GS- UWBE CTW Anganwadi project

Enabling healthy learning environment for toddlers at Anganwadis* - Govt. run play schools
It was all fun and play when UWBe  alongwith a team of volunteers came together to spruce up the environs of 8 Anganwadis, in and around the slums of Koramangala in Bangalore. For the team, to transform drab, dull rooms into bright cheerful learning rooms for children under 6 years, was quite a challenge.   
Anganwadi rooms before……

On the scheduled four days at the 8 project sites the team of about 12 rolled up their sleeves and with the appropriate gear set out to change the look and give the Anganwadis a complete makeover by painting / filling colours in the mural sketches done on the wall. As the excitement to paint built up, the team took inputs on colour scheme and technique from 3 professional mural artists who were present to oversee the project. On an average, the volunteers spent 5-6 hours at each project site. For every volunteer, the day would finish with a sense of accomplishment of a sense of accomplishment of having made a significant impact in the lives of children, who deserve all the help and support to come up in life.

Time, efforts and skills at Anganwadis in Koramangala have ensured a clean and joyful early learning environment for children less than six years. Painting cartoons, flowers, and other imagery has caught the attention of children and is encouraging them to regularly attend the Anganwadis, thus ensuring early learning benefits to the children. Four to 6 hours of volunteering work has impacted a community of 1000 people around each Anganwadi. Around 120 children have directly impacted from this project. 

*Anganwadis: This program for children under six was started by Govt. of India and respective State Govts. to primarily put a check on rising malnutrition cases among infants. In addition, it also provides early learning opportunities to children and makes them ready to join Govt. primary schools. While the Govt. provides staff, space to run the Aganwadis and nutritious food to children, it welcomes participation from civil society organizations for maintenance of Aganwadis and improving its standards. 99 per cent of the children who attend Aganwadis belong to daily wage earners or with people of monthly salary of Rs. 2500 to 5000. Each Anganwadi centre caters to the need of 1000 people in the community.