Ugta Suraj: Towards an Empowered Childhood

India faces a major problem in rampant illiteracy. Despite the Right to Education (RTE) Act coming into force in 2009, access to education for every child remains a huge concern in the country. One in 4 children of school-going age is out of school with 99 million children in total have dropped out of school (Census 2011). So enrollment as well as retention in formal schooling remains a big concern.

There is a very little understanding on the reasons for low enrollment and even a lower retention of children in school. There are multiple reasons and these all can not be brushed under the blanket cause of poverty. The major concern remains that each child goes to school and completes formal education till Class XII.

We plan to prepare the children for formal school education through innovative and recreational approach so that once they are enrolled in formal school, they are motivated and mentally prepared to stay in school. They look at school as a relevant institution in their life. The strategy is - Nip in the Bud, groom the children when young so that they continue their school journey against all odds. The parents are the major stakeholder in this journey.

Our Ugta Suraj program works to mainstream out of school children, largely belonging to migrant populations. Children are enrolled in the learning and support center which is established in migrant communities so as to increase access and attendance. The curriculum consists of a mix of formal learning as well as co-curricular activities designed to stimulate learning and creativity. The curriculum also emphasizes the importance of education and teaches children and parents how to plan and save for education. At the end of one year learning, we work with government, private and charitable schools to enroll children back into formal schools. We closely monitor school performance of the children for one year after the program to ensure retention. Currently we are running 3 centers with a total of 200 children.

Ugta Suraj would result in -

1. Children learning and growing positive
2. Journey of literacy and education begins for children
3. No child would remain out of school
4. childhood would not be wasted in child labour, abuse and exploitation
5. contribute to 100% literacy in India
6. Literate children would mean literate families