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Room To Grow & Building Blocks Projects

The 2023-24 reporting period witnessed significant strategic initiatives by Bal Raksha Bharat (BRB) aimed at addressing complex social challenges through innovative approaches. One of the standout efforts was the establishment of Multi-Activity Centres (MAC) across multiple states, which encapsulated BRB’s holistic approach while engaging local stakeholders as a sustainable operational mode.

These MACs became hubs of multi-thematic interventions, focusing on critical issues affecting children such as child labour, early marriages, school dropouts, and access to basic health services. In urban Hyderabad, two MAC centres were established, covering three slums in Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy districts. These centres provided support to school dropout children and learners with limited educational access, enabling them to re-enter the formal school system. In addition to education, these centres facilitated access to healthcare, social protection schemes, and skill development opportunities for youth, thus addressing multiple barriers simultaneously.

By working closely with government departments such as the Women and Child Development (WCD) and Directorate of School Education (DSE), as well as other stakeholders, BRB ensured a multi-faceted impact on the ground.

Another key initiative during the reporting period took place in Mulugu district, Telangana, where BRB tackled gender disparities within rural and tribal communities through the Building Blocks Project, supported by Pureplay. The focus was on empowering marginalized girl children to access and remain in secondary education. This project targeted 50 government schools and employed a three-pronged approach, engaging children, schools, and the broader community. Through a series of awareness campaigns and workshops, BRB highlighted the issues of school dropout among girl children and supported schools with resources such as sports kits, libraries, and suggestion boxes, thereby improving the learning environment.

Additionally, the project built the capacities of headteachers and officials from the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) on gender and inclusive education. Parent groups and child champions were formed to foster greater community involvement in school management and problem-solving.

Strategy into Action

BRB’s approach in the reporting period was rooted in translating strategy into actionable outcomes. For example, the MAC centres worked with children, families, and various government departments to ensure a coordinated approach. These centres provided educational tutoring, facilitated health services, and connected beneficiaries to social protection schemes. BRB also engaged adolescents and youth in vocational training programs, improving their livelihood opportunities. By collaborating with government bodies such as WCD, DSE, and other stakeholders, BRB ensured that its interventions were sustainable and embedded within existing structures.

The Building Blocks Project employed a similar multi-stakeholder approach, working with children, schools, and the community to address gender disparities. Workshops on gender and inclusive education were conducted for school officials, while awareness campaigns engaged parents and communities on the importance of keeping girl children in school. This combined approach, involving local stakeholders, provided a sense of ownership within the community and contributed to the project’s success.

Measuring Success

BRB’s efforts in both urban and rural areas of Telangana resulted in tangible success. Within a few months of initiating the Room to Grow (MAC) project in Hyderabad, over 90 children and 67 adults were reached, with psychosocial support provided to 123 children. A total of 381 individuals, including children and families, were registered for identity proofs and social protection schemes. In addition, 51 adolescents and youth were trained in vocational skills, and two child welfare committees were formed, helping to address child protection issues at the community level. These achievements demonstrated the effectiveness of BRB’s holistic approach to community engagement.

Similarly, the Building Blocks Project in Mulugu reached over 5922 children, 266 teachers, and 6115 adults through various community engagement activities. The project trained over 200 teachers on gender and inclusive education, and over 800 children received letters from their fathers pledging to support their educational aspirations. Such qualitative and quantitative evidence highlighted the significant progress made in reducing school dropouts and curbing child marriages in the community.

Impact on Brand Objectives

The success of these initiatives also bolstered BRB’s brand visibility and trust at the grassroots level. The community’s positive reception of BRB’s efforts and the involvement of key government stakeholders enhanced the organization’s standing. The gender and education campaigns, alongside the community’s active participation in supporting girl children’s education, aligned with BRB’s renewed brand objectives of empowering marginalized communities through sustainable and scalable solutions.

In terms of government partnerships, BRB secured a technical collaboration with the Directorate of School Education (DSE) of Andhra Pradesh in partnership with Connect to Andhra, the state’s official CSR wing. Additionally, BRB continued its Learning Improvement Program (LIP) partnership with DSE in both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, in collaboration with the Centre for Innovations in Public Systems (CIPS). This partnership reached over 1.5 million children and trained over 60,000 teachers across both states, further expanding BRB’s visibility and strengthening its collaborations with government agencies.

In conclusion, the year 2023-24 was a period of both innovation and resilience for Bal Raksha Bharat. Through strategic initiatives like the MAC centres and the Building Blocks Project, BRB continued to drive positive social change, while overcoming financial challenges and strengthening its brand visibility at the grassroots and governmental levels. The organization’s multi-stakeholder approach, combined with its emphasis on sustainable community engagement, positions it for continued success in the years to come.