SINCE India gained independence from British rule in 1947, it has made steady progress in primary and secondary education. But there are several stumbling blocks on the road to achieving the goal of universal education. These include a lack of adequate funds, physical infrastructure and quality teachers. India spends only a little over 3% of its GDP on education against the benchmark of 6% that every national education policy has set since 1968.
India needs significant mobilisation and collaboration between the government and the private and social sectors to provide quality education to every eligible child.
While the government has to step up its efforts, several nonprofits in India have been filling the education gaps. Here, we list 10 Indian NGOs driving the change in education:
1. K.C. Mahindra Education Trust (Nanhi Kali)
Since 1953, when the trust was founded to promote literacy and higher learning in the country, it has undertaken several initiatives to improve the lives of deserving students through education. Project Nanhi Kali, the flagship programme of K.C. Mahindra Education Trust, supports the education of underprivileged girls. After 1996 when the project started, Nanhi Kali has helped over 4.5 lakh girls.
The focus is on ensuring that girls from socially and economically marginalised families can access quality education and decrease the high dropout rates. The Nanhi Kali project also allows individuals to take part and support the education of girl children. To support K.C. Mahindra Education Trust (Project Nanhi Kali), you can donate here.
2. Udaan India Foundation
Mumbai-based Udaan Foundation runs a one-year programme to facilitate school readiness for children aged 4-6 years from low-income communities. The idea is to build a strong foundation in language and social skills in a safe, secure and happy learning environment. Donations to this programme will cover the cost of teachers’ salaries in schools.
After kindergarten, the NGO also continues supporting them through their school years until they become employable. You can sponsor a child’s education in Mumbai to help them dream of a future beyond the slums. To support Udaan India Foundation, you can donate here.
3. eVidyaloka
This Bengaluru-based NGO is helping underprivileged children in rural India access quality of education through technology. eVidyaloka is combating the severe shortage of teachers in government schools, and its work has benefitted more than 20,000 children in over 200 remote villages. This has been done by connecting the children to volunteer teachers worldwide through live and interactive classes.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the NGO helped provide access to education through remote learning. Through a small donation of just ₹3 per day or more, you can ensure one child from a remote village can access education for an entire year. To support eVidyaloka, you can donate here.
4. Pi Jam Foundation
Conceived by Teach for India Alumni in 2017, Pi Jam Foundation aims to provide students from under-resourced schools with computing and problem-solving skills.
As most students in India do not have access to the knowledge and skills to make them part of the productive economy in tomorrow’s workforce, Pi Jam aims to bridge this gap. Computational thinking and problem-solving are two areas in which Pi Jam wants to do the most work so that school-going children can be equipped well when they enter the job market. To support Pi Jam Foundation, you can donate here.
5. Vanavil Trust
Vanavil helps children from marginalised and historically nomadic communities who would otherwise be living on the streets, begging or worse. Vanavil works closely with the Boom Boom Mattukaran and Narikuravar nomadic tribes, forced to make a living through begging and selling minor wares. Vanavil was started in 2005 in the aftermath of the December 2004 tsunami by a handful of youngsters and has grown with the help of individual donors and foundations committed to the cause of education.
The NGO’s mission is to educate children, provide livelihood and empower the communities. They also provide personalised care for every student and assist with college and diploma courses or vocational training. Vanavil needs your support to continue its mission. To support Vanavil Trust, you can donate here.
6. Aarti for Girls
Aarti for Girls was started in 1992 in Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh. Aarti Home is an orphanage for abandoned and destitute girl children.
The organisation fosters and supports abandoned girls by providing them shelter, education and opportunities to succeed. Aarti feels that the best way to bring up children with difficult pasts would be by giving them an environment that is less institutionalised and more family-based. Over 650 students from disadvantaged backgrounds are currently enrolled at Aarti School. To support Aarti for Girls, you can donate here.
7. Vidya and Child
Vidya and Child was started in 1998 to make a difference in the lives of underprivileged children in a socio-economically marginalised society. Today, the majority of its learners are first-generation school-goers. The organisation is helping over 1,800 children across five locations in rural and semi-rural settings through its school and after-school support programmes.
The pandemic resulted in the complete closure of schools and children, especially girls, were forced out of schools. You can support the non-formal education of marginalised children and help them take their first step towards education. To support Vidya and Child, you can donate here.
8. Ibtada
Ibtada works for the empowerment of women and girl children in the Alwar district of Rajasthan. Ibtada intervenes in education, life skills development, computer literacy, vocational training, transport to school and college, and college fee support. The organisation also works with the government education system to improve the school learning environment, outcomes and to empower school management committees. It also provides financial support to improve the infrastructure in government schools.
