Project Koderma – Direct Intervention

Campaign Story

About the project

Legal mica mining in Koderma district, Jharkhand, was completely stopped by the government in 2000. Since then, the households in 9 villages in Satgawan Block have been engaged in scavenging scrap mica from abandoned mines and selling it to agents. Child laborers are also involved in mica collection to support their parents’ livelihoods. The Anganwadi Centers in this community are mostly non-functional, opening only once a month. Although many children are enrolled in schools, irregular attendance persists because most of the children are either engaged in labor or migrate to other states in search of livelihood.

Making a difference

CRY America’s project in Koderma works towards providing education support and protection to the children in 9 villages in Satgawan Block. It aims to regularize school attendance by eradicating child labor and child marriage in the community. Key activities under this project include identifying irregular and dropout children, setting up support classes, and linking the families and children to government programs. Another focus area is driving awareness campaigns with Child Protection Committees to address child labor and child marriage issues.

The way forward

● Conduct monthly learning assessments of 240 children.
● Link all 54 families and children with government programs.
● Set up 3 remedial centers to facilitate support classes for 240 children.
● Organize meetings with officials from the education department of 11 schools to develop a plan for regularizing children.
● Organize awareness campaigns in 15 villages on child labor and child marriage issues.
● Train 15 village-level Child Protection Committees on their roles and develop a child protection plan.

Project Impact

Adolescent Collectives Members Sensitized on Education Issues

683

Children regularized in schools

Children Enrolled for Primary Education

700

Children’s profiles documented, focusing on learning gaps and areas for improvement

newborn children immunized

185

Students performed outstandingly in learning assessments

Children Attended Bridge Classes

169

Students showed excellence in reading ability.

School Management Committee (SMC) members received training on school development plans

37

Families with children aged 15-18 linked with government programs

Adolescent Collectives Members Sensitized on Education Issues

6

Village Child Protection Committees participated in child protection awareness drives

Current Year’s Approved Grant (April to Dec 2024) $11,122

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

From collecting mica to aspiring to join the military

12 years old, Badri Routh, lived in a small village of Jharkhand. After his father’s accidental demise, his mother found it challenging to run a family of five by working at a brick factory. To ease up his mother’s efforts, Badri, the eldest, started working in a mica factory. His desire for learning caught the attention of CRY America’s CARC (Child Adolescent Research Center) through the children’s collective in his village. When Badri met with the project team, he expressed his willingness to study despite the financial constraints. The team counselled him along with his mother. He got to know about the facilities available at the CARC including free books, computer courses, and support tuitions.

With a vision to end their vicious cycle of poverty, Badri’s mother agreed to re-enrol him in middle school. Badri has now learnt the basics of computer applications like MS Office and uses them to optimize his tasks. Badri has also applied for the Sponsorship Scholarship for Children of Single Parents, a scheme run by the Jharkhand Government.

Badri’s success does not stop with his journey back to school. He takes care of his fitness with his stunning football skills as he dreams to join the Indian Army after completing his education.

*Name changed to protect child’s identity and AI generated pic used.

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