In loving memory of Ajay Khindria, One Kind Act are honoured to launch ‘Ajay Khindria’s MAMA & ME’ Initiative.
This is aimed at empowering mothers of impoverished communities in India and caring for them and their babies/young children through sustainable and impactful interventions at Anganwadi Centres. This initiative has been inspired by Ajay’s dedication to making a world a better place, where mother and child do not suffer. It is in collaboration with YUVA Unstoppable.
ANGANWADI CENTRES (AWC)
AWCs are Preschool Centres in India for children aged under 6 and are described as the World's Largest Outreach Program, providing Nutritional Support, Early Childhood Care & Development to Children, Pregnant and Lactating Mothers, & Adolescent Girls. At such AWCs:
- The carer workforce is known as ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist) workers and are trained to teach, give nutrition and health advise to both to the children and pregnant mothers. They primarily are all women, serving as a consistent bridge between government schemes in the community. Their training and salary are paid by the government.
- 1 meal a day is given to all children, also paid by the government.
3 ELEMENTS TO 'Ajay Khindria's MAMA & ME' Initiative:
There are 3 separate elements to this Initiative (see below for full details):
- NUTRITION KIT FOR 10 MONTHS: To support the pregnant mothers and children with nutrition and health guidance for 10 months during their pregnancy
- AWC/PRESCHOOL CENTRE RENOVATION: To transform existing AWCs/Preschool Centres to requisite standard/criteria (see below)
- AWC/PRE SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION: To build a brand new or demolish/rebuild a new AWC/Preschool Centre to requisite standard/criteria (see below)
AWC/Preschool Centre Criteria:
Each Centre will have
- A hall, kitchen and storeroom
- Sustainable infrastructure for clean water, sanitation and hygiene
- Access to clean drinking water
- Fully reliable electricity
- One ASHA (see above) worker and helper
- Regular health check-ups and nutrition counselling sessions for mothers
- A Smart TV and educational and learning equipment for the children
Benefits
'Ajay Khindria’s MAMA & ME' Initiative at these AWC/Preschools aims to derive the following benefits:
- Health: Regular health check-ups and nutrition counselling sessions would lead to better health outcomes for children and mothers
- Attendance: Improved health and better infrastructure leads to an improvement in attendance in the Centres
- Women Empowerment: Providing education, training, and employment opportunities for women, who predominantly serve as ASHA workers
NUTRITION KIT FOR 10 MONTHS
DONATION AMOUNT - £150
There is a maternal malnutrition crisis in India whereby over 18% of pregnant women are underweight and more than 52% are anaemic. Malnutrition contributes to low birth weight, preterm delivery, and long-term developmental challenges for the child.
The objective here is to identify undernourished pregnant women all over India and distribute each with a Nutrition Kit over their 10 months of pregnancy to support maternal health. The Nutrition Kit provides essential nutrients and education to pregnant women, as follows:
- Iron, calcium, folic acid, and protein-rich foods enough for the family
- Community health check-ups and group consultations with doctors.
- Prenatal wellness sessions and awareness programs empowering mothers with knowledge on diet and pregnancy care.
AWC/PRESCHOOL CENTRE RENOVATION
DONATION AMOUNT - £5,000
This aims to RENOVATE an existing AWC/Preschool Centre that is in need of improvement/ upgrade, in the following way:
• Infrastructure: Improvements include waterproofing, flooring, and solar panel installation.
• WASH initiatives: Building of clean drinking water and sanitation facilities.
• Children:
- From 6 months onward, children receive age-appropriate nutrition and regular health monitoring
- At age 3, children join the pre-school program at the AWC/Preschool Centre for early educational stimulation through digital learning tools and educational toys and develop social skills and routine in a safe, caring environment
- By age 6, children are school-ready with a strong learning foundation
There are typically 40-50 children at an AWC/Preschool centre.
AWC/PRESCHOOL CENTRE CONSTRUCTION
DONATION AMOUNT - £15,000
This aims to
1. DEMOLISH an existing AWC/Preschool Centre that is deemed to be unfit for purpose and RECONSTRUCT or
2. BUILD A NEW AWC/Preschool Centre that does not exist for an existing government school in India
This will be done in the following way:
• Infrastructure: Installation of waterproofing, flooring, and electrification.
• WASH initiatives: Building of clean drinking water and sanitation facilities.
• Children:
- From 6 months onward, children receive age-appropriate nutrition and regular health monitoring
- At age 3, children join the pre-school program at the AWC/Preschool Centre for early educational stimulation through digital learning tools and educational toys and develop social skills and routine in a safe, caring environment
- By age 6, children are school-ready with a strong learning foundation
There are typically 40-50 children at an AWC/Preschool centre
Help us to continue Ajay’s spirit by supporting the 'MAMA & ME' Initiative and let us bring light, hope and upliftment to those in need. Your donation HERE will make it possible.
About One Kind Act
One Kind Act Changes Communities and lives of others globally who suffer as a result of Poverty of Health, Nutrition and Education and may have Fallen Through The Net of the larger charities. Learn More here