Project Asian Institute of Management Trust (AIM)

Campaign Story

About the project

Behjam block in Lakhimpur Kheri district is one of the most underdeveloped regions in Uttar Pradesh. The area faces a high school dropout rate among children, primarily due to the limited number of upper primary and secondary schools. The absence of the mandated pupil-teacher ratio as per the Right to Education (RTE) Act, along with inadequate facilities, severely impacts the quality of education. Children in the area often fall victim to societal attitudes, discrimination, and exclusion. Cases of sexual abuse, stalking, and elopement further add to the challenges, especially for girls. Additionally, due to prevailing community beliefs, religious schools are often preferred over formal education, further widening the gap in access to quality schooling.

A lack of adequate job opportunities forces many families to migrate to nearby cities or towns, further disrupting the educational continuity of their children and forcing them to take up work at an early age.

Making a difference

CRY America’s Project AIM focuses on sensitizing communities about children’s right to education and actively promotes schooling to improve enrolment rates. The project also aims to reduce dropout rates by working closely with school authorities, School Management Committee (SMC) members, and other key stakeholders. Key activities under this project include enrolling and re-enrolling children in schools, rescuing children and adolescents from potential child marriage and child labor practices, linking families with livelihood opportunities and running sustained campaigns to address issues such as substance abuse.

The way forward

● Ensure 1,989 children aged 15–18 years are enrolled in and retained at school.
● Build the capacity of 348 SMC (School Management Committee) members across 27 schools, sensitizing them on their roles and responsibilities.
● Ensure continued academic support for 256 children attending 4 Child Activity Centres.
● Activate 8 Child Protection Committees to reduce instances of child labor and child marriage.
● Link 30 children to the child protection system, remove 234 children from labor, and integrate them into formal education.
● Rescue 8 child laborers in the intervention area.
● Conduct life skills sessions with 30 CRY collectives.
● Encourage girls to pursue sports by providing sports gear to 11 girls in the cricket team.
● Conduct a Parent Module engaging 500 parents.
● Strengthen 24 Eco Clubs to promote environmental conservation, education, and sustainability.

Project Impact

297

School Management Committees sensitized on their roles & responsibilities

113

Out-of-school children aged 6-18 years enrolled in schools

256

Children accessing learning support at Child Activity Centers

1,200

Children benefitted from Teaching Learning Materials

10

Child marriages prevented

182

Children removed from labor & mainstreamed into formal education

814

Children trained through Life Skill sessions

4,504

Children aged 6-18 years in schools

814

Adolescent girls from collectives sensitized on education & protection issues

Last year’s grant disbursed for Jan 25’ to Dec ‘25: $34,904

This year’s grant approved for Jan ‘26 to Dec ‘26:

Education$24,837

Administration$3,511

Protection$5,862

Total Budget$34,210

From dropout to aspiring cricketer

Ruchi always dreamed of becoming a cricketer, a space where she could be herself and make her country proud. But growing up in a marginalized household, where meeting daily needs was a struggle, both education and sports felt out of reach. In Grade 8, her family could no longer afford school expenses, and she had to drop out.

When CRY America’s project team learned about her situation, they visited her home and spoke with her parents about the importance of continuing her education, especially for girls. They also helped the family understand government programs that could support her schooling without adding to their financial burden. With this support, Ruchi was re-enrolled in a government school with minimal fees. She was encouraged to join CRY’s Adolescent Girls Collective, where she found a supportive peer group and participated in life skills sessions that helped rebuild her confidence. It was here that she shared her interest in cricket. In response, the project team facilitated the formation of a girls’ cricket team, giving her a space to practice regularly.

Despite resistance from the neighborhood, Ruchi continued. She went on to appear for trials at the Lucknow Cricket School and secured her place there.

Today, Ruchi is in her second year of a B.A. program. Her journey is encouraging more families in her community to support girls’ education and participation in sports.