Lucknow: Akhilendra Dubey, Program Manager, Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Lucknow at a unique storyteller event said, “Chokhi (genuine) Kahaniyan stays true to its name throughout the program. Through storytelling they have raised awareness around many social issues as well as environmental issues.” Mr Dubey was invited as the Chief Guest at a storytelling event – Chokhi Kahaniyan where out of school children from six districts performed for the first time. Chokhi Kahaniya was organized by Study Hall Educational Foundation’s (SHEF) GyanSetu Early Childhood Development centers. 

Dr Uravshi Sahni, founder and CEO of Study Hall Educational Foundation (SHEF), “This is a great opportunity to showcase their talent and build their aspirations. I am delighted to see parents gathered in huge numbers, especially fathers to see their children perform. In 2019, GyanSetu began giving focus to children ages 3 to 6 years through its Early Childhood Development (ECD) programme and we now have 54 centers educating over 1500 children under 3 to 6 years of age.” 

Reena Seth, who heads GyanSetu ECD program said, “Our students and teachers have worked really hard to make this event a huge success. I am so proud of these kids for performing so well.”

Tanmai Chaturvedi, Program Manager of Gyansetu said, “GyanSetu centers are hubs of community transformation, and children are at the very center of our program. It is heartening to see how talented these children are and how much they are enjoying performing on stage. This is a new experience for our children and the teachers..”

GyanSetu centers are run by SHEF. These are small, intimate learning support centers in rural and urban pockets where poverty, gender and caste intersect to prevent children from going to school. Spread across six districts of Uttar Pradesh (Lucknow, Sitapur, Unnao, Barabanki, Ayodhya and Pratapgarh), GyanSetu currently has 148 centers educating 4000 out-of-school children by pacing their learning with an aim to transition them to formal schooling. These centers also function as hubs of community transformation and create a sustainable and caring support system for first generation learners.

Photo courtesy: DSH Team