Kamal’s way back to learning
Kamal*, a 13-year-old boy, had to drop out of school in Grade 7 to work in agricultural fields and support his family. What began as a temporary compromise slowly became his reality. During a door-to-door visit in his village, the CRY project team identified Kamal’s situation and stepped in. They visited his home and gently spoke with his family about the importance of education. But years of financial hardship had made them hesitant.
When the team asked Kamal what he wanted, his answer was clear: “I want to study. I do not want to work as a laborer.” His quiet but determined voice shifted something within his parents.
To ensure that Kamal wouldn’t have to return to labor, the team supported his family by linking them to government livelihood programs. They then guided Kamal through the re-admission process and helped him return to school. To ease his transition, he was provided with a school bag, notebooks, and essential learning materials. The team also arranged additional academic support to help him bridge the learning gaps he had faced while working. Slowly, Kamal began to reconnect with his studies. As his confidence grew, the team encouraged him to participate in sports, group activities, and creative learning spaces, helping him rediscover not just education, but joy.
Today, Kamal attends school regularly. He supports his peers in their learning and actively participates in the Children’s Collective, inspiring others to stay in school.
*Name changed to protect identity
The Problem
In the Kotra block of Udaipur, the quality of education for tribal children is severely compromised due to inadequate teaching staff and poor school infrastructure, often leading to high dropout rates. Teacher retention in both primary and secondary schools remains a major challenge due to the area’s remoteness, further impacting educational quality. As a result, many children are pushed into child labor to support their families’ livelihoods.
The Solution
CRY America’s Project KAS works to facilitate access to quality education by collaborating with School Management Committees (SMCs), government officials, and Community-Based Organizations (CBOs), while also improving school infrastructure to encourage student retention. Key activities under this project include identifying and mainstreaming dropout and out-of-school children, including child laborers, into the formal education system, conducting remedial classes to bridge learning gaps, and linking children to relevant educational programs. In addition, the project focuses on forming Children’s Collectives to raise awareness in the community about issues like child labor and child marriage.
Impact Of The Project
636
Never-enrolled and dropout children mainstreamed into education
1,600
Children accessing education in 55 pre-school centers
180
Children enrolled in Child Activity Centers (CACs)
766
Children transitioned from Anganwadi Centers to primary schools
439
Children removed from labor and enrolled in schools
1,023
Community members linked to livelihood opportunities
260
Child marriages prevented
740
Children & adolescents trained in Life Skills sessions
500
Women and adolescents sensitized on menstrual hygiene
2026 Plans
- Enhance the problem-solving capacity of School Management Committees (SMCs) by equipping 12 SMCs to resolve 80% of issues raised
- Ensure active participation of all 210 School Management Committee (SMC) members in community meetings
- Ensure age-appropriate learning outcomes for 180 children aged 6–14 years attending Child Activity Centers
- Ensure re-enrollment of 30 dropout children aged 6–14 years and 100 dropout children aged 15–18 years in schools
- Ensure enrollment of 200 never-enrolled children aged 6–14 years and 80 never-enrolled children aged 15–18 years in schools
- Enroll 30 children aged 15–18 years in vocational courses
- Submit a proposal to government officials for the sanctioning of 3 new primary schools in 3 intervention villages
- Sensitize 720 children from collectives through life skills and leadership training
- Link 540 adolescents to health, education, and leadership activities
- Strengthen all 270 Village Level Child Protection Committee (VLCPC) members by sensitizing them on child protection issues
- Rescue 450 child laborers and mainstream them into formal education
- Establish one seasonal hostel to prevent or rescue 60 children from child labor and mainstream them into formal education
- Conduct 66 Life Skills sessions with 1,260 children
- Conduct 18 Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) sessions with children
2026 Total Budget
2025 Grant Disbursed: $29,531
2026 Grant Approved: $31,559
