Project Nanhi Kali today
Nanhi kali is a participatory project in which individuals, groups and corporates sponsor the education of girls between grades 1 and 10 for at least one year.
The Nanhi kali project works with 25 National Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in cities and villages throughout India. Currently, this programme provides over 70,000 underprivileged girls with academic and material support, such as uniforms and after-school tutoring.
The Nanhi Kali Programme
Nanhi Kali Cost per girl child per year
Grade 1-5 $60
Grade 6-10 $90
Donations provide academic support as well as such items as stationery, books, clothing and shoes.
Sponsors receive a photograph along with a profile detailing the sponsored Nanhi kali’s family and living environment approximately 60 days after making your donation. In addition, the sponsor also receives biannual progress reports detailing the sponsored girl’s academic record and may receive correspondence in the form of cards and drawings from her.
Project Nanhi Kali: a history
Project Nanhi Kali was initiated in 1996 by the K. C. Mahindra Education Trust (KCMET) with the objective of providing primary education to underprivileged Indian girls.
In 2005, KCMET entered into partnership with the Naandi Foundation to jointly manage the programme.
KCMET registered in the United States in 2009 to give Americans and Indians residing in the US the opportunity to contribute to the Nanhi kali project.
Learn about KCMET and the Naandi Foundation.
WHY NANHI KALI?
In many parts of India, the arrival of a baby girl calls for mourning rather than celebration. Abandoning them at birth or marrying them off as children is a common practice. Looked upon as huge economic burdens, it is hardly surprising that many Indian families don’t see the point in investing in their education.
Government of India statistics reveal that only three out of ten girls who enter Grade I complete Grade X. While enrollment rates of girls are improving marginally in India, dropout levels remain alarmingly high. At primary school level, over 45% of girls dropout of school and this increases to over 73% by the time the child has reached Grade X. Research has shown that reasons for this dropout may be as minor as the girl child not being able to afford a dress/uniform to go to school and could include more complex factors like girls taking on the responsibility of household chores at a very young age as a result of gender stereotyping.
Successful education of the girl child has been repeatedly acknowledged as an effective mechanism to break this inter generational cycle of poverty, myths, social norms and social evils. Research conducted in developing countries has shown that a literate female population is linked to reduction in population growth rates. On the other hand illiteracy breeds ignorance and fear and only increases her vulnerability to lifelong abuse and exploitation.