3. Their children grow up unattended on the sites as both parents have to work. Behind the high walls of the
site, they are invisible to most of us. Since their parents can’t vote in the city, they are not included in its
policy.
4. The site is their only playground.
They come from across the country, and even if there are some who have gone to school in their villages,
they don’t understand Hindi. As a result, children rarely the see the inside of a school.
6. Boys begin working at the site from a young age – either in construction or running tea
stalls.
7. There is no information on the numbers of these children, but it is believed to be over 50,000 just in
Mumbai.
8. This does not have to be the case. A solution does exist.
‘Mumbai Mobile Crèches’ is an NGO that enables these children to have a safe, happy,
healthy and educated childhood.
9. Last year, MMC ran 31 centres and reached over
5000 children
But this is only a drop in the ocean
MMC wants to see that ALL children on ALL
construction sites are safe, healthy and
educated. Because this is their right
We need help to expand our centres and build
awareness of the issues of the child on the site
10.
11. Set up in 1969, we have reached over half a million children across Delhi, Mumbai and
Pune. In Mumbai alone, we reach over 5000 a year.
Our model is simple – go directly to a site and set up the centre.
13. At MMC, the early years are given special attention and care. Children as young as a few
months old come to our centres. This programme creates a foundation for their overall growth and
development and caters for children from birth upto three years old.
Birth upto 3.0 years
14. For children between 3-6 we have a pre-primary programme. All learning happens through play, and
a special curriculum ensures that these little ones also get the pre-reading, pre-writing and pre-
arithmetic skills they need for school readiness.
3 -6 years
15. And for the children above six, we run a non-formal education programme. For many
this is the first time they have been to school or heard the Hindi language.
> 6 years
16. We have adopted a holistic approach to education using art, puppetry, songs, theatre
and story telling to teach children different subjects.
Using Innovative Methodologies
17. The non-formal school also ensures that children enroll in municipal schools and
succeed there. All centres are open Mondays to Saturdays 8:45 – 4:30.
Municipal School Programme
18. We have developed innovative programmes to build leadership and confidence. Like
the Child to Child Programme where children from centres form friendships and share
their skills with children from more affluent neighboring schools.
19. Many of the children under five are under-
nourished when they come to the centres. A
special health programme addresses their
needs and doctors visit sites every week.
Health Programme
20. Apart from educational and self-development
activities, MMC provides a morning porridge,
nutritious lunch and snacks every day to all
children
Nutrition Programme
21. In fact, four of our children became celebrities in April 2008 when a puppet show they had created on
the importance of mangroves won them an international award in Hong Kong!
Our Children Are Stars
22. Apart from working directly with children, we also work with parents, builders, various government
departments to promote the cause of the child on the site. Apart from regular community meetings, MMC
trains and empowers women from construction sites to become teachers.
23. * Challenges
* Teacher – Children ratio
- Creche
- Pre-primary
- Primary
* Budget
Educational Programme
Support 900 Children by funding 16 teachers’ salaries @ Rs 5000 p.m. /
per teacher
Rs 9,60,000
* Centre Visit
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