Caritas India’s Khushaal Bachpan (KB) is a community program dedicated to providing every child with a happy and flourishing childhood. With its presence in ten districts across four states – Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh, the program focuses on education, child protection, and livelihood to ensure holistic support for children.

According to the Unified District Information System for Education (UDISE), more than 50% of school children in India still lack access to functional computers. At a time when digital learning has become an integral part of the academic as well as social curriculum of our lives, dissemination of cutting-edge digital literacy in the next generation has become more important than ever.

The establishment of the Digital Learning Centre (DLC) is crucial for Khushaal Bachpan’s objective of promoting digital literacy. The goal of the project is to usher the marginalised children into the fold of mainstream learning by empowering them with essential skills of current times.

These Digital Literacy Centres established by the Khushaal Bachpan program hold a unique place and role in the lives of the village children. These centers will provide easy access to computers beyond the limitations of school hours, so children can explore and test their technical skills. These DLCs will bridge educational gaps in remote areas, by providing them with free, accessible computer education.

In Raigarh, Chhattisgarh, His Grace Rev Bishop Paul Toppo blessed and inaugurated the Digital Learning Centre. This ceremony was attended by the Khushaal Bachpan team, including Sr. Jessy, Community Educator, Manoj Nayak- District Programme Associate, Abhishek Kumar- State Programme Associate, and Joseph Mathew- Program Lead, who shared insights about the project’s pillars and objectives.

An impressive gallery walk showcased the best models from the National Science Day celebration held on February 28, 2024. Children and Academic Mentors presented and explained these models to the esteemed guests, along with displaying the Teaching Learning Material (TLM) created to enhance foundational literacy and numeracy.

Rojari Phala, a village in Udaipur, Rajasthan, also inaugurated its first-ever Digital Learning Centre. Members of the local panchayat and officials from the local school were present during the inaugural ceremony and participated in the cutting of the ribbon and lighting of the lamp.

Sween Sharma, the Child Protection Specialist of the Khushaal Bachpan program, provided insights into the program and highlighted the importance of the Digital Learning Centre in shaping children’s skills for future employment. The presence of children such as Manoj (name changed), who shared his positive experience at the Bal Chaupal during the ceremony, reinforced the significant impact the Khushaal Bachpan program has made in the village.

Sarpanch Bhanwar Lal ji expressed gratitude to Khushaal Bachpan for the project’s contribution to the village, enabling children to re-enroll in school and providing academic support. He also acknowledged the pivotal role the new Digital Learning Centre will play in shaping the future of the children.

The inauguration ceremony proved to be an opportunity for children to showcase their talents through various performances, including a skit on the “Impact of Social Media”, aimed to raise awareness about both the negative effects of social media and the importance of real-life connections.

A native of the village has been selected as the mentor for the Digital Learning Centre to ensure a sustainable community-led model for the village. Already, 30 children between the ages of 14-18 have enrolled in the center. For many of these children, this will a first experience with such technology and they are excited to explore the world of computers.

After the inauguration of the learning center, in Raigarh, Chhattisgarh his Grace, Rev Bishop Paul Toppo, visited the Tailoring Resource Centre with Sr. Anita as the Lead Trainer for the center. The Tailoring Resource Centre complements community development by offering livelihood opportunities, particularly for women. The integration of digital literacy and vocational skills aligns with Khushaal Bachpan’s goal of comprehensive child development, fostering self-sufficiency and empowerment within the communities it serves.

With a 3-month plan for the enrolled women, including one person with a disability, the tailoring center aims to equip women with skills for future livelihood opportunities along with creating an inclusive environment for all. His Grace interacted with the women, offering words of motivation and encouragement. 24 women have already enrolled at this center.

Expressing gratitude to His Grace and the community members for their support, Joseph Mathew emphasized the need to transform the resource center into a “commercial working model.” The vision is for community members to take ownership and turn this initiative into a thriving concept, utilizing the women’s skills for stitching various items. The inauguration ceremony saw the presence of around 150 individuals, reinforcing the community’s commitment to the project.