Khel Khel me Padhai
Transforming Anganwadi Centers: A Story of Renewed Enthusiasm
Once struggling with low attendance and disinterest among parents, the Anganwadi Centers (AWCs) of Budna, Barod 1, and Barod 2 in ICDS Project Raghogarh, Distict Guna now echo with the laughter and excitement of children. This transformation began when a Gandhi Fellow, Piramal Foundation during Community Immersion in December 2023, noticed the lack of enthusiasm among children attending the centers. Parents, skeptical of the centers' effectiveness, were reluctant to send their children, citing a lack of educational activities.
Determined to make a change, Women and Child Development Department and the Gandhi Fellow initiated individual meetings with the Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) of Budna, Barod 1, and Barod 2. Together, they devised a plan to reignite interest and participation in the centers. The idea of an Inter Anganwadi Centre Competition for children aged 3-6 years was born.
With the support of the Sarpanch of Budna, the competition was planned. The event was organized in such a way as to ensure that games incorporated learning for the Children (Khel Khel me Padhai). The sport event, held on December 30, 2023, at the Primary School, Budna, was a grand success. Children from the 3 AWCs showcased their talents in various competitions that not only entertained but also educated. Games like Colors Filling, 50m Race, Jumping Circle, Handkerchief Race, and Word Reading were designed to be both fun and educational.
The parents of the participating children were not only enjoying the performances but also showing keen interest, while every child was striving to win. This increased the trust and participation of the community in the Anganwadi Centers.
The event saw enthusiastic participation from parents, AWWs, and Sahayikas, with every child giving their best. The atmosphere was filled with joy and competitiveness, culminating in the distribution of prizes to the winners and gifts to all participants.
This event, organized with a modest budget of approximately Rs 3000, marked the beginning of a positive change. Attendance at the AWCs has increased, and parents are now eager to send their children. The success of this event has sparked a desire for more such activities, with children and parents alike calling for regular events. Plans are underway to organize similar events every 3 to 6 months at the sector level, ensuring the sustainability of this program and extending its impact to other blocks in the district.
It is inspiring to see children at the Anganwadi Centers (AWCs) of Budna, Barod 1, and Barod 2 engaging in cross learning through sports and other extracurricular activities. According to the AWWs and Sahayikas, attendance has notably increased in these three AWCs, reflecting a growing interest among parents in sending their children to these centers. The children themselves are eager for more such events, indicating a positive shift in perception towards the AWCs.
See how teachers, Anganwadi workers, and Sahayikas are responding to this effort in these videos
- Teacher of the Budna, Guna Mamta Sahu. (https://youtube.com/shorts/YS7fPWwYSgI)
- AWW- Neetu Silawat, AWW Budna, Guna (https://youtube.com/shorts/NiaB_UZe06c)
- Rani Gurjar, AWW Barod 1,Guna (https://youtube.com/shorts/rVx_GjInzRo )
- Rajkumari Vishwkarma, AWC Barod 1 and 2, Guna (https://youtube.com/shorts/e42LGdnMlrM)