Supporting Children of Indian Migrant Labourers through the Open School Initiative

Overview

Government of India’s Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) is a flagship program that bridges gender and social category gaps in education and aims to provide universal access to elementary education. But children of migrant labourers face significant disadvantages and often remain outside the ambit of the scheme. Their parents’ constant movement in search of livelihood prevents them from being admitted to local government schools in the short term. This can be attributed to various reasons – lack of resources and valid documentation, unavailability of transfer certificates from their village schools where they were originally enrolled, or simply being overage or slow learners. To bridge this gap, the Civic Spectrum team joined hands with a team of community volunteers led by Mr. Vikas Goel of Tata Consultancy Services, to expand upon an informal ‘Open School Initiative’ that started in 2020 in Noida, a suburb of New Delhi, India. This grassroots effort helps over 50 migrant families by providing holistic elementary education and supporting their children, absolutely free of cost.

Project Goals

Our primary goal is to break the cycle of disadvantage by providing daily interactive sessions for children aged 5 to 14 from economically challenged backgrounds. We aim to build competence to ensure that academically, they do not lag behind. Beyond academics, our goal is to instil life skills, promote self-development, health & hygiene, and foster a sense of well-being through a comprehensive mechanism, with support from the local community.

Key Deliverables

Through our daily commitment of two hours, seven days a week, our team and volunteers deliver a curriculum encompassing English, Hindi, Maths, as well as weekend sessions on General Knowledge, Art, Creative Expression, and Yoga. We go beyond the traditional classroom setting by providing essentials, including daily refreshments, books, stationery & art supplies, clothing, shoes, and medicines for the children, as well as counselling support for their families.

Our Approach

Rooted in community engagement and empathy, the initiative is 100% self-funded by the team of volunteers. Over time, our efforts have garnered support from sections of the community through monetary donations and in-kind contributions.

Result

The ‘Open School Initiative’ is not just an educational project; it’s a testament to the transformative power of collective action and empathy. It showcases the impact of civic engagement in fostering hope and embracing true equity and inclusion. Through this endeavour, we reinforce our belief that education is the strongest catalyst for change, with the firm conviction that each individual possesses the potential to be the change they want to see.