The Kolkata Municipal Corporation, UNICEF (United Nations Children's Fund) and Vikramshila, along with four other city based NGO's decided to undertake a project which would target non-school going lesser-privileged slum and street children. Children, no matter from what economic or social background have a right to education and this project decided to provide them with that right. The project took off in February 2001. The long-term aim of this project was to contribute to the achievement of universal primary education in the city of Kolkata by strengthening the functioning of KMC Schools and ensuring access and retention. Moreover, this project aimed to create a congenial environment for children's health, growth and development in a happy mood. Four schools were covered in this project. During the project period our education volunteers conducted motivational surveys, enrollment drives, community and parents' meetings, cleanliness drives, cultural activities, slide shows on health and nutrition and library lessons. Soft boards, activity corners and colourful classrooms were also set up in the four schools. At the end of the project we observed some important changes :

Parents are happy and are taking responsibility to send their children to schools. They are also cooperating and making an effort to send them neat and clean to school.

There is a general awareness in the community that the KMC school is running well and 'doing a lot of things' with children. Hence the negative attendance has been dispelled and they are responding positively to the enrollment drives.

The KMC classes are running FULL TIME. The teachers have become punctual and regular. The discipline norms introduced by our intervention are being sustained.

Activity corner at Alipore Road KMC School