Supporting Education of Rural Children through Residential Special Training Centre

Supported by Humanium, Hand in Hand Switzerland and Hand in Hand India undertook a project titled ‘Supporting Education of Rural Children through Residential Special Training Centre’ in the Dhar district of Madhya Pradesh in India, from April 2019 to March 2022. Under this intervention, 54 girls benefitted through the Residential Special Training Centre (RSTC) prior to the pandemic, 93 children through 9 Satellite Training Centre (STC) during the first COVID-19 wave, and 64 children through 7 STCs during the second COVID-19 wave. 

Prior to the pandemic, this project focused on boarding and lodging for the 54 vulnerable girls in the RSTC, their basic numeracy and language skills, a focus on the health status of the children through medical camps, and extracurricular activities for rural children. During and post-pandemic, the project witnessed a shift to keep pace with changes, whereby STCs were established. In this first wave of the pandemic, these STCs were set up at 20 specific locations where the concentration of RSTC children was high, and each of the 54 RSTC children was mapped and supported to travel to the nearest STC, along with teachers visiting at regular intervals, for which a separate schedule was prepared.

Along with the RSTC children, children from the community enthusiastically attended the STCs as well. As for the second wave, which was more intense, a complete lockdown meant the closing of STCs, followed by the resumption of 7 centre post relaxations with the lockdown. During the second pandemic wave, tabs were also used to promote digital learning among children, and innovative teaching learning material was prepared to help them learn easily.