Case Study 1: Piali Ashar Alo School

Founded in February 2008 by Indo-Slovenian couple

Anup and Mojca in the village of Piali, the school aims
as being “The Light of Hope” in the lives of those kids
who would otherwise have no education or
schooling. The school now has 160 girl students
attending the school, belonging to poor families.
Being a hub of trafficking of young girls and being
infamous for its child marriages the school aims at
educating the young girls of the rural community who
would otherwise indulge in household works being
considered as “Non-profitable asset”. Early childhood
education has a very important role in a child’s life as
it forms the foundation of a healthy brain, the
education of the girl child in rural communities is
barely considered important and often leads to either
Figure 1 Anup and Mojca (founders) (Nath)
the girl getting married early, having an abusive
husband and overall dependency due to lack of knowledge or any skill. The school focuses on overall
development of the child, conducting classes in music, dance, drama, arts etc. and also provides free
mid-day meals and tuitions helping the kids with poor economic background. The emphasis on
extracurricular activities helps the child to learn new skills and help in the social development. It also
provides monthly hygiene aid to the poor kids; a healthy kid will come to school more often and will
have a reduced risk of diseases and infections which prevails in the rural communities. It also empowers
the women in the area by providing them tailoring and beautician courses, providing them with the skills
and knowledge that would enable them to earn a living, providing support to the family. Educated
mothers are 50% more likely to immunize their children (Alo), have more knowledge about the
importance of education and nutrition in the early development of the child. Educating the girl child
earlier in life can prevent a life full of miseries, educated women can provide for the family and can take
wise decisions like not having more kids, stands up against abuse and will support her own child to be
educated ending the chain of poverty living. The school has football and other sports too, focusing on
the wholesome development of the kids and giving them a newer direction keeping them away from
shady activities. Since the kids in the village were growing up surrounded by nature, open three walled
classrooms were considered best for them. The school hence aims at uplifting the whole family from
poverty and misery, by providing them with the early education that they need, making them aware,
and developing their personality.
References

 https://yourstory.com/socialstory/2019/05/piali-ashar-alo-school-west-bengal?
utm_pageloadtype=scroll
 https://effortsforgood.org/positive-story/piali-ashar-alo-school/

Case Study 2: Mobile crèches

Mobile crèches was founded by Meera Mahadevan in 1969 in Delhi, caring for children of construction
workers fulfilling early childhood needs for development and making sure that every child living on a
construction site has a nurturing and happy childhood. The crèches focus on early childhood learning
and emotional, physical needs of the child to help develop the cognitive processes so that they can have
a fulfilling life and not a life of poverty and depression. Their parents working all day for daily wages are
unable to take care of the child in his or her early days and they end up being deprived of the essentials
of early developmental care and suffer abuse and neglect which affects the child’s entire life as those
years are the foundational years of brain development and cognitive processes.

Mobile crèches developed a model of child daycare at the sites of construction and in the urban slums
for the marginalized communities. The crèche only needs brick walls and a tin sheet; children below the
age of 3 are fed while their mothers go to work and are properly cared by a childcare worker.
Considering malnutrition to be a significant problem among the economically deprived, proper care is
taken for the nutritional aspect of the child so that the development does not stunt. A healthy early
childhood will result in a much productive future life socially and economically. Toddlers from age 3 to 6
years are kept at the balwadi where they learn while playing. Social development is emphasized as the
children are made to sit in groups sitting around tables close to the ground where they interact and play,
do various activities and develop the cognitive skills along with proper education.

Children are given proper nutrition at lunch

since their parents do not have time to pay
attention to the health of their kids, the
parents are also made aware of the
importance and consequences if the child
experiences neglect and an unloving
environment. The caregivers are trained

Figure 2 Features of ECCE program (Creches)

 regarding early childhood needs and how important they are in the development of the child’s overall
self and will inevitably impact his life. For the children to grow out of the poverty and misery they were
born into, early childhood care and education serves a vital role. It also helps them choose the right path
in life and leada good and fulfilling life.

References

 https://www.mobilecreches.org/
 https://qz.com/india/1532477/the-impact-of-free-childcare-on-indias-poverty-cycle/