Empowering India’s Children With Child and Adolescent Resource Centre Program

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected millions of children in India, particularly in terms of education. The closure of 1.5 million schools due to lockdowns has increased the risk of drop-out. Children have also been at heightened risk of exploitation, particularly since school closures have not only precluded many from access to education but also from a main source of shelter and nourishment.

In some areas, we have seen a significant increase in child labor and child marriages in the last two years, making it essential to address the issue of child protection and education more than ever. This is where CRY UK and our partner in India CRY, piloted the Child and Adolescent Resource Centre (CARC) Program. The program caters to the needs of children between the ages of 6 to 18 years who have either dropped out of school or are at risk of dropping out of the school system and are vulnerable to child marriage, trafficking, and child labour.

The CARC program aims at:

• Retaining children's motivation levels and positivity about education to prevent them from dropping out of school. 
• Building the agency of children through life skills and sports to promote their well-being and confidence. 
• Transform parents' and caregivers' mindset regarding the importance of education and the value of protecting their children.

Currently, in 24 centers, the CARC program works with 3660 children to facilitate daily interactions, to help children stay focused on education. The program provides class-appropriate teaching aids and workbooks as well as village and block-level enrollment campaigns to encourage children to go back to school or stay in school.

The program also facilitates digital education to children in class 9th to 12th, motivates children to participate in sports, art-based activities in the center, and facilitates life skill sessions with children and adolescents for overall mental and emotional development. It also renders opportunities for older children to emerge as role models for other children and the community. Parents' group sessions are also conducted to build knowledge of various topics related to children.

You can contribute to this cause by making a donation to supportCRY UK. Your contribution can help make a significant difference in the lives of many children who need it the most. So let us join hands and help secure the future of our children in India.