Project Why In The United States

Empowering Lives For Children in India

Join Project WHY as we build awareness and foster support for transformative initiatives that uplift communities in India. Today, through our 4 after school support centres, we reach out to over 1200 children, 300 women and have created job opportunities for people from the community. The aim of our support centres has been to bridge the education gap for underprivileged children and improve their learning outcome. Our after-school programs go beyond academics to include life skills and all round development in a child friendly environment.

MISSION

Creating Spaces To Dream, Learn And Transform Lives. Project WHY’s vision of a desirable world is where all children have quality education and are able to complete their schooling years. Where all the children have the support to build their skills and have a voice. We also believe in gender justice and self-reliance in improving socio-economic status through skill enhancement.

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Our Vision and Mission

Project WHY aims to create a strong presence in the United States to raise awareness and funding for its life-changing initiatives in India. Through storytelling, collaborations with educational institutions, and community engagement, we strive to bolster our mission. Our goal is to amplify the impact of our work back in India by fostering connections and support in the U.S.

WHY? Educate.In 2000-2001, we found out that the quality of teaching in Government run schools was dismal. Government schools were being used beyond capacity, resulting in poor teaching and learning environments. This was further compounded by the fact that poor children often have illiterate parents who cannot provide any support in their studies. Project WHY aims at bridging the education gap for under- privileged children and improving their learning outcome. The after-school program goes beyond academic to include life skills and all round development. The programme also conducts extra- curricular activities to raise awareness about the environment and social responsibility, workshops on gender equality, music and photography, educational outings to historical monuments and more. Project WHY programmes are geared towards the continuous improvement of children outcomes through systematic assessments and support.

Our Story

WHY? Employ.Right from its inception, Project WHY decided to draw all resources from within the community as we felt that education can only have a true meaning if it is independent of extraneous factor, hence it was decided to find teachers/ resource persons from within. Though the staff may not at first seem qualified in a conventional manner, it has been to be most appropriate for several reasons. First of all it is an extremely motivated group as it has been given the recognition it never had. Secondly belonging to the same social background it is able to understand the problems faced by the children and above all being totally different from the ‘image’ of the teacher the child has, it is able to garner the confidence of the child. Today, we are a team of 50 resource persons from the community and for 80% of them, Project WHY is the sole source of income in the family.

WHY? EmpowerThe true success of Project WHY lies in its ability to empower the community to take on their responsibilities and show them how to find solutions within the existing context. We realised very early that invisible barriers existed – be they caste or creed – and our first venture was to break those barriers and make make Project WHY a true reflection of an ideal India. It is a matter of pride to see that communities that barely interacted slowly learnt to discover each other and respect one another. Regular parent teacher meetings are also held enabling us to interact with the parents and make them aware of the importance of education particularly the education of girls. Our vocational training for women entails building basic reading and writing skills. We also strive to make our children better citizens and run a host of extra-curricular activities to raise awareness about environmental issues, social responsibility and behavioral changes.

Project WHY’s journey began in 2000 with 40 children who wanted to learn spoken English and a handful of volunteers. As time went by every challenge was addressed by a new activity. The number of children increased, their demands multiplied, new teachers were discovered within tiny jhuggis and lanes, and ad-hoc classrooms found. Parks were cleaned, tents put up, unused pavements cleared, any place would do, but no child was ever sent away as we knew that poor children often have illiterate parents who cannot provide any support in their studies and were at the risk of dropping out. We thus began our first after school support programme at Giri Nagar.

The children came from underprivileged homes and everyone was accepted even if it meant squeezing ourselves in small spaces. Government schools were being used beyond capacity, resulting in poor teaching and learning environment and any help we could give was welcome and needed.

Our Key Initiatives

Making a Difference

Skill Development

Along with education for children, it was felt essential to focus on women and youth empowerment through skill development.

