Project Sikshasandhan
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Total Amount Donated
$0
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Donation Goal
$25,041
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0
Days to go -
Target Goal
Campaign Story
About the project
The quality of education in the Kaptipada block of Mayurbhanj district, Odisha, is severely compromised due to the language barrier faced by the local tribal community. Teaching materials and the medium of instruction are primarily in Odia, a language unfamiliar to most children in the community. This often leads to irregular school attendance and high dropout rates, increasing the risk of child labor. In addition to the language gap, poor school infrastructure, teacher absenteeism, lack of drinking water, and unsafe school premises further prevent children from accessing education.
Making a difference
CRY America’s Project Sikshasandhan focuses on enrolling and retaining children in schools by ensuring the implementation of key provisions under the Right to Education (RTE) Act and by strengthening School Management Committees (SMCs). Core activities under the project include conducting multilingual classes with multilingual Teaching Learning Materials, enrollment drives, community home visits, and capacity building of SMC members to improve school infrastructure. The project also identifies out-of-school and dropout children, facilitates their re-enrollment, and offers support classes to help them bridge their education gap. Additionally, it works with Anganwadi Workers (AWW) to enhance pre-school education and establishes Children’s Collectives to sensitize children on the consequences of child labor.
The way forward
● Conduct regular sessions with 158 CBO members on the effective functioning of Integrated Child Development Services, and support the enrollment of children aged 3–6 years in preschool education.
● Ensure the enrollment of 520 preschool children and support them in completing early education up to the age of 6.
● Facilitate the transition of 127 children from Anganwadi Centres to primary schools.
● Continue conducting Multilingual Education (MLE) classes in 6 primary schools.
● Conduct Life Skills sessions with 20 adolescent collectives to nurture critical thinking and decision-making abilities.
● Conduct learning assessments in 6 schools to identify gaps and provide remedial education support.
Project Impact
460
Children aged 3-6 years accessing preschool education
129
Preschool children transited from Anganwadi Centers to primary school
832
Children aged 6-10 years enrolled in school
2,227
Children aged 6-18 years in schools
431
Children trained on Life Skill sessions
137
Community Based Organization (CBO) members sensitized on their roles & responsibilities
1,582
Dropped out or first time learners aged 6-18 years enrolled in remedial classes
681
Children & adolescents from collectives sensitized on education & protection issues
Last year’s disbursed grant for Jan ‘25 to Dec ‘25: $26,248
This year’s approved budget for Jan ‘26 to Dec ‘26:
Esmile balancing dreams and education
Esmile, a 15-year-old, found joy in playing football before school, during lunch breaks, and after returning home. For him, it was more than a hobby. But his family struggled to meet basic educational expenses, and his father worried that football would distract him from his studies. Believing a future in sports was beyond their means, he asked Esmile to give it up and focus only on academics.
Over time, Esmile’s friends noticed he seemed withdrawn and disengaged at school. They shared this with CRY America’s project team. Recognizing how important football was to him, the team connected with his father and invited him to the school. With support from teachers and the school administration, they spoke about the importance of balancing education with a child’s interests. After consistent follow-up, his father agreed to let Esmile return to football. However, Esmile’s confidence had taken a hit. To support him, the project team engaged him in Life Skills sessions to strengthen his decision-making and self-belief, and introduced him to a sports teacher for structured football training.
With regular practice and guidance, Esmile began participating in block- and district-level matches, where he performed well. His discipline and determination eventually led to his selection for the Under-17 State Level Football team. Esmile’s father shared, “The support from the project team influenced me and will influence other parents to continue their children’s education while allowing them to enjoy life.”
Project Photo Gallery
