LINKS’ EDUCATIONAL CENTER
Because India’s future depends on its children. Research shows that the greatest thing a country can do to reduce inequality is invest in its youngest and most vulnerable through education. Because every Indian child deserves access to quality education to instill a life-long love of learning, break the cycle of poverty, and improve outcomes later in life.
The earliest years of a child’s life are critical. These years determine child’s survival and thriving in life, and lay the foundations for her/ his learning and holistic development. It is during the early years that children develop the cognitive, physical, social and emotional skills that they need to succeed in life.
According to The India Early Childhood Education Impact Study (2018), “regular preschool participation from ages 4 to 5 years has a significant impact on children’s school readiness levels at age 5+, with the quality of preschool education emerging as a key factor in enhancing school readiness levels. School readiness at age 5+ in turn associates significantly with learning outcomes in early primary grades, particularly in language and mathematics.”
Seven out of every ten sampled 4-year-olds already attend a preschool program. With access no longer the main issue, the focus now needs to be on the quality of early childhood education.
Starting in 2017, with the help of early childhood education volunteers, Links developed and ran a thrice weekly pre-school program in a rented plastic tent in Munnekollal. With games, simple lessons, books, math, songs, medical check ups, and healthy food Links was able to address some of the largest issues in this underserved community, such as rampant malnutrition, abuse potential from unsupervised children, and lack of education for younger children.
Expanding on the success of this pilot program, in July 2019, Links opened its first brick and mortar, 6 day-a-week preschool program for children ages 3-6. Below is a list of some key accomplishments of this program:
Provide a nurturing, safe, clean, stimulating and exciting preschool environment for 30 students.
Students are taught reading, writing, science, arts and crafts, yoga, dance, and are engaged and involved through many more extracurricular activities.
In just a few months, the students have progressed considerably in reading, writing, general knowledge, and are comfortable and happy in the classroom environment.
Hygiene and cleanliness is consistently reinforced, which has helped prevent the spread of childhood infectious diseases. This allows the students to stay healthy and continue their schooling without interruption.
Students are provided high quality, nutritious meals twice a day as part of their schedule.
Students are regularly monitored on basic health measures such as height, weight, and general growth parameters.
The school has made extraordinary outreach efforts to ensure the parent community is involved and aware of what their kids are doing at all times. A monthly meeting with the parents almost always has 100% attendance and is a testament to the efforts of the volunteers.
All the above has been done at ZERO cost to families with extraordinary efforts from volunteers and teachers.
To sponsor student lunches, school supplies, teacher salaries, or school rent, please email linkscharitabletrust@gmail.com. Links is 100% volunteer run and does not receive any funding from corporations or the government.
