India’s future depends on its children. Research shows that the greatest thing a country can do to reduce inequality is invest in its youngest and most vulnerable through education. Every Indian child deserves access to quality education to instill a life-long love of learning, break the cycle of poverty, and improve outcomes later in life.

Links’ Educational Program has evolved since its inception in 2017. With the help of early childhood education volunteers, Links developed and ran a thrice weekly pre-school program in a rented plastic tent in Munnekollal waste management site. With games, simple lessons, books, math, songs, medical check ups, and nutritious breakfast and lunch, Links was able to address some of the largest issues in this underserved community, such as rampant malnutrition, abuse potential from unsupervised children, and lack of education. 

Expanding on the success of this pilot program, in July 2019, Links opened its first brick and mortar, 6 day-a-week early learning program for children ages 3-6.  This free program was a huge success and provided a nurturing, safe, clean, stimulating and exciting preschool environment for 30 students. In addition to learning reading, writing, science, and math, volunteers and qualified teachers taught arts and crafts, yoga and dance. Hygiene and cleanliness was taught and consistently reinforced, which helped in the prevention of the spread of childhood infectious diseases and increased consistent school attendance. Malnutrition was addressed through high quality, nutritious meals twice a day and the regular monitoring of basic health measures such as height, weight, and general growth parameters.

The early education program made extraordinary outreach efforts to ensure the parent community was fully involved in their children’s learning. The monthly parents’ meeting almost always had 100% attendance and is a testament to the tireless efforts of the teachers and volunteers. Unfortunately, due to Covid precautions, the early learning program had to close.

However, in July 2022, Links Educational Center opened a Bridge Program for children ages 6-10 who often have significant gaps in their education because of the migratory nature of their parents’ work. The Bridge Program aimed to get these students caught up with their learning so that they would successfully able to enter their appropriate grade level.

In February 2023, the Bridge Program transformed into a full fledged Education Center adopting the Open Basic Education Curriculum. This ensures that any child of migrant laborers in Munnekolal is enrolled under a sustainable and continuous education program ultimately setting them up for the Tenth and Twelfth Board exams and onwards to skills-based or main stream education.

The school also provides a sanctuary where children have access to nutritious food, healthcare and screening, and protection against exploitation and child labor.

All donations come directly from individuals and corporates through CSR initiatives. You can make an immediate impact in the life of a child by donating.