Education

An organisation which started with offering just remedial academic education to not so fortunate school going children in 2000, transitioned to holistic education. Activities to build confidence, instil global and cultural awareness, enhance communication and life skills, develop social emotional wellbeing, environmental and spiritual consciousness are embedded in the schedule of each centre. Many children could pursue their school education with continuous guidance and support of Project WHY educators which brought down the dropout rate, something very prevalent amongst children in the communities struggling financially. New vistas opened up for children who completed their high school. The alumni of Project WHY, especially girls, could pursue higher education, venture into diverse careers, and are truly empowered beings. Impossible was made possible.

Mid-Day Meal

The mid day meal program is offered in two centres, Govindpuri and Yamuna. All children with special needs and of early childhood program are given free of cost meals cooked by Project WHY staff.

Yamuna centre serves children of agriculture labour and are the most disadvantaged group suffering from malnutrition. Since the start of the centre in 2015, Azure hospitality has been sponsoring lunch of 100 students.

Skill Development

Tailoring Course

The six months course is offered in two centres:
Govind puri and Khadar

One of the instructors is an alumni of the course.
1200 + women have been trained who are either self employed or working in nearby factories.
Cloth bags are being made as per order to promote sustainable living.

Computer Courses

Towards promoting digital literacy, Computer course was started in Girinagar centre in 2002 where basic course was offered to youth of the community.

In 2007, computer course was also started in Okhla centre with just 2 computers. Considering higher demand from Okhla, the Giringar centre computers were shifted to Ohkla centre.

The centre is managed by two teachers. One of the teachers has been with us since 2005 and the other one is our alumni and is physically challenged.

Now, the Okhla centre offers four different courses in computers. These are-

• Basic course – 6 months
• Advanced course- 6 months
• DTP course – 8 months
• Hardware course – 8 months

Till date, 522 students have been successfully trained in various computer skills and have been able to secure dignified employment

Beauty Culture Course

The six months program was offered in Govindpuri and Khadar. However, post COVID, it could restart only in Govindpuri with ……. girls and women.

It is much sought after skill and have enabled many girls to earn a living and be financially independent.

https://thoughtsbygeethica.com/2018/11/the-woman-of-substance-project-why/

Education

After School Education

Project WHY offers free of cost quality after school education support from primary to secondary level to underprivileged children in four communities.

It started its operations in the year 2000 from one centre in Girinagar from a mud hut with 20 children. With the crystal clear vision and focus of the founder, painstaking effort of the diligent and committed team and with continued support of large hearted funders, Project WHY has grown remarkably in 23 years and has impacted thousands of lives. Presently, it embraces …….

In most centres, children are enrolled in formal government schools except in Yamuna centre where nearly half of the students only attend Project WHY classes.

Program Impact-

• 8000 + children completed school
• Near zero drop out from school
• Improved in academic performance
• Students pursuing university education
• Alumni employed as teachers

All students pass their final exams including board exams.
The success rate is 100%

Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE)

Project WHY acknowledged the importance of investing in children’s early years as 90% brain develops from birth to 6 years of age and experiences children have, during early years, makes life long impact. Resultantly, it started free of cost ECCE program in Govindpuri community in 2007. The program ensured:

Safe and secure environment.
Enabling learning environment
holistic development of children
Age and developmentally appropriate curriculum.

The program also enabled mothers to work at peace.

It has, over the years, served 500 children. It was a very successful program in terms of laying a strong foundation during early years .

However, the program was badly effected during COVID period. The ECCE centre had to be shut down for nearly two years.

Project WHY has restarted the ECCE program in 2023 and has 28 children. Two teachers and one care giver provide the needed care and education support.

Special Education

The life of children with special needs in underprivileged communities is very vulnerable. Their dignity of life is always at stake. They are considered a great liability and families have little to no hope. They are often rebuked and ill treated.

Project WHY started the program for Special needs children in 2007 to provide a safe, secure, loving, respectful learning space. Since its inception, Project WHY embraced 200 children with special needs.

Two of the beneficiaries are now adults but continue to come as they are part of Project WHY family.

In addition to three full time educators, the program is supported by a special educator and a speech therapist.

The program was re initiated post COVID in 2023 and has eight children, youth and adults.