Our Programs

Who we serve

All our students have failed or dropped out of the state school system due to social, familial, and economic reasons. They are significantly behind for their age/class and have minimal or no literacy in English, Malayalam, mathematics, and other subjects.

In many cases their family or living situation is not conducive to their learning and formal education. Most parents are daily laborers so they do not have the educational, economic, and social skills to teach and encourage their children for pursuing education. Alcoholism in the male parent is a common experience for our students, exposing them to domestic violence, unstable living conditions, and physical and sexual abuse.

To enable learning in a peaceful atmosphere, we provide hostels for both girls and boys. These hostels are staffed by qualified wardens and the students are provided with three meals, dedicated and caring teachers, and access to classroom facilities. Through the love, support, and care of our team, the students recover from the trauma they have suffered, restore hope and confidence in themselves, and see a path forward.

PERSONALIZED CURRICULUM TRACKs of learning

Students are assessed when they join and put in one of the three tracks we offer:

Track 1: Basic Literacy program (1 year)

The students who are not able to read and write in Malayalam are placed in this track. Most of our students fall in this track because they are struggling with basic literacy. Due to the lack of rigor and attention to students from marginalized backgrounds and the lax state standards that “pass” students regardless of how they perform in tests, some of the students in this track may have technically passed 8th or even 10th grade. However, there is a clear gap in what they are expected to know after so many years of formal schooling vs what they really know.

We provide intensive immersion in Malayalam reading, writing, basic English, Mathematics, Computer literacy, general knowledge, and various soft skills (negotiation, debate, collaborations, problem solving, and leadership). This intensive immersion program closes the gap in remarkable ways, with students expressing themselves by speaking, writing, and learning new ways to express themselves.

Track 2: 10+2 (2 year)

Many students who have finished their matriculation (10th class) may not have the interest, capacity, skills, or knowledge to enroll or continue in 11th grade. We help them pursue their education with individual care and encouragement. They follow the state educational curriculum with personalized coaching and attention from our teachers. This is a two-year program. 

Track 3: Equivalency of 12th class (1 year)

This is for the students who have failed or dropped out of 12th grade due to emotional, physical, or familial circumstances. They prepare to take the online equivalency of the state school exams for 12th grade. This is a one-year program. 

We are currently running all three tracks (2022-2023) and will be enrolling for the 2023-2024 batch in the summer of 2023.

During 2020-2022, we pivoted due to the COVID-19 pandemic because our residential program was suspended and our students had to return to their villages. Learn how our programs morphed during COVID and the resilience and courage shown by our students and teachers. Learn about our COVID-19 programs as they developed in a grassroots way by our students stepping up into being village leaders and educators.