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Home / Blog
What makes MJ a Great place to work?What makes MJ a Great place to work?
makkalajagritiDecember 22, 2022What makes Makkala Jagriti a Great Place to work Makkala Jagriti has recently been certified as a Great Place to Work by Great Place to Work® Institute India.The Great Place to Work® Assessment is considered a ‘Gold Standard’ in workplace Culture assessment. The GPTW assessment measured various aspects such as Trust Index, credibility of management, pride, respect, fairness and camaraderie between team members and the organization scored highly on all these aspects. MJ has always [...] [...] Read more...
Micro-improvements – small steps towards transformative changes in early childhood care and educationMicro-improvements – small steps towards transformative changes in early childhood care and education
makkalajagritiNovember 5, 2022Micro-improvements - small steps towards transformative changes in early childhood care and education Development sector overall is a complex ecosystem with multiple issues, multiple stakeholders and their perspectives, multiple power dynamics and challenges at all levels. In such a scenario, it is understandable that lasting change requires time and sustained multi-pronged efforts. We all want to see significant outcomes, but can easily be frustrated and overwhelmed by the complexity of it all. This is where [...] [...] Read more...
Instilling courage, health and confidence among children in institutional careInstilling courage, health and confidence among children in institutional care
makkalajagritiOctober 10, 2022Instilling courage, health and confidence among children in institutional care What are the most important things that a child needs to secure a good future for itself? It would not be surprising if the answers include good health, a nurturing and caring family, education, values, opportunities and a safe, positive learning ecosystem. No doubt all of these are important and yet, there are many in our society and the world at large who are deprived [...] [...] Read more...
Transforming Anganwadis to bring quality Early Childhood Care and EducationTransforming Anganwadis to bring quality Early Childhood Care and Education
makkalajagritiSeptember 3, 2022Transforming Anganwadis to bring quality Early Childhood Care and Education Every child deserves a fair start. Research shows that most of a child’s brain development happens in the first 6 years and builds a foundation for future learning, health and life success. Various global studies have also revealed long-term impacts of early childhood care and education (ECCE). There are strong correlations between quality preschool education and higher incomes and lower rates of unemployment. Estimates reveal [...] [...] Read more...
Engaging and Empowering parents for children’s holistic development in this Educational NGO in BangaloreEngaging and Empowering parents for children’s holistic development in this Educational NGO in Bangalore
makkalajagritiJuly 28, 2022Engaging and Empowering parents for children’s holistic development in this Educational NGO in Bangalore Children learn every day, in every environment that they are in. Parents are their children’s first educators, and how parents support their children’s learning and development makes a huge difference. Schools provide the formal structure for education and parents shape their children’s values, attitudes, skills, and approaches to learning. Parent engagement in learning starts from early childhood and continues as children [...] [...] Read more...
A Brand New Yuva Café: Growing Makkala Jagriti’s Youth Outreach!A Brand New Yuva Café: Growing Makkala Jagriti’s Youth Outreach!
makkalajagritiJune 30, 2022A Brand New Yuva Café: Growing Makkala Jagriti’s Youth Outreach! The youth of today are the leaders of tomorrow. At Makkala Jagriti, we firmly believe that empowering youth from marginalized communities to discover their potential can bring social transformation. We set up Yuva Cafés - spaces for the youth & by the youth where youth from different communities can congregate and access opportunities to learn and grow. In June 2022, we opened a new Yuva [...] [...] Read more...
Building Capacities WithinBuilding Capacities Within
makkalajagritiMay 24, 2022Building Capacities Within We’re rich here at Makkala Jagriti – with over 130 full-time employees bringing with them a variety of backgrounds and experiences. Imagine the myriad inputs that come in with a singular focus in mind – holistic development of children and youth. Of course, as time goes, needs change – needs of our children, needs of our organization, needs of our society. To keep up with these evolving needs, Makkala Jagriti, an NGO [...] [...] Read more...
Summer Camp – Sounds Like Fun, But Why Have It?Summer Camp – Sounds Like Fun, But Why Have It?
makkalajagritiApril 29, 2022Summer Camp – Sounds Like Fun, But Why Have It?   Summer holidays are an exciting time for children. That very moment the last bell of the day rings, children throwing their bags up in the air and screaming with joy… all to set off a few weeks of play, fun, and a whole lot more. This is the story of children all over the world, and the children studying in government schools supported by [...] [...] Read more...
Early Childhood and the Pandemic – How an NGO for Education Steps UpEarly Childhood and the Pandemic – How an NGO for Education Steps Up
makkalajagritiMarch 30, 2022Early child development sets the foundation for lifelong learning, behaviour, and health. The experiences children have in early childhood shape the brain and the child's capacity to learn, setting the pace for school readiness and eventual adulthood. However, the COVID-19 pandemic through a spanner in the works with closure of Anganwadis (government pre-schools) which caters to over a quarter of India’s children between the ages of 3 and 6. Although COVID-19 has not been considered [...] [...] Read more...
Students teaching each other: Peer Learning as seen in an NGO for EducationStudents teaching each other: Peer Learning as seen in an NGO for Education
makkalajagritiJanuary 31, 2022With nearly two years of closure of schools, our children were reliant on lessons they would get virtually, through Zoom, WhatsApp or YouTube. Children were longing to meet their teachers and classmates for quite a while.   In November 2021, schools reopened, which brought some relief to children, parents, and teachers alike. However, it was not easy for children to get right back into action at school. Being removed from classroom learning, the pace differed [...] [...] Read more...
