Supporting Operations of Childcare Centers in Rural Communities

Rural communities in Southern Rajasthan encompass a high proportion of tribal populations living in scattered and poorly accessible habitations. The population lives in abject poverty and sees large-scale male migration to major cities in Gujarat, Maharashtra, and other states in India. In their absence, the entire household responsibility passes on to women who deal with multiple chores like farming, tending to livestock, getting firewood, and cooking to the point where childcare is often compromised and young children are left in the care of older siblings, grandparents, or at times left alone, by themselves.

There are wide gaps in the knowledge and practices with regard to childcare and the diets of children in the region that all contribute to high levels of malnutrition. In order to combat this ongoing issue, our partner, Basic HealthCare Services, began running daycare centers called phulwaris (meaning a bed of flowers) for young children in the Salumbar and Gogunda regions of Udaipur in Southern Rajasthan, India.

The childcare centers operate from 9 am to 5 pm and are housed in the center of the village and managed by two local women trained in childcare and nutrition to provide nutritious food, a safe and caring environment, and early childhood education to children that would otherwise not get the necessary attention and care they need.

This project aims to provide holistic care to young children to promote behavior change to positively impact their health and well-being. As of July 2023, we are committed to supporting the efforts related to this project to ensure the operation of six childcare centers until July 2024. With your help, we can continue to support these centers well into the future for many, many years!