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The LEF-AFAL Partnership is an impact idea that goes beyond providing affordable, quality education. It creates a safe space that encourages children from economically disadvantaged backgrounds to develop into empowered, mindful beings
The Context
India, with an estimated population of 1.39 billion in 2021, is also home to massive disparity in the distribution of wealth. In 2019, the Indian government stated that 6.7% of its population is below its official poverty limit. Even as India undergoes rapid urbanisation, urban poverty in the country stands at over 25%. The situation is starkest in Mumbai, the financial capital of India. Despite being the 12th richest city in the world, more than half of Mumbai’s population lives in slums that lack access to clean water and hygienic living conditions.
The Challenge
According to the UN, “Education enables upward socioeconomic mobility and is a key to escaping poverty.” However, a significant impact of urban poverty is witnessed on children belonging to the economically weaker sections of society in India. For these children, the only affordable access to education continues to be government-run schools, which themselves are wanting on multiple performance parameters. The absence of a consistent quality learning environment (both at home and in school) in the formative years of life results in these children growing into adults with poor value systems, lack of self-worth, aspirations failure, limited skills and poor employability.
Our Intervention
In August 2021, Live Equal Foundation (LEF) entered a strategic partnership with Akshara Foundation of Arts & Learning (AFAL). Run by AFAL, Akshara High School is a not-for-profit, co-educational, ICSE school that promotes quality affordable education to children from economically disadvantaged backgrounds in Kandivali, Mumbai. The LEF-AFAL Partnership gives economically disadvantaged children in Kandivali access to a consistent, high quality, inclusive learning environment. The school enriches its curriculum with arts programmes, sports training, state-of-the-art laboratories, and offers a safe, inclusive space that encourages the children to develop into empowered, mindful beings.
Area of Impact:
Kandivali, Mumbai, Maharashtra.
Impact Opportunity
Individuals and/or organisations can support us in making a transformative impact in many more children’s lives:
While 40% of the school fee is provided by the child’s family, the remaining 60% can be funded in the following ways:
Support one child’s education for one term: Contribute INR 18,000.
Support one child’s education for one year: Contribute INR 54,000,
