Project Andaman and Nicobar Islands – Direct Intervention

Campaign Story

About the project

Four slums in South Andaman’s Port Blair are home to over 1,004 households, including 1,611 children. Lack of infrastructure, limited awareness, and inadequate financial support are major factors contributing to poor enrolment in early education. Climate change further exacerbates anaemia among adolescent girls and pregnant women by worsening water scarcity, disrupting food systems, and damaging health infrastructure, thereby limiting access to nutrition and healthcare services. Additionally, 20% of children in the 0–5 age group are severely or moderately underweight.

Making a difference

The CRY America Project Direct Implementation in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands is working to improve access to education and healthcare by encouraging the enrolment of infants and school dropouts in pre-school and formal education. The project also addresses malnutrition and anaemia by promoting sustainable home-grown vegetables, monitoring the growth of children and adolescents, and referring severely underweight children to government healthcare facilities for advanced treatment.

Additionally, the project focuses on forming Children’s and Adolescent Collectives to raise awareness about their right to education and the consequences of child labour and child marriage.

Project Andaman and Nicobar Islands - Direct Intervention Making a difference

The way forward

● Conduct Village Health and Nutrition Days in 8 villages, engaging 50 mothers.
● Conduct the Year 1 Life Skills Module for 4 Children’s Collectives.

Project Impact

951

Children aged 6-18 years enrolled in schools

30

Children enrolled in Anganwadi Centers for preschool education

9

Severely Underweight children transitioned to Moderately Underweight category

82

Children aged 0-1 years received 100% immunization

322

Children and adolescents sensitized on child rights

15

First time learners enrolled in schools

20

Children trained through Life Skill Modules

11

Moderately Underweight children moved to complete recovery

2025 grant approved: $17,700

2026 budget approved: $3,940

Amina reclaims her right to education

Amina*, 12, had been out of school for two years. Without identity documents and with her father’s prolonged illness straining the family’s finances, she began working as a domestic helper to help make ends meet.

When CRY America’s project team learned about her situation, they reached out to her family, not with judgment, but with patience. Through repeated conversations, they spoke about the importance of a girl’s education and the long-term impact of child labour on a child’s health, safety, and future. A key barrier was the lack of a Below Poverty Line (BPL) card, required for school admission. The team supported the family through the documentation and administrative process, following up until the card was issued.

As trust grew, so did the family’s perspective. Amina was enrolled in a government secondary school. To help her bridge the academic gap, the team provided additional learning support and worked closely with her teachers to track her progress. Today, Amina is in Grade 6. She attends school regularly, supports her family at home, and is steadily rebuilding her future.

*Name changed to protect child’s identity

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