Project Gram Mitra Samaj Sevi Sansthan (GMSSS)

Campaign Story

About the project

In Korba, Chhattisgarh education and malnutrition are two very huge problems faced by the communities living there. Lack of access to quality education and infrastructure results in children dropping out of school and getting involved in labor.

Making a difference

CRY America’s project GMSSS works towards creating children’s collectives, sensitizing the SMCs, ensuring children in the age of 3 to 6 years attend preschool and teacher learning manual support is provided to teachers. The key activities under the project are vulnerability mapping, awareness generation for anemia testing, and construction of AWC and school in Sardih.

Action during COVID times

The project ensured that 653 children received take-home rations from the Anganwadi center in 2020. A further 3,209 children in schools received mid-day meal rations and 2,212 families were supported during the initial lockdown with the help of CRY volunteers. 2,764 families also received cash support with the help of the labor department and a local union.

The way forward

● Sensitization of SMC members on CR and COVID-19 issues through regular meetings
● Building 32 adolescent collectives with 480 adolescents girls as members
● Ensuring 100% grade transition from class V to VI
● Tracking of all pregnant women for immunization
● Organizing health camps with follow-up from Health department as well as block level and Panchayat officials

Project Impact

SMCs sensitized

144

SMCs sensitized

adolescent girls underwent anemia testing

60

Adolescent girls underwent anemia testing

children enrolled in school

981

Children enrolled in school

children passed 10th grade exam and promoted to the next grade

128

Children passed 10th grade exam and promoted to the next grade

children were covered under psychosocial well-being in the context of COVID

135

Children were covered under psychosocial well-being in the context of COVID

Last Year’s Grant Disbursed: $15,726

Current Year’s Approved Grant

Health$1,242

Nutrition$1,951

Education$9,756

Administration$3,548

Participation$1,242

Total Budget$17,739

Power of togetherness

Neha Tigga an adolescent girl from Rajadahi village is a student of class 10th. She is a regular member of the adolescent girls collective. She and 10 other girls regularly organize meetings in the slum on issues related to child rights like education and health. In the month of Aug 2021, with support from GMSSS staff and members of collectives, Neha visited households in the community and motivated 10 other adolescent girls to go for anemia testing. Many girls did not know about anemia and Neha educated them about it, its causes and how it can be prevented. Because of her efforts 11 adolescent girls have done this testing and community members have also begun understanding the importance of good health during these early years. A total of 60 adolescent girls from the project area have undergone this testing and all of them were either on the borderline or non-anemic.

Neha says that GMSSS and CRY have educated her on many rights and given her the confidence to take up social issues within the community.

Project Photo Gallery