Scholarship for Students – Support all the wayScholarship for Students – Support all the way
makkalajagritiDecember 24, 2021Seeing the world around us, we draw inspiration from people who make a difference – no matter how small or large that difference is. Oftentimes it takes a little more than the drive to excel; one needs to be empowered with the knowledge and education that comes with aspired careers. However, for some of us the dreams are there, the abilities are there… but the finances or not. Makkala Jagriti is one such NGO in [...] [...] Read more...
The Importance of Schools ReopeningThe Importance of Schools Reopening
makkalajagritiNovember 26, 2021November 2021 brought with it some mixed emotions as our children returned to schools and Anganwadis. One could observe the feelings of joy, excitement, confusion, and nervousness among the children and their parents. A child’s first day back at school - whether after a short vacation or an extraordinarily long gap like this one - is a landmark moment in a child’s life, setting them off to a lifetime of memories and a path of [...] [...] Read more...
Volunteering – A Key Part Of Makkala JagritiVolunteering – A Key Part Of Makkala Jagriti
makkalajagritiOctober 28, 2021Archana is a software engineer at a leading multinational corporation in Bengaluru. One Friday, she received an email. It was an internal one sent across the organisation, one from its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) team. She had only been at the company for four months, and this was the first such email she received. She clicked on the link – her world was about to change.   It was a call for volunteers to help [...] [...] Read more...
Why I work at Makkala JagritiWhy I work at Makkala Jagriti
makkalajagritiOctober 2, 2021Hi, my name is Nikhil Vasuki, and I manage communications at Makkala Jagriti. This account is a story of how Makkala Jagriti’s story and my story met.   The first 15 years of my career have been widely varied. My ties with the corporate world began in finance, moving on to the world of defence contracting. This exposed me to so much geography: Arabia, Europe, the Americas, and Central Asia.  When I moved to India [...] [...] Read more...
Online Learning With Makkala Jagriti During The PandemicOnline Learning With Makkala Jagriti During The Pandemic
makkalajagritiAugust 18, 2021What Children, Parents and Teachers Thought   The years 2020 and 2021 so far have been challenging beyond comprehension. This holds for everybody… having to combat an unprecedented worldwide occurrence calls for a special strain of resilience. At Makkala Jagriti, a challenge we have observed closer to home was one of uninterrupted learning. We’ve had to hit the ground running with measures to ensure no child was left behind, that no access to a physical [...] [...] Read more...
Ushering New Opportunities for Children in Child Care InstitutionsUshering New Opportunities for Children in Child Care Institutions
makkalajagritiJuly 19, 2021Ushering New Opportunities for Children in Child Care Institutions Dev (name changed) is a little boy of twelve from Koppal district in North Karnataka. Circumstances have been difficult for him. Coming from an unstable family, he spent his life as a rag-picker when Childline’s frontline team rescued him. He was brought to the Government Children Home for Boys in Koppal. Disheveled and unkempt for a long time, he took his time to adjust to the [...] [...] Read more...
Rallying Together – Community Support During the PandemicRallying Together – Community Support During the Pandemic
makkalajagritiJune 18, 2021We’ve been amid the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects for over 18 months now. It is rather hard to reminisce about life before then. So much has happened in these 500-odd days that they feel like a lingering dark and dreary cloud. It has been particularly hard on the socio-economically marginalised communities.   Since the pandemic struck, Makkala Jagriti has been working to ensure 12,000+ children from these communities have access to uninterrupted learning during [...] [...] Read more...
Exploring CreativityExploring Creativity
makkalajagritiMay 31, 2021When we think of the word creativity, our minds tend to gravitate towards forms of art and artistic pursuits. But if we were to break the word up and dwell on the word create, it is quite simply a conversion - conversion of thoughts, ideas, and ruminations into a reality that we can touch, feel, experience. We looked within ourselves at Makkala Jagriti and introspected about the various ways we are fostering creative development as [...] [...] Read more...
Yuva Café: Brewing youth empowermentYuva Café: Brewing youth empowerment
makkalajagritiApril 19, 2021Anita* was looking for a place where she could learn some basic computer applications to help her get a job. Her friend Ravi* told her about a place which was offering a course that taught basic computer skills – free of cost! Jumping at the idea, Anita rode her scooter and parked by a building which had a board that said Yuva Café. “A rather odd name for a place where people learn about computers”, [...] [...] Read more...
The ‘New Normal’ in Early Education – Learning During the PandemicThe ‘New Normal’ in Early Education – Learning During the Pandemic
makkalajagritiApril 1, 2021The ‘New Normal’ in Early Education – Learning During the Pandemic It’s 8 a.m. somewhere in the world. The breakfast plates have been put away, the computer screens are on and studded with little images of children, with the teacher somewhere in the mix. For the next few hours, the children listen intently to the teacher imparting the day’s lessons. This has become the reality for children across the world – a ‘new normal’ – [...] [...] Read more...
Children and Art – A Journey Towards Self-ExpressionChildren and Art – A Journey Towards Self-Expression
makkalajagritiMarch 25, 2021Reminiscing about our days at school, one memory that rings clear is of a class we would never miss, come rain or shine. A class in which we put away notebooks and pens, and pulled out large white sheets of paper, paints and brushes, and coloured pencils. The ART class. A class where we would feel free… but to an extent. Perhaps the journey in the world of still life, of scenic views, gave rise [...] [...] Read more...
What makes MJ a Great place to work?

