For those of you who don’t know, Sunday the 8th of September is International Literacy Day. Celebrated annually, this day is an opportunity for Governments, civil society and stakeholders to highlight improvements in world literacy rates. Also to reflect on the world’s remaining literacy challenges. According to the Indian Government’s Census, India’s literacy rate is 74.04% with Kerala having the highest literacy rate. While it has definitely improved as compared to the earlier years, however, we still have a long way to go. So, if you too want to bridge this gap and do your bit to help educate those in need, here’s a list of NGO’s that you can volunteer at.
1. Smile Foundation
Smile Foundation is an NGO in India directly benefitting over 750,000 children and their families every year, through more than 350 live welfare projects on education, healthcare, livelihood and women empowerment, in over 1000 remote villages and slums across 25 states of India. At Smile Foundation you can volunteer to work for the welfare of children and their families.
For more information, check out their website.
2. Deepalaya
Deepalaya started in 1979 with 7 founding members with the objective of educating the underprivileged girl children. Over the years, their focus expanded from providing education only to children, to helping underprivileged women, youth and children become self-reliant through education and vocational training. You can volunteer for their academic program or their education on wheels program to help reduce illiteracy in the country.
For more details, check out their website.
3. Literacy India
The essence of Literacy India are the 3 E’s: Education, Empowerment and Employment. Born in 1996, the objective of this NGO is to educate underprivileged women and children and empower them to become self-reliant and employable. You can volunteer with this organization to teach the women and children to read and write along with various other skills such as personal grooming, English speaking, photography and other sports activities.
For more information, check out their website.
4. Teach for India
Teach for India came into being in 2006 with a mission to build a movement of leaders to eliminate educational inequity. They believe that one day all children will attain an excellent education. You can volunteer for their short-term fellowship program, which provides with an opportunity to serve as full-time teachers to children from low-income communities in some of the nation’s most under-resourced schools. Or volunteer for their long term programs in diverse roles.
For more information, check out their website.
5. Read India
READ establishes Community Library and Resource Centers by partnering with rural communities across India. They connect with local partners and corporate organizations to provide training programs in vocational skills. They also introduce efforts to educate and economically empower villagers and teach them to use technology to enhance their standard of living and you can volunteer with them for the same.
For more information, check out their website.
6. Make a Difference
At Make a Difference they believe that everybody should have a reasonable quality of life. A life in which they need not struggle or suffer to make ends meet. Which is why they have different education programs for children of different age groups- Foundation skills for ages 11-13, ED Support & Dream Camps for ages 14-16, Transition Readiness for ages 16-18 and Aftercare Program for ages 18 and above. At this organization you can choose to teach, be a mentor or fundraise as a volunteer.
For more information, check out their website.
7. Om Foundation Charitable Trust
Setup in 2002, the Om Foundation Charitable Trust is a school that aims to provide free quality education, nutrition and health care to the children from the urban slums of Noida. Starting with just 20 children, the school today provides English-medium education and an environment for holistic development to about 375 children at zero cost. You can do your bit by volunteering with them as a Mentor, Tutor, Social Media Executive or a Skill trainer.
For more information, check out their website.
8. Aarohan NGO
Aarohan mainly works in the area of education for underprivileged children of the society, women and other community members living in difficult circumstances, also with rural/tribal areas and transgender community. You can volunteer at Aarohan not only to engage in social work but also to get sensitized towards the current social issues and the working methodology so that you can help these underprivileged children of the society and women become an asset of tomorrow.
For more information, check out their website.
Featured Image Source: volunteerhq.org
