Udaan - Soul Charity

Empowering Young Minds through Informal Education

Launching in July 2024, Udaan is a transformative educational initiative by SOUL, formerly known as the Little Learner Program. Designed as an informal education model, Udaan aims to reach children from tribal and underserved communities in the Sundarbans (Kakdwip Subdivision), where formal schooling is limited. This program equips students with essential academic tools and life skills, helping them overcome barriers and build a brighter future.

Key Features of Udaan

Inclusive and Informal Curriculum: Udaan focuses on basic literacy, numeracy, and essential life skills for students who lack access to formal education in the Sundarbans.
Holistic Development Approach: Beyond academic learning, Udaan promotes emotional, social, and intellectual growth, fostering the overall development of first-generation learners, like the Savar tribal children.
Community and Family Engagement: Udaan involves families, ensuring that education becomes an integral part of their lives and contributes to community development in rural and tribal regions.
Sustainability Focus: The program nurtures long-term learning and development, helping vulnerable communities achieve sustainable growth.

Focus on the Savar Tribal Community:

The Savar tribe is one of the most vulnerable communities in the Sundarbans. Their livelihoods depend on dangerous activities such as collecting honey, crabs, and dry wood from the forests—work that often exposes them to life-threatening risks, including attacks by Royal Bengal Tigers, crocodiles, and venomous snakes. Additionally, children from the Savar community are frequently exposed to tobacco and gutkha addiction at a very young age.

Through Udaan, we aim to provide these children with a safer path by offering them education and development opportunities, steering them away from hazardous work and unhealthy habits.

Informal Education for Vulnerable Communities:

Udaan is specially designed to address the educational needs of vulnerable communities, especially the Savar tribe, whose children are first-generation learners. These communities face significant barriers to formal education, but Udaan offers a structured, informal learning environment, where students are regularly assessed to track their progress.

To incentivize participation, families receive monthly stipends based on student performance, making education both valuable and impactful for the Sundarbans region. Our dedicated team of trained educators and community leaders ensures each child receives personalized attention and support.

Impact and Global Alignment:

Udaan directly supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (UNSDG) 4: Quality Education, which seeks to "ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all." By offering informal education to Savar tribal children and other underserved populations, Udaan promotes equal opportunities, especially for disadvantaged students in rural India.

Program Categories:

Early Learners (3-5 years): Focus on basic literacy and numeracy to build a foundation for future learning.
Primary Learners (6-8 years): Introduction to core subjects and creative arts to stimulate curiosity and creativity.
Intermediate Learners (9-12 years): Advanced subjects that promote critical thinking and practical knowledge.
Advanced Learners (13-16 years): Pre-vocational training and leadership development to prepare students for future careers and self-sufficiency.

Udaan’s Impact:

200+ students impacted in Kakdwip Subdivision of the Sundarbans.
Focus on first-generation learners from the Savar tribe.
Families from vulnerable communities engaged and supported through stipends and community involvement.

Benefits of Udaan:

Improved Literacy and Numeracy: Udaan builds foundational skills critical for academic and personal success.
Enhanced Social and Cognitive Skills: The program fosters emotional and social growth, essential for the holistic development of children.
Access to Educational Resources: Students gain access to vital resources, enabling them to excel in a region where formal education is limited.
Increased Opportunities: Udaan provides students with the tools to pursue further education or employment, opening pathways for personal and professional growth.

Location

SOUL is actively working in two key locations within the Sundarban region under Patharpratima Block.

Join Us in Shaping Futures

Be part of our mission to empower the next generation. By supporting Udaan, you can help provide informal education to first-generation learners in the Sundarbans. Gift a tree or sponsor a student to make a lasting impact on a child's future and contribute to a stronger, more educated community.