Centre For Rural Education And Development Action

CREDA's primary focus is eradicating child labour through education and empowerment. Its campaign against child labour involves mobilizing the local community and establishing Village Child Labour Vigilance Committees to monitor and ensure children's enrollment in schools. The committees, comprising committed individuals, serve as watchdogs and discussion forums, promoting child rights and labour rights in general, leading to sustainable change in the long run.

CREDA's core focus is eradicating child labour by promoting full-time elementary education. It establishes Community Cottage Schools in collaboration with the community, offering two-year education to working children, particularly adolescent girls, and emphasising gender equity. The curriculum aligns with Government schools, and child-based teaching methods are employed. The organisation also supports mainstreaming children into formal schools, provides education kits, and ensures regular supervision and workshops for teachers. Vigilance Committees monitor child labour prevalence and enrollments, contributing to the sustainability of their efforts.

CREDA recognizes the link between health and rural development, especially for vulnerable groups like children and women. It focuses on raising health awareness among villagers through education and health melas, providing midday meals in schools, and promoting safe drinking water and hygiene. The organisation facilitates immunization campaigns, trains rural women health workers, and collaborates with Help Age India to establish a health centre for the elderly. Trained health workers and self-help groups run campaigns for cleanliness, while health camps and fairs offer basic healthcare and distribute free medicines, vitamins, and minerals. Additionally, CREDA uses various mediums to educate the community on traditional remedies, women's health, and nutrition.

CREDA has established Women's Groups to empower women and enable them to address social issues. Mothers' groups, comprising women with enrolled children, discuss various issues and raise awareness about discrimination and harmful practices. Self-Help Groups aim to break the debt trap caused by moneylenders, providing micro-enterprise opportunities and economic empowerment. These groups promote savings and credit schemes while advocating for women's rights and better access to government benefits and public distribution systems. CREDA strives to improve the economic prospects of women through micro-enterprises and collaborative efforts with Government officials.

CREDA has established 50 Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Centers, benefitting over 3,400 children aged 3 to 5 years, with a focus on girls. The centres adopt a "learning through play" approach, providing in-depth training to staff and utilizing educational aids to facilitate holistic child development. As children reach 5 years, they transition to nearby primary schools, and only 1% drop out. Parents and caregivers also benefit through parental education sessions and mothers' groups, fostering community involvement. The project management team and Aanganwadi Workers receive capacity-building training, ensuring effective monitoring and evaluation of the programme's success.

CREDA's vocational programme empowers mothers by providing skilled training in carpet weaving and enterprise management. It establishes centres where women receive training, enabling them to further their craft and earn extra income. The programme also helps women establish links with buyers and marketing agencies, enhancing their confidence and empowerment. As a result, children stay out of labour and attend school, while mothers receive training in childcare and pre-primary education at the Durrie weaving centres. The project's progress is closely monitored by the core team at district, block, and village levels, providing guidance and training as needed.