Independent Learners Project

In the slum communities of Mumbai, families live in economically, socially and psychologically challenging circumstances. With ₹1,600 per child per month, you could help Touching Lives support the educational and life-skills needs for 300 children identified from slum communities of Dahisar and Borivali in Mumbai.

The online nature of learning has enabled us to also support students rescued from abuse by other NGOs, students living in villages of Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, different parts of Delhi and Mumbai etc., and not be limited to any location. Every child living in these vulnerable socio-economic backgrounds comes from families and communities where drop-out ratio from schools is high and there is a need to provide psychological/emotional development support to children. There is also a need to assist them to attend regular school and college.

For some of the students, the reality is that the child may be in grade eight and yet not be able to read three letter English words.

Covid-19 pandemic has disrupted the lives and livelihoods of families and added to their challenges in life. The children need more support for staying mentally healthy, attaining and managing age appropriate levels of learning and making sure they continue their educational journeys.

Independent Learners Project by Touching Lives is an initiative to provide activity-based supplementary education to children living in slum communities in Mumbai and vulnerable situations across India. It also supports parents of the students with meditation and mental-health programs.

Over the period of years, we have developed our in-house curriculum catering to the evolving needs of the children and working not just for their school study support but for their overall development.

Thus, a child attending programs run under Independent Learners Project is assisted not only in continuing and progressing in the formal education system at school and college but also empowered with life-skills training, knowledge and tools for sound emotional development, mental well-being and creativity.

For 2022-23, our goal is to support 300 regular students - continue to conduct the sessions online for 3-5 days a week one hour each day. The mentors and team of Touching Lives is constantly in touch with children and their parents apart from regular sessions through individual learning sessions and counselling support on rest of the weekdays and weekends.

Annual per student education sponsorship - INR 18,960 (250 USD) (225 Euros) (190 GBP)

Total Number of students 2022-23 – 300

THE MODEL of Touching Lives is to support the individual journey of each child for their education and for their life.

Education does change the lives of children and their families forever!

Ram Soni’s journey epitomizes the work, impact and vision of Touching Lives.

Ram used to live in a slum community in Mumbai with his family and was always told since his childhood that he has to become a vegetable vendor like his father. Ram had dropped out of school for a year to earn a living for his family when he was in 7th standard.

But with his determination and with the support of Touching Lives team, he was able to get back to education. Ram received support for his studies, sponsorship to learn swimming, computer, alternative therapies arts-based therapy, transactional analysis, clinical hypnotherapy, and also for his life goals. Currently, Ram lives in a rented apartment with his family, works full-time with Touching Lives team as a Healer and Counsellor. He has completed his graduation in Psychology and is also pursuing Distance Learning course of Masters in Holistic Counselling from Wholistic Health College, Australia.

You can read more success stories of Touching Lives students here - https://www.touchonelife.org/the-sacral-success-stories/