Simran is a twelfth-grade arts student from a small community called Gopalapuram. Initially, she never knew that a world beyond family existed and was confined to the routines of household chores and she was content with those aspects of her life.

She also admitted that, earlier, she wasn’t aware of herself, her aspirations, and her potential, and was filled with uncertainty. After Makkala Jagriti’s intervention, her goals and career aspirations were fueled, and her passion for learning and sharing knowledge ignited. Now she sees herself as an educator.

Makkala Jagriti provided her with the essential life skills needed to communicate effectively, be bold, and, most importantly, understand herself. She also mentioned that she didn’t have any friends earlier in the community, and now she has friends who have become her extended family.

Simran’s vision for the future is bright, involving her pursuit of higher studies and the establishment of her own textile and clothing business. She also mentioned that she never had the chance or courage to talk to strangers, and now she is confidently sharing her story with the world with a big smile and she feels incredibly proud of herself.

In the face of adversity, Srikanth has gracefully found his way out with community support. Losing his father at a young age and burdened by family debt, he was forced to discontinue school, missing crucial years of education. The thought of returning to the same school, fearing ridicule, loomed as an obstacle. However, Makkala Jagriti emerged as a guiding light in Srikanth’s life.

MJ’s scholarship program helped Srikanth to restart his education and the community program provided him with specialized attention to bridge his educational gaps. After completing 10th grade he pursued a Diploma in Computer Science. Through Makkala Jagriti’s youth program, he underwent a remarkable transformation. From a hesitant and introverted individual, he emerged as an active participant, discovering his latent leadership skills through choreography for cultural events. His dedicated participation in the community center nurtured his exceptional talent in dance, elevating it from a passion to a career.

Today, Srikanth is not just a freelance dance choreographer but has also graced Kannada films with his acting prowess while pursuing his higher education. Beyond his achievements, he stands tall as a role model in the Valluvarpuram Community, inspiring others to transcend adversity and chase their dreams with determination.

Mahesh, an outgoing and curious teenager, discovered Makkala Jagriti during his 9th grade. Initially, he would attend the community center’s classes, play around, and return. The learning center for this 14-year-old with so much energy and enthusiasm gave him space to unapologetically be himself and blatantly express himself without any fear of judgment.

“We wanted to scream somedays and we were allowed to do that until we got tired of it” – Mahesh recalls this bursting into laughter.

Coming from a traditional school set up where only marks and ambitions were valued, to a place where he was accepted for everything he did and appreciated for his smallest creations made him feel seen and instilled in him a desire to do better. This newfound freedom allowed him to discover his love for drawing, which later became a pivotal life skill.

Mahesh played different roles at Makkala Jagriti starting from a student, to being an intern, moving to facilitator, and working with CSR projects. Later on, he worked with Dream A Dream as a facilitator of arts and got an opportunity to be a part of a student exchange program in the US. He completed his diploma in Early Childhood Education in the US and started off his career in the corporate world back in India. He worked with Vivo, and Xiaomi, and is currently working with Titan, handling the large format category training for south region.

The collaborative spirit and the freedom to take risks and learn from mistakes that he imbibed from Makkala Jagriti have been instrumental in his professional success. He continues to carry a sketchbook with him, drawing upon the skills he honed at the community centrer, creating mind maps and sketches that aid his work at Titan. Mahesh’s journey from an inquisitive teenager to a leader in the corporate world is a testament to the transformative power of Makkala Jagriti and its enduring impact on his life.

Girish comes from a lower-middle-class family in Bengaluru. He had to battle tuberculosis at a young age and his family was very protective about him because of that. He was not allowed to go play with his friends or spend time outside. It was during his high school days he discovered his passion for football while watching the school team play on a vast ground and being a part of a game once. Due to financial constraints, he couldn’t afford good training for the same. Makkala Jagriti happened to him at this point and changed his life completely for the better.

He started his journey with Makkala Jagriti thinking it would help him academically. But what he discovered there has changed his life. He stumbled upon an opportunity to be a part of football coaching from the second week of joining Makkala Jagriti. His family wasn’t initially supportive of his football dreams, but his determination took him a long way.

Girish’s dedication paid off when he was handpicked for a selection match and went on to represent India in a tournament in Paris, scoring 8 goals. This experience broadened his horizons and fueled his passion for the sport. Girish’s father eventually realized his son’s potential and began supporting him in his dreams.

Today he is a 29-year-old, doing a course in Exercise in Sports Science at the MESA Community College in Arizona, US. Girish is forever grateful for the opportunities Makkala Jagriti provided, as they paved the way for his journey as a footballer and beyond.

