Gyansaathi

Since 2011

Govandi, Mumbai and Kalwa, Thane

Gyansaathi works towards empowering children and youth from the rag-picking communities of Govandi and Kalwa through non-formal education centres, psychosocial care, holistic support, and sustainable interventions that promote comprehensive development.

Our Reach

1,850

Children & Families

6,205

Daily Nutritious Meals

214

Successfully Completed SSC

308

Youth Reached

Women Supported

Why We Intervene

In 2011, the Karunya team visited Govandi and witnessed children spending their days around the dumping ground, many engaged in rag-picking and away from school. Growing up in unsafe and unhygienic surroundings, these children had very limited opportunities to learn, play or even imagine a different future. This experience moved the team to start Gyansaathi, a space where children could learn, receive care and discover possibilities beyond the circumstances they were born into. Through multiple field centres, children come regularly to learn with teachers in a safe and supportive environment. The intervention is not limited to children but also extends to women, youth, and parents within the community. The approach was later extended to Kalwa in 2025, where similar challenges exist among children from vulnerable and migrant communities.

Interventions

Integrated Education

Provides daily activity-based non-formal education for children from balwadi to Std 10 with Quarterly assessment
Provides educational materials and teaching aids to school- and college-going students
Supports school dropouts and Class 10 students who have not passed, including exam enrolment and preparation
Supports students with college admissions, scholarship applications and career-related guidance
Provides adult literacy classes for community women
Organises sports, arts, music, dance, yoga, library activities, competitions, vacation camps and educational exposure visits
Provides self-defence training for adolescent girls
Provides study counselling, life-skills sessions and career guidance for children and youth
Scout and Guide Sessions

Holistic Health

Provides daily nutritious meals to children
Conducts regular health assessments for children, including six-monthly general assessments and monthly assessments for high-need children
Provides counselling support for the mental well-being of parents and children
Organises general and illness-specific health camps
Provides partial medical assistance to people in need
Conducts health awareness sessions on disease prevention and precautions
Provides health and hygiene kits to children and families
Provides nutrition kits to eligible community members, including people affected by cancer, TB, kidney disease or paralysis, persons with disabilities, single parents and elderly people
Conducts awareness and support activities on substance abuse, counselling and rehabilitation linkages
Promoting indoor and outdoor sports activities and Yoga sessions

Sustainable Livelihood

Provides vocational training for women and youth in market-oriented skills
Offers certificate-based skill training such as tailoring, beautician skills, culinary skills, graphic design, fabric painting, jewellery making, embroidery, paper-bag making, block printing, mehendi and other crafts
Provides soft-skills training, including computer skills, spoken English, communication, graphic designing and workplace readiness
Supports job seekers with CV preparation, interview preparation, career guidance and job referrals
Provides career guidance and support for youth
Creates opportunities for beneficiaries to sell handmade products through vocational stalls

Good Governance

Connects communities with government departments, NGOs, educational institutions, training institutes, hospitals and other service providers
Works with Childline, Child Welfare Committee, police and other agencies on child protection
Forms and strengthens Child Rights Protection Committees to address Social issues and conducts related workshops and training
Conducts awareness sessions on child rights, government schemes and community issues
Supports communities in preparing documents and accessing government entitlements
Organises stakeholder meetings and exposure visits to government and public-service institutions
Promotes community awareness about various social issues through rallies, exhibitions and public-awareness activities