Neha chooses education over tradition
Neha was 18 when her parents stopped her education after the 10th grade and began planning her marriage. But Neha was not ready to surrender her future. She had seen a bigger, brighter picture, one that CRY America’s project team introduced to children through the Child Adolescent Resource Center (CARC). When she shared her helplessness, the project team listened with patience and empathy.
They visited her home with the CARC teacher, gently reminding her parents of Neha’s potential and showing them how her education could uplift not just her life but the entire family. Those conversations were not easy. But after persistent efforts, her parents agreed to let her continue her studies.
When financial worries came up, the team guided them through the option of open schooling, an affordable pathway that ensured Neha could return to her education. She was soon re-enrolled in 10th grade.
To make sure she never stopped dreaming, the project team continued to walk beside her, providing life skills training and supporting her through an education scholarship. Her perseverance earned her a place in a peer-learning support group at the CARC.
Today, Neha carries deep gratitude for the teacher who intervened that day. In that moment, she found her purpose, to become a teacher herself and return to CARC so she can keep the cycle of change moving forward for the next generation.
*Name changed to protect child’s identity
The Problem
The project area of Nagar block experiences high rates of school dropouts, early marriage, and child labor due to seasonal migration of community members and limited access to schools, which disrupts children’s education. Additionally, low community awareness leads families to prefer non-formal schooling, further deteriorating the quality of education.
The Solution
CRY America’s Project SJJKS focuses on reducing socio-economic vulnerability and ensuring children attend school. It also works on mainstreaming child labor, implementing protection systems at the district level, and promoting attitudinal changes in the community regarding child marriage and child labor. Additionally, the project ensures access to secondary and higher education in schools.
Impact Of The Project
6,720
Children enrolled in schools
1,360
Adolescents enrolled in open schooling
7
Child and Adolescent Resource Centers (CARCs) established to provide educational support
30
Child marriages prevented
13
Children rescued from child labor
349
School dropouts re-enrolled in formal or open schools
2025 Plans
- Track the transition of 1,300 children from 5th to 6th grade and from 8th to 9th grade.
- Enroll 250 school dropouts in the National Institute of Open Schooling.
- Introduce Life Skills Sessions in 3 schools, reaching 300 adolescents.
- Conduct vocational training for 200 adolescents at CARCs.
- Conduct home visits covering 5,000 children to track cases of child marriage and child labor
- Establish 2 Child Marriage Control Rooms with 5 trained volunteers each to prevent child marriage.
- Link 800 adolescent girls to skill training and health education programs.
2025 Total Budget