While societal pressures mount for him to settle down, Girish remains steadfast in pursuing his dream to become an athletic trainer. His mother stands as his unwavering pillar of support. Girish’s life beautifully exemplifies Makkala Jagriti’s vision, emphasizing that
“Where you are born should not limit how far you go”

Breaking this linguistic barrier and helping children embrace English as a tool for self-expression and communication is a vital goal. This is where the “Fun with English” competitions come into play, conducted annually to dispel the apprehension surrounding English learning and to encourage children to utilize the language through engaging activities.

Our facilitators at Makkala Jagriti started providing meticulous training to our children in government schools with the vision of instilling in them confidence in the English language. It was difficult to talk children into participating in the competition in the beginning where they were apprehensive about their English skills and hesitant to participate in programs. With continuous dialogue and with the support of their parents, we could rope in many of them for the competition. Even in the challenging times of the pandemic, we persisted in our mission, adapting the competition to an online format, and reaching students in need of English exposure. In the post-pandemic world, engaging children in the “Fun with English” became easier, and to our astonishment, 80% of kids from each school took part in the competition in 2022.

Students who once hesitated to engage with English are now enthusiastic participants, ready to take charge. Their involvement has gone beyond the competition; they now actively contribute ideas and take the lead in conducting events. This initiative has not only bridged the language gap but has also instilled newfound confidence in students, who eagerly look forward to each competition.

Leaving a hectic job at Amazon behind, Rekha started afresh with Makkala Jagriti 18 months ago. Rekha got acquainted with Makkala Jagriti through her daughter who was part of an Anganwadi in which Makkala Jagriti’s intervention was involved. The Mother’s meetings and discussions she was part of provided her with immense insights into the critical importance of Early Childhood Education, particularly for children aged 2-6 years. It was a revelation, and she felt a deep desire to share this knowledge with others.

She grabbed the first opportunity that came her way and applied for the position of facilitator at Makkala Jagriti. Here, she could educate parents and teachers about early childhood education, nurturing their understanding of how vital it is to pay attention to children’s formative years. Her dedication and newfound knowledge brought positive changes not only in her daughter but also in the Anganwadi she worked with.

With Makkala Jagriti she finds her purpose and the job satisfaction she was missing in her previous job. The inspiring and non-threatening work environment motivates her to come up with new ideas in the domain of Early Childhood Education. She feels happy and proud to work for a social cause and her family wholeheartedly supports her in what she does. This journey allowed her to strike a work-life balance, learn daily, and grow in an environment that nurtures her every day, where making mistakes was part of the learning process.

In the heart of Ramagondanahalli unfolds the tale of Shanthala, a dedicated teacher whose love for her craft and children ignited a transformative journey. Eight years ago, she stepped into the role of an Anganwadi teacher. Despite undergoing training in preschool education, she felt a void in her ability to thoroughly prepare her students for school.

Managing the Anganwadi alone initially, Shanthala’s path intersected with Makkala Jagriti, providing her with crucial preschool education training. This restored her confidence, opening a door of possibilities for her to come up with innovative ideas in teaching. With the arrival of a helper, she gained the gift of time, enabling her to delve into preschool activities, and domains of development, letting her maintain a consistent timetable.

Shanthala’s creativity thrived as she designed teaching-learning materials, such as flashcards, ID cards, and so on for the kids. Innovative teaching techniques strengthened her teaching practices. Her efforts were extended to parents, engaging them in crafting materials for their children’s education.

Her parent meetings evolved into platforms discussing the significance of preschool education and early childhood development. The result was a collaborative community, steadfastly supporting the Anganwadi’s needs, witnessing a transformation in its very essence. Ramagondanahalli remains a model learning center today.

Shanthala’s narrative encapsulates the remarkable evolution of a teacher who tirelessly seeks to enhance her students’ lives with her genuine efforts Shanthala epitomizes the profound impact one passionate educator can have on an entire community.

Nirmala stepped into the realm of Doddabalapur’s Rojipura 2 Anganwadi, a place marred by neglect and with 3 to 4 children attending the center regularly. Makkala Jagriti’s intervention gave Nirmala more insights into Early Childhood Education and instilled in her the courage and confidence to confront authorities and the community to collaborate for the transformation the center yearned for.

Under MJ’s mentorship, Nirmala’s path became a shining example of remarkable transformation. Through her dedicated participation in MJ’s training sessions, she evolved into a more skilled and capable educator. Her timely collaborations with the Panchayat unlocked the potential for the profound change that the children at Rojipura deserved, solidifying her role as a true agent of change.

Her efforts bore fruits fueling the drastic transformation of the Anganwadi. The place found a new vigor with a creative learning landscape attracting more kids to the center every day. By 2018, the Anganwadi’s attendance soared from a mere 4 to a flourishing 38. Once isolated Anganwadi of Rojipura, now attracted children even from private schools remaining a testament to Nirmala’s indomitable spirit and the profound effect of positive change.