Works to ensure that children across the three slums of Vashi Naka, Mumbai have access to education.
Children living in the three slums of Vashi Naka, Chembur East, Mumbai are largely first generation learners, with high dropout rates as many families live at or below the poverty line.
Low awareness, along with financial strain that worsens during the monsoon, often leads to flooding and even mudslides, making it harder for children to stay in school and access quality education. Dropout rates rise sharply during adolescence, with many children leaving school early and becoming vulnerable to child marriage, child labour, or substance abuse.
Grantee partner for 2026-27
CRY UK’s Project Mumbai DI is working to ensure children can access quality education through a holistic approach. From building awareness in communities about the importance of education to supporting early childhood learning and helping children transition into formal schooling, the team works to ensure children and adolescents stay in school and pursue higher education. Key interventions include enrolling first time learners, re enrolling and mainstreaming children who have dropped out, providing support classes to bridge learning gaps, and protecting children from the risks of child labour and child marriage.
Arjun belongs to a marginalised community in Mumbai, where low awareness and daily survival struggles often push education to the backseat. When his family could not afford more than basic necessities, he had to drop out after Grade 8.
For Arjun, learning was a way to understand himself and the world around him. When that stopped, he withdrew and lost the urge to engage with others. When CRY UK’s project team learned about his situation, they visited his home and spoke with him and his parents, helping them see what continuing education could mean for his future.
Even then, the decision was not easy. Arjun was torn between supporting his family and the costs of schooling. The team listened and introduced them to the National Institute of Open Schooling, which could help him continue learning while managing responsibilities and reducing travel costs. Arjun still hesitated. The gap in his education had affected his confidence. The team supported him through remedial classes to help him regain his footing.
Like Arjun, many children in the community are pushed out of school due to poverty. The team conducts community sessions to build awareness among parents about the importance of education. They have also formed Adolescent Collectives, creating safe spaces where children can be heard and build confidence through life skills sessions.
Today, these efforts have helped re enrol 10 children into education, including through open schooling. Arjun now looks ahead with hope. “My dream has come true. After completing my SSC from NIOS, I want to continue my education and choose my career wisely,” he says.
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