Why learning beyond the classroom matters for underserved children

Home, food, and education are the basics of every child’s needs. But there's something else just as important regardless of their background, space to simply be a child. For children from underserved communities, where every day is about survival, extracurricular activities often feel like a luxury they can't afford.

Whether it’s a first-generation learner, a child pulled out of an early marriage, or someone recently rescued and brought back to school, returning to school is rarely easy. Children from such difficult pasts, ones they never deserved, often find it hard to understand who they are, what they want, or why school matters at all. That’s where extracurricular activities step in. They become a bridge, helping children reconnect with their childhood, their confidence, and their dreams.

In this blog, let’s explore how something as simple as play, art, or sports can help children from tough backgrounds heal and grow, and how CRY UK is working to bring these forgotten joys back into their lives.

• Helps children process trauma through creative expression: Children rescued from early marriages, child labour, or abuse often carry unspoken emotional scars. When words fall short, extracurricular activities give them a safe space to let those feelings out. To what looks like a creative outlet, it's the only way they can begin to heal.
• Acts as an icebreaker for children to ask for help: Children from underserved backgrounds often struggle to open up in formal settings from the fear of judgement. But during art, games, or group activities, they slowly build trust with peers and mentors. These moments become safe entry points for them to speak up, seek help, and even support others going through similar challenges.
• Fosters peer bonding in a non-judgmental space: Many children feel left out or judged at school, especially when they struggle academically due to prolonged gap in education. CRY UK through the formation of Children’s Collectives encourage children in sports and group activities to ensure that everyone’s on equal footing. These moments help build friendships, trust, and social skills, free from the pressure of grades or past labels.

• Helps with school retention and re-integration: For many rescued or first-generation learners, school feels unfamiliar and overwhelming. Extracurricular activities give them a reason to come back each day. A child might return for football or painting at first, but through these moments they find their safe space in schools.
• Encourages future aspirations beyond survival: Underserved children are always imposed the choice of survival. But when they are integrated into education with access to extracurricular activities, they get the chance to dream, to be an athlete, a performer, or even a teacher. It shifts their mindset from survival to ambition.

How is CRY UK making a difference with extracurricular activities

CRY UK helps children dream, find their voice, and use it, with the help of extracurricular activities. Here’s how CRY UK engages with children beyond the classroom:

Engaging children through sports

CRY UK breaks the ice with children by organising sports activities like karate, kabaddi, football, and more. They don’t just play with the children, they play among them, making them feel seen, heard, and included. They also help children reclaim their right to playgrounds by amplifying their voices as a collective.

For children who find their sense of belonging in sports, CRY UK offers further support helping them continue their education while also pursuing opportunities to compete at district and state levels.

Creating study materials

CRY UK believes learning should be fun and not one-sided. To help children connect better with what they learn, those at CRY’s Child Activity Centers are encouraged to create their own Teaching Learning Materials (TLMs), with support from the project teams.

Involving children in campaign activities

Children are encouraged and motivated to take part in different campaign activities. Whether it’s painting walls to promote girl child education, making placards against child labour, or writing slogans to raise awareness about child marriage or trafficking, they are involved every step of the way. This helps them understand the issues they’re standing up against, with our support right beside them.

Organising special events

Children take part in organising celebrations for special days like Independence Day, Children’s Day, and more. They’re also actively involved in carrying out Village Health and Nutrition Days (VHND) with support from project staff and Anganwadi workers.

Conclusion

Education is a necessity, no doubt about that. But to make learning fun and help children stay in school, especially as we bring them back and reintegrate them into the system, extracurricular activities play a crucial role. They build curiosity, build confidence, and keep children engaged.

We’ve come a long way in giving children the happier childhoods they deserve, but we still need your support. Help us ensure every child has the freedom to play, create wonders, and simply be a child. *D*onate now to make happier childhoods possible.