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( November 14, 2020 )
Many foundations and NGOs stepped up to bridge the education gap when Covid-19 hit humanity. On Children’s Day, check out a few working for childcare, child rights and education.
Many foundations and NGOs stepped up to bridge the education gap when Covid-19 hit humanity. On Children’s Day, check out a few working for childcare, child rights and education.
HIGHLIGHTS
Children are the symbols of the bright future of a country. New energy can be injected into their life only by guiding them on the path of right education, care and progress. There are 132 million orphaned children around the world, and about 20% of them live in India.
As per the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), the number of children living in institutions in India is 2,38,504. And the total numbers of registered and unregistered CCIs are 5,984 and 1,422 respectively.
There are 8 million children living in institutions around the world (UNICEF). Many of these children languish in children’s homes without access to nutritious food, clean water, quality education, and medical care.
Surprisingly, 80% of these kids have a living family member back home (UNICEF 2015). Most families wouldn’t leave their children in children’s homes if they had the right support to care for them.
To address the issues and bridge the gap, many foundations have stood up for the cause, and are truly fulfilling the importance of Children’s Day. These Non-Profit organisations (NPOs) have come as a blessing for such children and provide the necessary care.
Impact of Covid-19 on children’s education
In India, school closures have impacted 247 million children enrolled in elementary and secondary education and 28 million children who were attending pre-school education in Anganwadi centres. This is in addition to the more than 6 million girls and boys who were already out of school prior to the Covid-19 crisis.
While the government has engaged multiple channels for continuity of education, including web portals, mobile apps, TV channels, radio and podcasts, through platforms such as Diksha, Swayam Prabha TV channels, e-Pathshala and the National Repository of Open Educational Resource, there are many vulnerable children whose education was hit by the pandemic.
Since the government is trying harder to control the pandemic; meanwhile, NGO’s are putting their best to tackle the current scenario and ensure continuity of education and care for children. Here are few of the NGOs playing their part towards the cause:
On Children’s Day, check out a few working for childcare, child rights and education:
1. Miracle Foundation India
Miracle Foundation India is a non-profit organization that works towards bringing life-changing care to orphaned and vulnerable children. With a multi-faceted, collaborative and community-based ‘Child First’ approach, Miracle Foundation India ensures that all these children are educated, healthy and safe.
As part of its commitment to education of vulnerable children, Miracle has ensured enrolment of 100% of their children in school, following which, students go to college.
To ensure continuity in education for children in childcare institutes (CCIs) as well as those who have been sent back home, Miracle Foundation India has increased application of technology online classes/live streaming of sessions/use of smartphones, i-Pads, etc.
2. E-Vidyaloka
The Bangalore-based NGO focuses on imparting education to students of rural government schools in India by crowdsourcing volunteer teachers and connecting them to the schools using the power of IT.
During the pandemic, the foundation is focusing on provide education through remote learning with access to internet and electronics. E-Vidyaloka believes educating kids online will be the way forward in the future.
3. Magic Bus
Magic Bus foundation equips children and young people in the age group of 12 to 18, with the skills and knowledge they need, to grow up and move out of poverty.
The foundation has partnered with Classplus mobile OS for online education to poor kids enrolled in the Magic Bus Livelihood programme. Through the partnership, they will help over 2,000 youngsters across 22 states.
4. Smile Foundation
Smile Foundation provides education to thousands of children from Class I to Class XII running across 23 states.
The foundation found that about 56% of Indian children lack smartphones. In this scenario, amidst Covid-19, they are providing possible solutions to access education.