Asha for Education

The merits of non formal school programme:
a. It builds a strong foundation for the child so that the child can aspire to finish school education and go in for higher education.
b. Learning is facilitated thrugh various activities rather than being based in rote.
c. The child is exposed to various activities other than academics like art & craft, kathak, tabla, music, computers

Vidya & Child is a non profit initiative with the mission to help bridge the gap for those children
who need education and have no access to the facilities for learning existing in our society. It
started in July 1998 to work toward providing a learning environment which can lead to a strong
educational foundation as well as help a child in identifying the uniqueness within.
Socio-economic conditions and prevalent mindsets make it impossible for a vast majority of
children to go to school. The child is hardly exposed to any form of learning and therefore the
personality of the child does not grow. As the child grows in age the earning potential remains the
same as that of the parent. The cycle repeats itself generation after generation.
The belief that every child is capable of greatness is the driving force which provides a platform
wherein every child is given the freedom to explore and take decisions for a meaningful life
ahead. Each year their performance, enthusiasm and increased confidence reinforces our belief
towards their inherent capabilities and aptitude for excellence. It is indeed unfortunate that a
large majority of children in India are denied this opportunity and have no hope to learn and take
advantage of the ever increasing progress made by mankind.
Vidya & Child started with 2 children and now works with over 500 children across 4 locations
through its non formal and after school support centres. There are 80 children who have been
mainstreamed into formal schools and 7 children have finished Class XII and are all pursuing
higher studies. These are children who belong to socio-economically marginalised sections of
society, majority of them being whose parents are illiterate/ semi-literate and work as domestic
servants, industrial workers, rickshaw-pullers, street vendors, plumbers and carpenters.