What makes MJ a Great place to work?

22 Dec 2022
What makes Makkala Jagriti a Great Place to work Makkala Jagriti has recently been certified as a Great Place to Work by Great Place to Work® Institute India.The Great Place to Work® Assessment is considered a ‘Gold Standard’ in workplace Culture assessment. The GPTW assessment measured various aspects such as Trust Index, credibility of management, pride, respect, fairness and camaraderie...
Micro-improvements – small steps towards transformative changes in early childhood care and education

Micro-improvements – small steps towards transformative changes in early childhood care and education

5 Nov 2022
Micro-improvements – small steps towards transformative changes in early childhood care and education Development sector overall is a complex ecosystem with multiple issues, multiple stakeholders and their perspectives, multiple power dynamics and challenges at all levels. In such a scenario, it is understandable that lasting change requires time and sustained multi-pronged efforts. We all want to see significant outcomes, but...
Instilling courage, health and confidence among children in institutional care

Instilling courage, health and confidence among children in institutional care

10 Oct 2022
Instilling courage, health and confidence among children in institutional care What are the most important things that a child needs to secure a good future for itself? It would not be surprising if the answers include good health, a nurturing and caring family, education, values, opportunities and a safe, positive learning ecosystem. No doubt all of these are important and...
Transforming Anganwadis to bring quality Early Childhood Care and Education

Transforming Anganwadis to bring quality Early Childhood Care and Education

3 Sep 2022
Transforming Anganwadis to bring quality Early Childhood Care and Education Every child deserves a fair start. Research shows that most of a child’s brain development happens in the first 6 years and builds a foundation for future learning, health and life success. Various global studies have also revealed long-term impacts of early childhood care and education (ECCE). There are strong...
Engaging and Empowering parents for children’s holistic development in this Educational NGO in Bangalore

Engaging and Empowering parents for children’s holistic development in this Educational NGO in Bangalore

28 Jul 2022
Engaging and Empowering parents for children’s holistic development in this Educational NGO in Bangalore Children learn every day, in every environment that they are in. Parents are their children’s first educators, and how parents support their children’s learning and development makes a huge difference. Schools provide the formal structure for education and parents shape their children’s values, attitudes, skills, and...
A Brand New Yuva Café: Growing Makkala Jagriti’s Youth Outreach!

A Brand New Yuva Café: Growing Makkala Jagriti’s Youth Outreach!

