Project Dwarka – Direct Intervention

Campaign Story

About the project

Fishing is the primary livelihood for the 6 villages on the southern coast of the Gulf of Kutch in Dwarka, Gujarat. Lack of parental awareness and financial constraints have been compelling factors in child labor and student dropouts. Children mostly leave school after 5th standard and get engaged in fishing activities with their parents to save on labor costs. Child marriage remains prevalent in this community, interfering with girls’ education.

Making a difference

CRY America’s project in Dwarka is working to at influencing parental decisions on child marriage and child labor through vigilant governance for child protection. Key activities include the enrolment and re-enrolment of children aged 3-6 years and 6-18 years, respectively, in Anganwadi Centers (AWCs). Moreover, the project also monitors education facilities and school infrastructure with School Management Committee (SMC) members. Another key focus area is forming children’s collectives, adolescent boys’ collectives, and adolescent girls’ collectives to sensitize them to issues related to primary education, child labor, and child marriage.

The way forward

● Ensure enrolment of 179 children aged 3-6 years in the AWCs
● Track and asses the status of 4 school infrastructures by 52 SMC members
● Conduct meetings with 12 CBOs sensitizing 143 organizational members on education
● Ensure regularization of 1988 children in schools
● Monitor the implementation of ECCE (Early Childhood Care and Education) by 8 AWWs

Project Impact

Children Transition to 1st Grade

257

Children participated in sports and edutainment activities.

Children Enrolled for Secondary Education

450

Children enrolled in AWCs and primary school education.

Adolescent Collectives Members Sensitized on Education Issues

22

Seasonal migrant children enrolled in AWCs.

Children Transition to 1st Grade

23

Children enrolled in vocational training.

Children Enrolled for Secondary Education

312

Children received educational materials.

Adolescent Collectives Members Sensitized on Education Issues

148

Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) trained on Teaching Learning Materials (TLM).

Children Enrolled for Primary Education

117

Community-Based Organization (CBO) members sensitized on education.

Children Enrolled for Primary Education

1,562

Children aged 6-14 years enrolled in schools.

children’s and adolescent collectives attended sessions on online safety.

138

Children transitioned from AWCs to primary schools.

This year’s approved grant for January 2025 to December 2025:

Education$25,272

Administration$3,085

Protection$1,072

Total Budget$29,429

Last Year’s Grant Disbursed (Jan to Dec, 2023) – $297,425

Selim’s rise above the tide to stay in school

Fishing is the primary livelihood in the coastal regions of Dwarka district, Gujarat. However, the community often faces financial hardships during the off-season when fishing is not viable.

Selim*, a 15-year-old boy, was a regular student in school and also the leader of CRY America’s Children’s Collective in his region. While attending school, he helped his father with fishing to support their family’s limited income. After completing 8th grade, Selim’s education came under threat as there were no nearby secondary schools, and the family could not afford the cost of commuting to a distant one.

When Selim expressed his desire to continue studying, but was held back by financial constraints, CRY America’s project team immediately intervened. They counseled Selim’s parents on the long-term value of education, encouraging them not to treat its expenses as a burden, but as an investment that could lift the family out of poverty.

To ease their concerns about transportation costs, the team linked Selim with financial assistance programs. After persistent persuasion and follow-ups, his parents’ perspective began to shift, and they finally agreed to support his schooling.

With the support of the project team, Selim was enrolled in 9th grade. Today, he attends school regularly while also continuing to lead CRY’s Children’s Collective making sure that no child in his community faces barriers in pursuing education and achieving their dreams.

*Name changed to protect child’s identity

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