A library is set up in scores of schools where Ibtada works to inculcate the habit of reading and enhance comprehension. You can support Ibtada in educating more children from underprivileged backgrounds. To support Ibtada, you can donate here.
9. Vidya Poshak
Vidya Poshak’s unique programme identifies bright students from economically disadvantaged families and nurtures them until they complete their higher education, including assistance in finding suitable jobs.
The organisation realised early that students from low-income families have limited career opportunities because of low-quality education and the lack of financial resources. Vidya Poshak has two established programmes – ‘Nurture Merit’ that supports high-achieving students from economically challenged backgrounds into higher education until they graduate and find employment, and ‘Graduate Finishing School’, an initiative to train financially disadvantaged graduates from rural areas in vocational skills. To support Vidya Poshak, you can donate here.
10. E and H Foundation
E and H Foundation is a Delhi-based organisation working to enable quality education and healthcare for underprivileged children.
Its focus is on the education of underprivileged girl children in Uttar Pradesh. The NGO partners with highly successful education models on the ground and helps them scale up at a meagre cost. Currently, the foundation has partnered with the Gyan Shala model that is helping children achieve grade-appropriate learning in classes 1-4 at a low cost of ₹5,000 per child per year compared to the average government cost of ₹12,000 per child. Since its inception in 2012, E and H Foundation has reached 19,000 children in three districts of Uttar Pradesh and aims to reach 1,00,000 children by 2025. To support E and H Foundation, you can donate here.
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Kumara was a professional journalist for over 15 years, with stints in The Telegraph and Reader’s Digest. He grew up hating maths and physics. He is a post-graduate in history. Kumara believes that cricket and Seinfeld have answers to most questions that life throws at you.
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thanks for sharing blog.
Hi….:)
Happy to know that you found the information useful. Do let us know if you would like to donate to any of these NGOs and need any assistance for the same.
Actually I want to provide the Digital Marketing Training for your students who have graduated.
Thanks
Hi Prakhar,
We at GiveIndia, help our partner NGOs to raise funds only. For your initiative, you can directly get in touch with any of the NGOs mentioned above. Good luck! 🙂
Can i have your contact number please ?
Hi Rupak,
If you want to connect with someone at Give. Please call at 7738714428.
Hi,
I am an experiential educator and creative writer and would like to provide musical stories ( online access) and offline and educational activities on a voluntary basis. Please let me know which of these NGOs would be open to receiving them on a pan-India basis.
Hope to get your response soon,
Regards
Mahrukh
Hi Mahrukh 🙂
Happy to know that you want to collaborate with a nonprofit for your idea. Here are the details of one our partner NGOs, Bhumi. Please reach out to them directly.
+91 91765 22821
shilpa@bhumi.ngo
3/2, Karpaga Vinayagar Kovil Street, Alandur, Chennai, 600016
Hello, I’m from NMIMS, Bangalore college.
My college wants to collaborate with the NGO for collecting find for a child’s education. How can we get in touch with them and in which way (platform) can we raise the fund ?
Hi Jeel,
Thank you for reaching out to us. Please write to info@giveindia.org.
Our team will get in touch with you.
Regards,
GiveIndia Support Team
Nice post related to NGO’s rejuvenating education in india . Thank you for sharing.
Hi Anandita…:)
Happy to know that you found the information useful. Do let us know if you would like to donate to any of these NGOs and need any assistance for the same.
The Chetna NGO also works for the education for underprivileged children in Delhi. https://bit.ly/2YYTQTz
Good luck with your mission. 🙂
We are running NGO namely “Youth Build Foundation” in Assam. We would like to have your kind support and guidance under your Chetna (NGO).
bijoydasd62@yahoo.com
Hi,
Why World Vision India is not listed here? Are they genuine?
Hi Vishal 🙂
The above blog covers only a few nonprofits doing phenomenal work in the field of education. I believe there must be more which are contributing to this noble cause.
but then too there are many villages in India which are not access to basic education and if the service is available the parents are not that much educated to send their children to school .
girls child education
Hi Claira 🙂
You are correct! Even today in many villages there are no schools or teachers to impart basic education. Many of our partner NGOs are trying to reach out to such communities to give the poor children a fair chance to education.
I am poor students plz plz help sir mam
Hi Susanta,
Can you please give us more details about yourself and the kind of help you are seeking? Please mail at info@giveindia.org.
Very nice Info, thanks for sharing with us. If anyone wants to donate money to the NGO Working for Child Education then you can contact to “Empowering Minds” which is doing a great job for educating the poor and underprivileged children. For more details, visit: http://www.empoweringminds.co.in/
Hi Arjun 🙂
Thank you for sharing the information about Empowering Minds.
