Muskan-Non Formal School

Muskan, a project on Flexible Learning

Our intervention in non-formal education/remedial coaching

Meet our Lovely Kids Who has transformed themselves with the help of our ‘Muskan Didi’

Where there is Light , there is darkness underneath. In Kolkata where at night hundreds of electric lamps ease the lives of its several people on the other hand there is darkness which prevail the lives of multiple slums. The tiny kerosene lamps try to light the small makeshift rooms of the inhabitants of slums. In such hardship continuing study by the slum children always become every day’s challenge

‘Muskan’ is Turnstone Global’s non formal education program started in 2013 to support kids who are out of school in the slums of Kolkata. Most of the students studying here were child labour once upon a time. They are the part of mainstream education now .

Started with 35 students in one slum of Basanti Coloni, Kolkata, presently we have 694 students in 3 slums of Kolkata in our role. Innovative ways of learning, two way communication and affection driven teaching are the factors to increase the number of children.

Apart from studies, they are equipped with other skills such as Dance, Drawing, Handicraft making etc.

‘Muskan’ also takes care of their nutrition needs by distributing of nutritious refreshment daily and also keep watch on the different health requirements including menstrual health of adolescent girls student in our non-formal coaching .

Turnstone Global also takes the children to various famous places of Kolkata to makes them aware about our tradition, legacy and culture. Throughout the year, we also celebrate the birth anniversaries of noted personalities and discuss the teachings of them among students.

Fees of any structure is never being charged from them.

Beside these activities another important aspect of our ‘ Muskan’ program is mainstreaming of children by assisting them to admit in different Government Schools and preventing them from dropping out from schools.

Story from the field

Amit, who used to beg on a nearby the railway station. One day our Muskan didi noticed and started counselling his parents. Initially they were much rigid even to talk to us but finally with much struggle our Muskan didi able to convince his parents. He got admitted at our Muskan school. Now Amit is studying in class VIII. He is excellent in drawing.

Now during his free time out of his own passion he works as a whistle blower around different platforms of nearby railway station to search for the children who are beggars and work as child labours and brings in the notice to our Muskan didi