Korou Education Foundation

Library for All (LfA) stands as the flagship program initiated by the Korou Education Foundation. The inaugural endeavour commenced in 2017 with the Library for All program, specifically launched in Ukhrul district, a tribal hill area in Manipur. The organisation directed its efforts towards tribal communities due to the prevalent educational backwardness in hilly districts, which cover 80% of Manipur's total area. The acute scarcity of storybooks in schools is a prevailing issue across Manipur, underscoring the need for a solution.

The organisation offers support to schools:
• Assistance in establishing library spaces within schools.
• Provision of a meticulously curated collection of storybooks.
• Crucial guidance on library operations, encompassing strategies to enhance children's English reading skills and library management.
• Provision of a comprehensive hard copy manual detailing library setup and operations, supplemented by hands-on training sessions for teachers.

The organisation developed an instructional manual and supplementary resources tailored for government school teachers focusing on Foundational English language instruction. The materials are tailored considering the ethnic and linguistic diversity prevalent in Manipur and other North Eastern states. Moreover, the content is gender-sensitive, ensuring inclusivity. Specifically crafted to align with the working nature and learning capacity of government school teachers, these resources are intended for seamless implementation in their educational endeavours.

Recognizing the dire need to facilitate continued learning during COVID-19 pandemic, the organisation devised self-learning materials that operate without internet connectivity. These materials were crafted to enable children to learn independently, relying on minimal teaching assistance available to them at home during the pandemic. Some key features of the SLBs include:
• Engaging visual content and colourful designs to captivate children's interest and encourage self-engagement.
• User-friendly materials allowing self-learning through visual aids and practice.
The organisation has delivered SLBs directly to over 3,700 children from various families, comprising a distribution of more than 75,000 pages of self-learning materials. Assessing each child's English language competency through a reliable tech platform, it ensures that appropriate SLBs are delivered based on their learning level.

To counter the challenges posed by the pandemic, few motivated and educated young individuals from the villages emerged as the champions of education, offering doorstep educational support to children. These passionate individuals are known as Village Reading Coaches. Throughout the year 2021 amidst the COVID crisis, they have provided personalized one-on-one learning assistance to over 3,700 children.
Across seven districts, the organisation has nurtured a team of 31 Village Reading Coaches. They have received comprehensive training not only in educational methodologies but also in technical skills such as mobile-based data entry, fundamental field research capabilities, and professional skill development. Equipped with this training, they now possess the confidence and readiness to work effectively within any organization. Their aspiration is to serve as catalysts for change within their respective villages, aspiring to become agents of transformation and progress.