Celebrating Abundance in Collabaction

2023 saw the launch of Bachpan Manao Badhte Jao as a societal mission, with 77+ organisations committing to collabaction for the sake of the child. This coincided with an important moment with the launch of Jaadui Pitara at policy level, highlighting "play" as the core idiom of childhood.

Collabactors celebrated the many shades of Bachpan Manao Badhte Jao by recognising not only children but also the caring adults (parents, family, early years educators...), so critical for childhood to flourish. Collabactors put out public goods - resources to raise the level of conversation around childhood and towards enriching childhood experiences. This abundance is a testimonial to the commitment of the many organisations towards a future for children and for society.

As we step into 2024, the mission sets out to scale the level of conversation and continue to explore and experiment: "what will it take to seed mindset shift and trigger habit change towards the early and foundational years".

The year that was…BMBJ 2023 in images

Celebrations Galore at Gyan Prakash Foundation

The idea began while planning our Diwali celebrations in October 2023. “No more gyaan giving” was the general feeling for the event that was to be held for more than 200 children and their parents, across 23 Anganwadis in Javali Block (Satara District) and Moshi Beat (Pune District) in Maharashtra.

A range of fun activities were planned for the families. Children and families (mothers, fathers, siblings and grandparents) together painted mud diyas, made Diwali greeting cards, created paper lanterns and decorated the environment with flower rangolis. The smiles on the faces of the children and the grown-ups filled the room with brightness, no less than that of the Diwali lights.

The activities were followed by the screening of the Bachpan Manao video. For the parents, the video seemed to bring it all together. “The children in the video were free and happy”  noted one. ‘They were playing, exploring, learning, falling, getting up and moving on” said another. The video provided an important avenue to talk to parents about the way we interact with our children in today’s world. “The video reminded me that I climbed mountains and played with mud as a child. But I realized that I discourage my child from playing with mud with the fear of infections. I’m going to stop doing that from now and let my child enjoy playing in the sand and mud” expressed a mother. A few parents mentioned they were pleasantly surprised that such a fun event took place in the anganwadi. “We think of the anganwadi as a place where we are called when they need to give us some information or talk about our child’s health. We are happy that we got to do these fun activities with our children here”.

For the Anganwadi teachers, the event was an eye-opener into how something so seemingly small can create an impact so big! They talked about how the event required very little effort in terms of planning as well as cost, but the impact created by the experience would be beneficial in building their relationship with families. “We think we can plan such events for our parents too. It was so simple yet so effective” remarked one of the teachers.

We couldn’t agree more. In all our training, we aim to create awareness in parents on how to engage with their children. Creating simple opportunities for them to do things together, with their children, was the easiest way to get the message across. Actions, pictures and videos speak louder than 1000 words! As we go into the new year, we hope to take our learning from a Diwali like no other.

This article is contributed by Gyan Prakash Foundation. Gyan Prakash Foundation is a social change organization working in the field of education in Maharashtra.

Language translation powered by BHASHINI

Early childhood education, a pivotal phase in a child's developmental journey, lays the foundation for a lifetime of learning. It's a magical time where little minds are like sponges, absorbing knowledge, skills, and values that shape their future. In the diverse landscape of India, the challenges of linguistic diversity often become a significant hurdle in unlocking the full potential of early education. Enter BHASHINI, the national language translation mission, ready to weave a understanding that transcends these challenges. The National Education Policy (NEP) serves as a guiding light, envisioning an education system that is not only accessible but also joyous for every child. NEP's emphasis on inclusivity aligns seamlessly with the mission of BHASHINI, creating a perfect symphony for early education.

Unfolding the services BHASHINI brings to the realm of early childhood education:
Speech to Speech: BHASHINI transforms spoken words into tunes of understanding for every child.
Text to Text: Performing a linguistic makeover, BHASHINI translates favorite stories and lessons into the language of the learner, making education not only accessible but also delightful.
Text to Speech: Like a friendly robot, BHASHINI turns written words into engaging audio stories, making education an audible adventure for all.
OCR (Optical Character Recognition): BHASHINI plays the role of a detective, scanning through books and notes to unearth hidden treasures of knowledge. No piece of information is left behind.
Transliteration: As a pronunciation coach, BHASHINI turns tricky words into easy ones, ensuring that every learner, regardless of their linguistic background, feels confident in their journey of discovery. In both village and city settings, BHASHINI's diverse services and the "Bachpan Manao, Badhte Jao" initiative intertwine seamlessly, ensuring early childhood education becomes a shared adventure accessible to every child. The initiative, celebrating childhood and encouraging progress, harmonizes with BHASHINI's goal of breaking down language barriers.

BHASHINI, is a Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology initiative being implemented by Digital India-Bhashini Division, under Digital India corporation. Please visit the website at https://bhashini.gov.in/ or you can write at ceo-dibd@digitalindia.gov.in to explore the services.

The Bachpan Manao Network at Play