HI Myself Jagadhisha B T am Running Org called Chiguru from 2 years under this am running 5 pre school and 1 school 1-5th ,here its my childhood aim to provide quality education for rural poor children very lesser amount but due to financial problem am struggling late if any one organisation or individual interest to support us please feel free to call me and mail me Jagadhishabt1984@gmail.com,Ph.No 7353880396
Hi Jagadhisha 🙂
Happy to know about your initiative. Here are the details of one our partner NGOs, Make A Difference. It provides quality education to children in shelter homes and orphanages, across India. Please reach out to them directly.
16 C, 1st Main Road 14th Cross
Sector 6, HSR Layout
Bangalore 560102 Karnataka
Phone : +91 96636 97627
Email : pooja@makeadiff.in
Came across this blog today.
It appears you have MISSED the LARGEST NGO in INDIA focused on rural and tribal education – EKAL VIDYALAYA FOUNDATION (ekal.org).
They run 90,000+ one-teacher FREE schools in as many villages and DIRECTLY impact over 2.5 million children.
Half of the students in their schools are GIRLS.
In addition, they have skills development program for villagers and an health initiative to improve rural hygiene.
They were recently awarded the Gandhi Peace Prize for 2017 by the Government of India.
I would request you to update your blog and include this exemplary NGO in your list.
Hi Prashant 🙂
We have listed only a few NGOs that are doing great work in education sector. We are sure there must be many more who are contributing towards the cause. Also, thank you for sharing the information about Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation.
Hello Sir,
I am running a primary school in rural area in Punjab to give quality education with very nominal fee to meet the requirements of the school but still there are many students who need financial help. My number is 9888562100 Ms. Baljinder kaur, if you could help me getting them education as i am doing everything all alone without any resources.
Regards
Hi Baljinder,
Please write to info@giveindia.org.
Our team will connect with you.
Thank you,
GiveIndia
Hi,
very well written the article and full of knowledge and information.
Thanks
Hi Yoriko 🙂
Happy to know that you found the information useful. Do let us know if you would like to donate to any of these NGOs and need any assistance for the same.
Hi there,
It is a wonderful article and it’s full of knowledge and information and telling everything about education surrounded be happening. NGO in India directly benefitting over 750,000 children and their families every year, through more than 350 live welfare projects on education, healthcare, livelihood and women empowerment, in over 1000 remote villages and slums across 25 states of India. Really NGOs rejuvenating education in India. Again thanks for sharing such a piece of wonderful information.
Hi Sandeep 🙂
Happy to know that you found the information useful. Do let us know if you would like to donate to any of these NGOs and need any assistance for the same.
Good Morning,
Thank you for valuable information.
Need some advise and suggestion. We want to be part of the society where can contribute to give back to humanity. Never been able to put our thoughts into action. Tried multiple times, due to lack of Human Resource’s and skill set not been able to materialise.
We have come up with a factory premises in one of the villages in Bihar ( 70 kms from Patna and 15 kms from Chappra). The factory is located on State highway and next to village area. Peaceful area. Decent density.
We have land available approx 1.5 acres adjacent to factory for expansion. The infrastructure is partly in place and balance can be created by us over time.
Please connect us with the right sources . Will be highly obliged.
Warm Regards
Hi Nitin 🙂
Happy to know about your intent to do something for the society. One of our partner NGOs, Quest Alliance is operating in Bihar since years now. Their focus is on research-led innovation and implementation of high-impact projects in the field of teaching and learning. They engage with Government schools, community colleges and vocational institutes, to help them adopt ICT-enabled educational solutions.
If you want to make an impact in the education sector, reading about their model or collaborating with them for resources could be a fruitful plan. Below are their details. Good luck!..:)
Address: No. 108, 2nd Main, 6th Cross,
Koramangala 1st Block
Bangalore 560034, Karnataka
Phone : +91 80 40983304
Email : nikita@questalliance.net
Thank you for the good information about Education.
IGNITE has become one of the top institutions in Kerala through its complete dedication to delivering quality education. Our prime motto is to impart rich education to all the teens and youngsters for a brighter future.
Hi Lakshmi 🙂
Thank you for sharing the information about IGNITE.
Nice article about education…
thanks for sharing this….!!!
Hi Sunada 🙂
Happy to know that you found the information useful. Do let me know if you would like to donate to any of these NGOs and need any assistance for the same.
Ur donation towards society’s Will bring change in future ….keep it going on…with best regards 👍👍👍
Hello, this blog was very effective. It is very catchy. I truly appreciate you to write more and more blogs like this. Will be in touch for more updates of yours.
nice post
Hopefully, more of Educational Ngo’s like the Kalinga institute of social science opens up in the tribal area of Chhattisgarh. Those tribal children over there deserve every bit of education like what a normal child would get.