Upkram

Many children in India, like Ram Niwas, face early hardships and build resilience to succeed in school and life. This development depends on access to a safe learning environment. Yet, the reality remains grim: 1.17 million children in India are identified as 'Out of School,' with Uttar Pradesh having the highest number.[source]

Half of the Class 5 students are unable to read a Class 2 text, regardless of whether they attend a government or private school.[ASER 2024]

Let’s narrow down this scenario in the context of Uttar Pradesh.

These are not just numbers. They reflect a deeper crisis, one that directly affects the quality of education for nearly one-third of India’s population, who are children. And children who struggle with reading in primary grades are often at risk of dropping out early.

What do we do-

Upkram challenges this reality by working with 20,000 children from underserved communities in the remote tribal geography of Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh. By establishing a vibrant children’s library and creating a conducive learning environment in schools, we make the classroom learning experience joyful for children. We believe that ‘Books beyond textbooks’ help children not only in strengthening their foundational language and literacy, but also give them avenues for nurturing expression and agency.

​Through One School, One Library at a Time:

• We establish children’s libraries and reading corners in government primary schools, where different genres of books are carefully curated to suit the children’s context, exploring themes such as rain, gender, hygiene, and others, ensuring relevance and reliability for children.
• Our library is built on 6 essential elements, such as space, collection, people, dialogue, activities, and accessibility.

• Unlike conventional libraries that require silence, ours are alive with storytelling, read-alouds, and activities like making bookmarks and lending cards.
• These libraries become safe, joyful spaces where children feel encouraged to read, discuss, and connect stories with their everyday lives.
• The establishment of libraries and reading corners in schools also plays a crucial role in fostering leadership and a sense of ownership among children towards maintaining their school library.

The Impact So Far-

• We have set up 10 libraries and 12 reading corners in schools. In schools with no separate room for a library, we set up a wall-hanging library or a reading corner in the classroom.
• Improvement in students’ attendance from 55% to 75% due to an engaging classroom and a safe space where children feel confident to express themselves.
• Most importantly, children began to enjoy coming to school and viewing education not as a burden, but as an exciting journey.

Your Role in Creating Change-

We don’t choose where we are born, but we can choose to ensure that no child is held back solely because of their geographical location. We want to raise Rs. 15 lakhs to establish 25 libraries in 25 villages. Support us, you can rewrite the story for children in rural Uttar Pradesh.

Your support today can transform a child's future and empower communities. Let us move forward with determination towards the vision of One School, One Library at a Time. Join us in making a lasting impact—together, we can ensure that every child’s story is filled with opportunity and hope!

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For queries, please write to us at upkram@outlook.com