Build a Balwadi: A Preschool for Children Living in Urban Slums in India

Children living urban slums in India lack access to high quality early childhood educational opportunities, a situation that can disadvantage them throughout their lives. The Indian government has failed to provide children under the age of six with proper schooling as over 20 million children are still not attending any pre-school programs according to UNICEF. Additionally, recent studies show 56,000 children die every year in urban slums in India due to malnutrition and two thirds of deaths among children under 5 are attributed to undernutrition. Preschool programs possess the potential to not only provide educational opportunities, but also nutritional assistance such as requisite meals, sustenance, and health examinations. Early interventions can alter lifelong trajectories of the children’s development, cognitive abilities, and health. It is critical that we provide underprivileged children with the proper advantage required to escape the cycle of poverty.

Swami Sivananda Memorial Institute is a non-for profit empowering underprivileged women and children to realize their full potential. My goal is to help build a Balwadi, a preschool for underprivileged children, from ages 3 to 6 living in clusters in and around Madipur, New Delhi. The Balwadi will be close to the residence of students and taught by girls who have graduated from school and have undergone a six month teacher training program. Students will engage in educational, recreation and fun activities such as sports and learning vocabulary. Moreover, students will be given hot cooked meals and regular health checkups. The children will also be taught good hygiene habits such as brushing, hand washing and bathing as many lack the resource to sanitation facilities.

The goal of the Balwadi is to provide an early education which is fundamental for assuring optimal utilization of children’s potential and enabling the children to develop a sound foundation for life. Furthermore, providing this adequate and well balanced diet will ensure good health and development as well-nourished children are more likely to be productive and ready to learn. Without the help of the Balwadi, undernutrition will stunt intellect, reduce productivity and perpetuate poverty. Preschool education is critical in developing educational and cognitive skills which help students later in life receive a higher education and graduate school with an employable skill.

Fundraising by Megan Chopra