30 Jun 2022
A Brand New Yuva Café: Growing Makkala Jagriti’s Youth Outreach! The youth of today are the leaders of tomorrow. At Makkala Jagriti, we firmly believe that empowering youth from marginalized communities to discover their potential can bring social transformation. We set up Yuva Cafés – spaces for the youth & by the youth where youth from different communities can congregate...
Building Capacities Within

Building Capacities Within

24 May 2022
Building Capacities Within We’re rich here at Makkala Jagriti – with over 130 full-time employees bringing with them a variety of backgrounds and experiences. Imagine the myriad inputs that come in with a singular focus in mind – holistic development of children and youth. Of course, as time goes, needs change – needs of our children, needs of our organization,...
Summer Camp – Sounds Like Fun, But Why Have It?

Summer Camp – Sounds Like Fun, But Why Have It?

29 Apr 2022
Summer Camp – Sounds Like Fun, But Why Have It?   Summer holidays are an exciting time for children. That very moment the last bell of the day rings, children throwing their bags up in the air and screaming with joy… all to set off a few weeks of play, fun, and a whole lot more. This is the story...
Early Childhood and the Pandemic – How an NGO for Education Steps Up

Early Childhood and the Pandemic – How an NGO for Education Steps Up

30 Mar 2022
Early child development sets the foundation for lifelong learning, behaviour, and health. The experiences children have in early childhood shape the brain and the child’s capacity to learn, setting the pace for school readiness and eventual adulthood. However, the COVID-19 pandemic through a spanner in the works with closure of Anganwadis (government pre-schools) which caters to over a quarter of...
Students teaching each other: Peer Learning as seen in an NGO for Education

Students teaching each other: Peer Learning as seen in an NGO for Education

31 Jan 2022
With nearly two years of closure of schools, our children were reliant on lessons they would get virtually, through Zoom, WhatsApp or YouTube. Children were longing to meet their teachers and classmates for quite a while.   In November 2021, schools reopened, which brought some relief to children, parents, and teachers alike. However, it was not easy for children to...
Scholarship for Students – Support all the way

Scholarship for Students – Support all the way

24 Dec 2021
Seeing the world around us, we draw inspiration from people who make a difference – no matter how small or large that difference is. Oftentimes it takes a little more than the drive to excel; one needs to be empowered with the knowledge and education that comes with aspired careers. However, for some of us the dreams are there, the...
The Importance of Schools Reopening

The Importance of Schools Reopening

26 Nov 2021
November 2021 brought with it some mixed emotions as our children returned to schools and Anganwadis. One could observe the feelings of joy, excitement, confusion, and nervousness among the children and their parents. A child’s first day back at school – whether after a short vacation or an extraordinarily long gap like this one – is a landmark moment in...
Volunteering – A Key Part Of Makkala Jagriti

Volunteering – A Key Part Of Makkala Jagriti

28 Oct 2021
Archana is a software engineer at a leading multinational corporation in Bengaluru. One Friday, she received an email. It was an internal one sent across the organisation, one from its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) team. She had only been at the company for four months, and this was the first such email she received. She clicked on the link –...
Why I work at Makkala Jagriti

Why I work at Makkala Jagriti

2 Oct 2021
Hi, my name is Nikhil Vasuki, and I manage communications at Makkala Jagriti. This account is a story of how Makkala Jagriti’s story and my story met.   The first 15 years of my career have been widely varied. My ties with the corporate world began in finance, moving on to the world of defence contracting. This exposed me to...
Online Learning With Makkala Jagriti During The Pandemic

Online Learning With Makkala Jagriti During The Pandemic

18 Aug 2021
What Children, Parents and Teachers Thought   The years 2020 and 2021 so far have been challenging beyond comprehension. This holds for everybody… having to combat an unprecedented worldwide occurrence calls for a special strain of resilience. At Makkala Jagriti, a challenge we have observed closer to home was one of uninterrupted learning. We’ve had to hit the ground running...
Ushering New Opportunities for Children in Child Care Institutions

Ushering New Opportunities for Children in Child Care Institutions

19 Jul 2021
Ushering New Opportunities for Children in Child Care Institutions Dev (name changed) is a little boy of twelve from Koppal district in North Karnataka. Circumstances have been difficult for him. Coming from an unstable family, he spent his life as a rag-picker when Childline’s frontline team rescued him. He was brought to the Government Children Home for Boys in Koppal....
Rallying Together – Community Support During the Pandemic

