Mountain Children's Foundation

The MCF has successfully demonstrated in the past 21 years that children are very good communicators and educators within their communities. The children are change agents and alter community attitudes and perception towards child participation, child protection, health hygiene and to improve sanitation facilities in villages . We have also recognized that childhood is the best time to learn hygiene behaviours. In Uttarakhand children also essay important roles in the household which include resource use and taking care of younger siblings. They will also question existing practices in their homes and
initiate new practices. As future parents, the children are also likely to ensure the sustainability of any program’s impact
The children in these 63 Bal Sangthans learn soft skills - team work, leadership skills, communication skills, problem solving skills, interpersonal skills and self-confidence, which are very important for the development of each child and is not taught in school.

Empowering Mata Samitis (Mothers' Groups)
Mothers are key to the success of ECCE efforts. The Mata Samitis monitor their children’s growth, advocate for improved health and nutrition services, and support the Anganwadis in delivering quality services. The Mata Samitis are educated on essential practices around child nutrition, hygiene, and overall health, which will contribute to improving children’s well-being and readiness for school. The Mata Samitis will play an active role in advocating for transparent and effective services from the Anganwadis.
Strengthening Anganwadis (Early Childhood Care Centers)
To ensure regular health monitoring and nutrition interventions to ensure that children are physically healthy and able to engage in learning activities. Ensure that all 6 services are given through the Anganwadi to all beneficiary and strengthening of Mata Samitis

MCF's remedial program works to benefit those children who are left behind for no fault of their own, as they were born into families that are eking out a meager living either on very small farms or earning a pittance on daily wage jobs in rural Uttarakhand. Their schools do not have modern facilities and often even toilets and running water in the schools is a luxury.
Over the past few years the program has assisted hundreds of children in the primary section learn and come on par with the educational levels that their class requires in 27 villages.

Failure to protect children from issues such as violence in schools, child labour, harmful traditional practices, child marriage, child abuse, the absence of parental care and commercial sexual exploitation, amongst others, means failure in fulfilling both the Constitutional and International commitments towards children.

Prevention is the best form of protection . We focus on building a safety net with the adults, the children and work with Village level and Ward level child protection committees - so that the vulnerabilities of children can be understood and they can be protected the from child abuse both sexual and physical, child marriage, and be safe online.