today, to ensure that tomorrow, kids from vulnerable backgrounds have the same opportunity to realize their potential as privileged kids?
While many programs look at and help with academics (which is, of course, needed), there is another aspect of development that is often ignored: social and emotional skills. They include some of the most urgent needs in society today: confidence, gender sensitivity, responsibility, decision-making, and knowing how to create and maintain positive relationships. What’s available is often not relevant in the Indian context.
Our flagship Ready for the World program is specially designed for Indian children and is implemented within classrooms as twice-a-week sessions, by their own teachers. Workshop-like modules with fun activities make the program interesting and interactive for the children.
We develop the program, train teachers on the program and classroom effectiveness techniques, and closely monitor the progress of each child qualitatively and quantitatively.
We’ve had an eventful AY 2017-18, having reached over 3500 students and 150 teachers from low budget schools, government schools, and a sports academy!
The results are great—85% of all students showed improvement in social and emotional scores. We’ve also observed an increase in academic scores in the children impacted by the program.
We have 32 schools in Hyderabad enrolled in our program this year - that's about 8000 children and 250 teachers! To reach them all, we need funds that will be used for various components: the children’s toolkit, teacher workshops/mentorship/development, assessments, program management, impact evaluation, etc.
We’re happy to have received a grant from Central Square Foundation, in addition to corporate sponsorship of 3 schools and a few regular donors. However, we still have a shortfall of about Rs. 12 lakh, and this is where we seek your help. It costs Rs. 1500 to make this unique and successful program a reality for one child per year, and we would like for you to consider sponsoring a few children.
It’s not a lot. But for the child, it could mean a life of well-being and realized potential.
We’d be happy to provide you with more detailed information,if you would like.
Thank you for supporting us!
**Donations exempt from Income Tax under Sec. 80G of the Income Tax Act, 1961 vide Order ITBA/EXM/S/80G/2017-18/1005246905(1) dated 31/07/2017 of the Commissioner of Income Tax (Exemptions), Hyderabad - 500004**
