In early 2024, Yashit Foundation set an ambitious goal: reach 120 children across three underprivileged communities in Lucknow and Dehradun, and ensure each one had the resources to not just attend school, but thrive in it.

The Challenge

The children in our target schools come from households earning less than ₹5,000 per month. For these families, the cost of a school uniform — roughly ₹600 — can represent more than a week's worth of food. Many children were attending school barefoot, sharing textbooks between three or four students, or dropping out entirely during harvest or wedding seasons.

"When Riya got her new uniform and books, she looked at them for a long time before she put them on. She said she didn't want to get them dirty." — Riya's teacher, Government Primary School, Lucknow

What We Did

Working with school principals and local community leaders, we identified 120 children who were either at risk of dropping out or already attending irregularly. Our volunteers conducted home visits to understand each family's situation and build trust before distributing support.

  • Distributed 120 complete school uniform sets including shoes and socks
  • Provided full textbook sets for all children from Class 1 to Class 8
  • Set up a stationery corner in each school with pencils, erasers, notebooks, and geometry boxes
  • Conducted a career awareness session for Class 7 and 8 students

The Results

Three months after the drive, school attendance across the three schools had increased by 34%. Teachers reported that children were more engaged and arriving on time. For the families, the financial relief — however modest — removed one of the key barriers to consistent school attendance.

"Before, I used to feel embarrassed coming to school because my clothes were torn. Now I feel proud." — A Class 5 student, Dehradun

What Comes Next

We're now planning a mid-year follow-up drive for July 2024, and expanding to two additional schools in the Aliganj area of Lucknow. We're also piloting a mentorship programme where college students from local universities will visit schools monthly to provide career guidance and homework support.

If you'd like to sponsor a child's education kit for the year — uniforms, books, and stationery — it costs just ₹1,500. Donate here.