In January 2025, a conversation in Medi Agrahara set change in motion. During a Bal Vikas Samiti (BVS) meeting, the team from Sparsha Trust sat with parents and community members as concerns about children surfaced. Some had dropped out, some had never enrolled, and others were losing interest in learning. The need for action was clear.
In Medi Agrahara, 22 children were identified as being out of school. Financial hardship, caregiving responsibilities, long commutes, and limited access to Kannada-medium education had pushed them away from classrooms. What was missing was a safe, consistent space for learning: a Community-Based Centre (CBC).
Over time, conversations led to action. Parents, local leaders, and the Sparsha team came together to create a community-led learning space. The goal was not just re-enrolment, but restoring continuity in learning. A glimpse into the formal inauguration of the CBC on February 26.
Photos by: Vinod Sebastian
A turning point came when BVS members decided to build the CBC centre, with a community mason stepping forward to take up the construction atop the existing Anganwadi. With community support and approval from the Department of Women and Child Development, the Community-Based Centre took shape.
Community mobilisers, a career facilitator, and Cluster Coordinators led the effort on the ground. They engaged families, built trust, and supported children through bridge courses and counselling. Children began returning to learning with greater confidence.
The centre was inaugurated on February 19 in the presence of Shakuntala Devi, Child Development Project Officer, Tejaswini, Assistant Child Development Project Officer, Directorate of Women And Child Development Department, Goverment of Karnataka, Ganesh S Kolageri, Founder of Dalit Samara Sena, Alanguru Shivanna, mentor and supporter of Sparsha Trust, and Gopinath R, Managing Trustee, Sparsha Trust.
Learning at the centre is activity-based. Repurposed cardboard and plastic materials along with a couple of brand-new decorative education tools are used to create teaching aids for science, mathematics, and literacy. This makes learning more practical and engaging.
Of the 22 identified children, 20 have been enrolled in Government schools. The centre now supports 20 children directly and extends support to 31 more who need academic reinforcement.
Operating from 4 - 6 PM, Monday to Saturday, the centre provides structured academic support, life skills, and creative activities.
The impact is visible. Children show renewed interest in learning, and families are more engaged in their education.
The Community-Based Centre stands as a functional example of what sustained community effort - with support - can achieve.
In January 2025, a conversation in Medi Agrahara set change in motion. During a Bal Vikas Samiti (BVS) meeting, the team from Sparsha Trust sat with parents and community members as concerns about children surfaced. Some had dropped out, some had never enrolled, and others were losing interest in learning. The need for action was clear.
In Medi Agrahara, 22 children were identified as being out of school. Financial hardship, caregiving responsibilities, long commutes, and limited access to Kannada-medium education had pushed them away from classrooms. What was missing was a safe, consistent space for learning: a Community-Based Centre (CBC).
Over time, conversations led to action. Parents, local leaders, and the Sparsha team came together to create a community-led learning space. The goal was not just re-enrolment, but restoring continuity in learning. A glimpse into the formal inauguration of the CBC on February 26.
Photos by: Vinod Sebastian
A turning point came when BVS members decided to build the CBC centre, with a community mason stepping forward to take up the construction atop the existing Anganwadi. With community support and approval from the Department of Women and Child Development, the Community-Based Centre took shape.
Community mobilisers, a career facilitator, and Cluster Coordinators led the effort on the ground. They engaged families, built trust, and supported children through bridge courses and counselling. Children began returning to learning with greater confidence.
The centre was inaugurated on February 19 in the presence of Shakuntala Devi, Child Development Project Officer, Tejaswini, Assistant Child Development Project Officer, Directorate of Women And Child Development Department, Goverment of Karnataka, Ganesh S Kolageri, Founder of Dalit Samara Sena, Alanguru Shivanna, mentor and supporter of Sparsha Trust, and Gopinath R, Managing Trustee, Sparsha Trust.
Learning at the centre is activity-based. Repurposed cardboard and plastic materials along with a couple of brand-new decorative education tools are used to create teaching aids for science, mathematics, and literacy. This makes learning more practical and engaging.
Of the 22 identified children, 20 have been enrolled in Government schools. The centre now supports 20 children directly and extends support to 31 more who need academic reinforcement.
Operating from 4 - 6 PM, Monday to Saturday, the centre provides structured academic support, life skills, and creative activities.
The impact is visible. Children show renewed interest in learning, and families are more engaged in their education.
The Community-Based Centre stands as a functional example of what sustained community effort - with support - can achieve.
