Bal Raksha Bharat (also known as Save the Children) is committed to ensuring that every child can reach their full potential and secure a brighter future. By forging strong partnerships with government agencies at every level, from Panchayats to Union Ministries, Bal Raksha Bharat leverages the power of collaboration to drive meaningful change for children across India. Their work spans critical areas such as health, nutrition, education, protection, economic well-being and resilience.

Activities

During Phase 1, Bal Raksha Bharat undertook various activities (📖 How children learn: Exploring school readiness of kids from Bengaluru's waste-picking families) to make a profound change in the lives of children aged 3-18 across 30 waste picker communities, covering 25 government schools and 25 Anganwadi centres in Bengaluru. The project promoted positive parenting, at-home learning, child protection through Mobile Learning Centres that provided life skills education and entrepreneurship training to adolescent girls.

Enhancing teacher skills, improving learning environments, upgrading WASH facilities and boosting STEM education were all key aspects of the work. Additionally, three Community Resource Centres were established to further engage with the community.      
   

Highlights

• Inauguration of Mobile Learning Centres:  On October 22, 2021, The Honourable Minister for Primary & Secondary Education and Sakala of Karnataka inaugurated three Mobile Learning Centres in Bengaluru. These centres provided child-friendly, mobile education services to 30 locations, 25 Schools and 25 Anganwadi centres, engaging nearly 3,000 children with interactive play-based learning materials (📖 Play and Learn On Board The Mobile Learning Center Bus In Bengaluru)

• Launch of Mobile campaign during COVID-19: On December 21, 2021, The Honourable Governor of Karnataka launched the Mobile Van Campaign for COVID-19 vaccinations in collaboration with Bal Raksha Bharat and BBC Media Action. The campaign covered 30 locations and included a film on vaccine confidence. Surveys and interviews were conducted post the campaign to assess its impact
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• In collaboration with All India Radio Kannada: a 10-episode weekly series on child rights was launched, reaching 19 million listeners, amplifying children’s voices and expert insights    
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• The ‘PhotoVoice’ project: (📷 All the things we do not see: A photostory by children), launched in December 2021, engaged 10 children from waste picker families, capturing their world through photography and culminating in a public exhibition at Bengaluru Metro’s Rangoli Art Center on MG Road. The PhotoVoice project was supported by awareness campaigns  
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• Right to Participation: Devika, a young girl from Karnataka, represented her community at a national consultation, highlighting issues faced by waste-picker children. Her participation supported the establishment of a Children’s Council
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• Baatcheet Newsletter: A child-created newsletter was launched featuring poems, art and stories from 5,000 children. This initiative promoted child engagement and was shared with the Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KSCPCR) to foster dialogue with stakeholders
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• Charter of Demand: On National Girl Child Day, January 24, 2023, a report titled ‘The Rights and Agency of Children’ was released capturing children’s voices on their rights. A Charter of Demands was presented to the Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KSCPCR) outlining the issues faced by waste-picker children and fostering further discussions with 18 participating children
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• Climate Conversations: As part of #GenerationHope, a global campaign, over 1,200 children participated in ‘Child Hearings’ on climate change, contributing viewpoints on tackling issues at the local level that were added to a global report. This ongoing dialogue will continue to influence the campaign’s direction    
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• Building Learning Environment in Schools and Anganwadi centres: A film (📹 Igniting Little Minds: Save the Children's work in Anganwadis and schools) documenting improvements in school and Anganwadi environments was shared with the School Education and Women and Child Department as reference for ongoing enhancements

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• Compendium of Good Practices: A Kannada-language compendium featuring 10 stories highlighting successful interventions and support from Saamuhika Shakti partners was developed, aimed at spreading best practices across the state

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In Phase 2, Bal Raksha Bharat will continue to build on its successes, focusing on enhancing education for children from waste picker families. This phase will cover early childhood care and education (ages 3-6), elementary education (ages 6-14) and life skills for adolescents (ages 15-18). The project aims to address low learning outcomes, high dropout rates, barriers to girls’ education caused by domestic responsibilities and child labour. It will create a strong educational foundation for young children, improve school environments for older students and provide life skills education to improve educational outcomes across all age groups.
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Impact

• 11,428 children (5,561 boys, 5,630 girls) reached through various educational and developmental initiatives
• 2,834 parents engaged in their children’s education and well-being
• 224 teachers trained to improve educational outcomes
• 938 children in schools and Anganwadi centres 
• 1,092 children receive social entitlements like Aadhaar cards, bank accounts and government schemes