Raison d'être
Bright Orange Foundation is a grassroots organization striving to create enabling conditions for disadvantaged children and women to live dignity-filled lives.
The organization’s focus is on the holistic growth of migrant children. This is not charity work for us; rather, it is an attempt to help them earn their dues. We strive to ensure that our children earn their dues, and we do whatever it takes, within our limited resources and capability, to make that possible.
Started as a one-off initiative to help migrant children in the neighbourhood slum in Gurgaon, it was soon realized that we had seen just a small part of the tip of the iceberg. Instantly, we all knew what we had to do, and obviously, there was no looking back.
There can be many definitions of ‘out of school children’ and data with different lenses is used to assess the magnitude of this problem. This figure ranges from 10.17 lakhs as per the strict definition of the Out of School Children (OOSC), to 4.47 Crore as per an analysis by ‘Education for All in India’ using UDISE+ Data (https://educationforallinindia.com/out-of-school-children-oosc-in-the-light-of-udiseplus-2023-24-data-and-its-implications-on-nep-2020-goals/). The magnitude of this problem is huge by any yardstick.
Our surveys and experience have shown that children in the age group of 6 to 14 are unable to read and write. Of course, this is not good for the individual child. But, an equally concerning fact is that within no time, these children will be joining the workforce as unskilled labor. Very soon, India shall be carrying a demographic burden instead of reaping the demographic dividends.
Why We Focus on Migrant Children
Children, who tag along with parents who migrate to big cities in search of greener pastures are the most vulnerable. They live in ‘No Man’s Land’ as far as the education landscape is concerned. Village school- that was accessible, is left behind. Whatever they had learned (if at all they had learned anything) is forgotten. Urban schools are far away and are not equipped to accommodate such a large influx of migrant children. Parents are clueless about the admission process. They are unable to navigate through the maze of ever-changing requirements of documents.
Children, blissfully unaware of their loss, are happy picking waste and earning the great sum of thirty rupees in the evening- enough for buying Gutkha, cigarettes, and even drugs. As the family has migrated here to earn money – most likely a 13, 14 year child is working.
What We Do
Our Guiding Value is that if our child has the potential to go and be a scientist at NASA, or represent India in Sports or Fine Arts then she should be empowered to do that.
Our core values for our children are ‘आत्म विश्वास, आत्म सम्मान, आत्म निर्भर’ ( Self Confidence, Self- Respect and Self Reliant)
We aim that our children should not only dream big but should be empowered to realize this. Our centers are named ‘Dream Big Vidya Kendra’.
Our Model is Simple
- Regular classes for teaching Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) Skills as per the NIPUN Bharat guidelines.
- Prepare the children with SCERT books to get admission to age-appropriate classes.
- Guide and support in getting necessary documents made
- Help children and Parents get their children admitted to mainstream school
- After-school classes for school-going children in the community
- Structured Sports classes for all the children
- Structured Extracurricular activities alongside the studies
- Regular access to library books
- Providing a safe space
- Awareness of various issues concerning children
Our Board Members
Shalini Taneja
Prof. Shalini Taneja is Professor in Economics and Business Policy in Fore School of Management. She heads the Center for Sustainable Development. A well accomplished researcher, Shalini is an FPM from MDI Gurgaon, and has published many papers in A, and B class Journals. She has about 18 years of experience in Industry, Academia, and Research. Her expertise is CSR and has been part of BRICS Bank as well. She keeps on taking sessions with policy makers and corporate leaders.
Seema Sahai
Seema Sahai is the Founder of Bright orange Foundation, and has worked in Banking Sector, and Social Sector for more than 25 years. She has done Doctoral Research from MDI Gurgaon on Microfinance and Micro Enterprises.
Sanjay sahai
A Mechanical Engineer, Sanjay Sahai brings with him rich experience of operations in prestigious Government and Private Sector Corporates.
Tanya Chaturvedi
Tanya is post graduate in Architecture and is involved in prestigious projects like World Heritage City project of UNESCO, Jaipur Virasat Foundation. She has corporate as well as freelance experience. She has contributed immensely in holding us together in the initial years of Bright Orange Foundation.
