Recognizing that 90% of the brain development happens before the child turns five, UN has prioritized Early Childhood Education (ECE) as a Sustainable Development Goal. Children from poor families and in rural areas are the least likely to have access to quality ECE programs. In rural India, the govt. sponsored Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) programs focus on child and mother via Anganwadi centers, which provide nutrition and immunizations for children 6 mo-6 yr old and serve as preschool and day care for 2-6 yr old. They also serve as referral centers for basic health needs for adolescent girls and mothers. Govt. provides the midday meal, and take-home rations for kids needing supplemental nutrition. The staff is required to track the children’s growth parameters to ensure adequate nutrition for the malnourished. While govt. funds cover cost of food and other services, many of these anganwadis are inadequately equipped to provide quality early education and other basic needs.
Ekam USA partners with Ekam Foundation in India to ensure these basic needs are met to enable quality ECE for those most in need. Madurai, our adopted district has over 2000 anganwadis, each serving 25-30 kids in the day-center, 80-160 other kids for healthcare/nutrition, and 10-30 mothers. During previous visits by Indianapolis chapter members, we have seen first-hand that they often lack basic facilities e.g., 1. Adequate plates and tumblers to serve the midday meals. 2. Weighing scales for growth monitoring. 3. Play and learning materials like toys, picture charts and books. 4. Floor mats, filing cabinets and cupboards to keep the utensils.
We have also seen first-hand the impact of our previous support for these needs and know that every item we sponsor through our donations will make a huge difference. We aim to improve the facilities in 20 anganwadis (1% of the total in Madurai district). We have a list of needs from some of these centers to get started right away. These basic investments will cost $200 per anganwadi, and for a total of $4000 this campaign will benefit over 2000 children at any given time. Given the durability of items that we are donating many more children will benefit in years to come. We believe this intervention early in their lives that provides a caring and mentally stimulating environment along with adequate nutrition and healthcare will result in a positive ripple effect during later stages of these children’s lives.
Your generous donation of $50 will provide 20 plates and tumblers, $100 will provide educational materials for one anganwadi and $200 will cover all the needs of an anganwadi.
Ekam Indianapolis ekamindyeya@gmail.com