Rallying Together – Community Support During the Pandemic

18 Jun 2021
We’ve been amid the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects for over 18 months now. It is rather hard to reminisce about life before then. So much has happened in these 500-odd days that they feel like a lingering dark and dreary cloud. It has been particularly hard on the socio-economically marginalised communities.   Since the pandemic struck, Makkala Jagriti has...
Exploring Creativity

Exploring Creativity

31 May 2021
When we think of the word creativity, our minds tend to gravitate towards forms of art and artistic pursuits. But if we were to break the word up and dwell on the word create, it is quite simply a conversion – conversion of thoughts, ideas, and ruminations into a reality that we can touch, feel, experience. We looked within ourselves...
Yuva Café: Brewing youth empowerment

Yuva Café: Brewing youth empowerment

19 Apr 2021
Anita* was looking for a place where she could learn some basic computer applications to help her get a job. Her friend Ravi* told her about a place which was offering a course that taught basic computer skills – free of cost! Jumping at the idea, Anita rode her scooter and parked by a building which had a board that...
The ‘New Normal’ in Early Education – Learning During the Pandemic

The ‘New Normal’ in Early Education – Learning During the Pandemic

1 Apr 2021
The ‘New Normal’ in Early Education – Learning During the Pandemic It’s 8 a.m. somewhere in the world. The breakfast plates have been put away, the computer screens are on and studded with little images of children, with the teacher somewhere in the mix. For the next few hours, the children listen intently to the teacher imparting the day’s lessons....
Children and Art – A Journey Towards Self-Expression

Children and Art – A Journey Towards Self-Expression

25 Mar 2021
Reminiscing about our days at school, one memory that rings clear is of a class we would never miss, come rain or shine. A class in which we put away notebooks and pens, and pulled out large white sheets of paper, paints and brushes, and coloured pencils. The ART class. A class where we would feel free… but to an...
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anganwadi school near me

How the education of one girl can impact generations ahead

Both of Mercy’s parents worked in the unorganised sector, who could not afford her school fees. She joined Makkala Jagriti Learning Centre at the age of 11, and always found the facilitators to be warm, welcoming and encouraging. Makkala Jagriti also supported her to pursue her education.

“We had a lot of freedom to explore our interests and talents. They taught us life skills and values. It was a new world for me.”

– Mercy

Through the Yuva Jagriti career guidance programme, Mercy received the right kind of insight and encouragement that led her to pursue a degree in Commerce, that too through a merit seat. Being the first girl in her family to study that far, she set an example in her community and made choices that allowed her to move beyond the circumstances that she was born into. Mercy now works in a reputed bank and is among our celebrated many who not only made a difference in their own lives but continue to do so in that of others.

anganwadi centres

Turning a Misguided Youth into a Community Leader

Prabhu was a teenager when the old, dilapidated building in which his family lived collapsed, leaving them without a home. While they were still grappling with the situation, Prabhu lost his father, the sole earning member of the family. Unable to process his difficult circumstances, he found strength in hanging around with his friends, who often indulged in gang wars and all forms of abusive behaviour.

Prabhu was a shy yet playful boy when he joined the Yuva Jagriti centre at the age of 15. He expressed, “I feel I am at crossroads, not sure which road to take”. Following our support and guidance, he decided to pursue an internship at Makkala Jagriti. He was entrusted to work with children from Shelter Homes. Today, Prabhu is a sought-after Creative Facilitator and Coordinator at Makkala Jagriti, managing three Community Centres. A silent yet sound performer, he brings in diverse and highly creative ways to engage children and help them learn and grow.

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From a 10th Std. dropout to a World Taekwondo Champion

Murali lived in Bengaluru with his brother, while his parents lived in a village in Tamil Nadu. After his 10th grade, he lost the interest and inclination to study further. When he joined Yuva Jagriti, he started learning Taekwondo at our centre, which helped him become calmer and more focused. He also showed immense capacity to work with children, especially in the areas of sports and creativity, and this landed him an opportunity to work with Makkala Jagriti. Alongside his work, he pursued Taekwondo and competed at the District, State and National levels. He won a number of Gold Medals.

Today, Murali is an accomplished Taekwondo instructor, teaching at many schools in Bengaluru. He brought great accolades to the Nation when he won two bronze medals at the World Taekwondo Championship in Korea in September 2017.

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Breaking the language barrier for migrant children

Barnalli, a seventh grade student at Government Primary School, Somasundrapalya, is a child of migrant parents from Assam. Unable to speak the local language, Kannada, she found it difficult to adjust to school and struggled to mingle with other children.

