How CRY is helping children in Krishna district return to school

Krishna district in coastal Andhra Pradesh records some of the highest incidences of crimes against women and children. Child marriage and human trafficking continue to be pressing issues in the region. To change this reality, CRY has initiated a development project focused on education and protection in Krishna district.

Let’s take a look at the challenges children face in accessing education, and how CRY, with your support, is helping to create lasting change.

What does the education scenario in Krishna district look like?

In Krishna district, education has long been seen as a luxury rather than a basic necessity. The scarcity of resources often pushes schooling to the background, leaving children deprived of their right to learn.

• Poor school infrastructure: Schools in the intervention area lack essential facilities such as clean drinking water, functional toilets, adequate classrooms, and sufficient teaching staff.
• Limited resources in ECCE centres: Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) at Anganwadi Centres nurtures holistic development in children aged 0–6 through play-based learning, preparing them for school.

Although 29 Anganwadi centres provide pre-school education, most operate without proper infrastructure, safe water and sanitation facilities, or adequate learning materials.

• High dropouts leading to child labour and child marriage: With schools unable to provide even the basics, parents often hesitate to send their children to school. Many children drop out, pushed into early labour or child marriage instead of continuing their education.

How CRY is making a difference

CRY is working at systematic levels, from shaping parental mindsets to influencing government policies, to bring lasting change to the lives of hundreds of children here and beyond.

• Fixing ECCE centres and school infrastructure: CRY has identified the gaps in infrastructure and submitted multiple petitions to the concerned authorities to address them. Service delivery at the centres is also routinely assessed to ensure improvements and accountability.
• Enrolling and re-enrolling children in schools: CRY has ensured consistent parent participation, encouraging families to send their children to school. Vulnerable children at high risk of labour or early marriage were identified, and their parents were sensitised on the health and legal consequences of these practices, while emphasising the importance of education.
• Formation of children’s and adolescent collectives: CRY builds awareness on child rights through the formation of children’s and adolescents’ groups. These collectives not only benefit from learning about their rights but also become advocates, raising their voices for education and change within their communities.
• Life Skills sessions for children: CRY nurtures children’s confidence and resilience through Life Skills sessions. These sessions go beyond textbooks, helping children form opinions, distinguish right from wrong, and find their own voice, a voice they can use to create change for themselves and others.

• Bridge classes to close learning gaps: Children from marginalised areas often struggle to balance education with responsibilities at home. In the process, they lose out on schooling and interest in learning. To bridge this gap, CRY provides learning support to children who have missed vital years due to labour, early marriage, or household chores, helping them rediscover the joy of education.

Conclusion

CRY is continuously working to ensure children have their basic right to learn and dream bigger. While we have made a difference in the lives of many children in Krishna district, there are still hundreds more in Krishna and beyond waiting for just one opportunity to go to school.

The journey is far from over, and your continued support is what keeps this change alive. Donate to CRY UK to help children return to school and experience the joy of a happier childhood.