Muskurahat Foundation

Project KEYtaab, the organisation's flagship initiative, focuses on the holistic development of disadvantaged children. It encompasses social-emotional learning, academic support, and mental well-being. The curriculum employs experiential learning to break down concepts into their underlying values, fostering independent thinking. Social-emotional learning imparts crucial life skills and essential values for informed decision-making. Academic support emphasizes understanding over rote memorization, promoting a broader perspective on learning. Mental health is a key concern, with trained staff identifying potential issues and expert counsellors offering assistance, vital given the challenging backgrounds of many children. The classroom environment prioritizes both physical and emotional security, and a value system is integrated into sessions to instil respect and accountability, especially important for children without stable family structures.

Project Saarthi, initiated by the organisation, empowers marginalized youth to discover their potential and navigate their life paths as 'Saarthi' or guides. This career readiness programme targets underprivileged youth lacking career direction, equipping them with vital skills and ethics. Recognizing the urgent need for income during the pandemic, the initiative initially focused on youth leaving the care of shelter homes in Kolhapur. The programme's comprehensive approach involves training workshops to identify skills and interests, English and digital literacy courses, and job search guidance. The results were promising, with 80% of participants finding employment to meet immediate needs. Noting the broader relevance of such support, the organization plans to expand Project Saarthi beyond Kolhapur, aiming to integrate it with Project KEYtaab to assist youth in transitioning from school to college and a chosen profession.