“When you are new to a place and don’t know anyone, it is hard to fit in. She didn’t have any friends in school.”

– Barnalli’s mother

Makkala Jagriti’s language development program came to her rescue.

“Although I was in a higher grade, the HDLC facilitator taught me Kannada right from the basics. The different activities and sessions helped me grasp the language easily and quickly. Over time, Kannada moved from being just a new language to my favorite subject. Learning Kannada helped me enjoy school a lot more. I became a class leader and also started representing the school in inter-school competitions!”

– Barnalli

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Equipping parents to become positive influencers

Manoj, a 12-year-old boy, hails from a family of garment workers who had migrated from Andhra Pradesh. On moving to Bengaluru in 2018, he joined the Government Primary School in Ulsoor. The drastic change in his environment and culture left him feeling withdrawn and fearful. He refused to speak or participate in any school activity. Over time, he confided in our HDLC facilitator about feeling neglected by his parents in such difficult circumstances.

Manoj’s mother was invited to participate in Makkala Jagriti’s parents’ workshop. The two-day residential workshop allowed her to reflect on her own mindset, biases and relationship with her son. At the end of it, she made a conscious decision to work on rebuilding and restoring her relationship with Manoj. At school, our facilitator noticed that this had a direct impact on his performance. He became more participative and improved in his academics. Manoj later shared with the facilitator that his relationship had become more harmonious and positive with his mother.

anganwadi school

Nammoora Anganwadi

We have seen great transformation take place when parents and community members are involved in shaping learning spaces for children and understand the importance of preschool education. The Anganwadi at Katamnallur, Bengaluru, transformed from a dull space to a vibrant and colourful learning centre, where children love to visit every day and parents and community members gather to participate in various activities.

“When we started our intervention, we saw that the environment at the Anganwadi was not safe or conducive for children. Although the community could contribute to the Anganwadi’s development, there was a major gap between the community, local leaders and Anganwadi teachers.”

– Gouri, Coordinator

Through community celebrations and fun events, we involved community members in the Anganwadi activities. As their participation grew, their understanding about the significance of early learning and development also increased and they readily contributed to the centre’s development.

“Community involvement in Anganwadi is so important. Inspired by Makkala Jagriti’s work, we saw the community, parents and Bala Vikas Samithi members come together and show greater ownership towards the Anganwadi.”

– Subramanya Swamy, Doddabanahalli Gram Panchayat Member

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A Library with Toys!

In an effort to ensure that every household in the Anganwadi community had access to child-friendly learning materials, we started a novel initiative called ‘Toy Library’, which allowed parents to borrow toys and learning resources for their children.

“The Toy Library has been very useful for children. Whatever we teach at Anganwadi, they can continue learning at home independently. Parents also feel more equipped to engage their children at home. No wonder, within just two months of its launch, over 100 toys were borrowed from our Anganwadi.”

– Bhavya, Anganwadi teacher

The Toy Library concept was welcomed by the community and the time spent on learning at home increased!

“My child always preplans what he’d like to take home from the Toy Library. He has also become very responsible in maintaining the toys because he knows he must return them! In the past 3 months, we have borrowed 20 times already.”

– Shwetha, Parent, Vijayanagara Anganwadi, Doddaballapur

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Empowered Teachers Create Better Learners

To ensure children get quality pre-school learning opportunities in the Anganwadi, we empower the teachers and helpers through enhancing their knowledge, skills and attitude towards early learning and development.

“Through Anganwadi trainings, I have changed in a positive way and gained confidence about myself – especially in terms of catering to all domains of early learning. I have even started making learning materials by myself to teach children”.

– Nirmala, Anganwadi teacher, Rojipura

We train teachers and helpers on experiential learning methods that can be practiced at their centres. We also organise Mothers’ Meetings and regular mentoring visits to provide on-the-job support and guidance to teachers. Anganwadi helpers are empowered to become co-teachers and have an important role in the children’s learning process, thereby not confining them to just cooking and cleaning.

“I was used to just cooking and cleaning in the Anganwadi and did not do much else. However, after I attended the ECCE trainings, I realized I had a lot of potential and could engage and teach the children just like a teacher. Now, when the teacher is absent, I engage children in preschool learning activities.”

– Rukmini, Helper, Jyothinagar Anganwadi

From giving little time to learning, to prioritizing pre-school learning and spending more quality time with children, Anganwadi teachers and helpers have come a long way.