By Chetana Patil,
Program Executive, Nandurbar
Education is not limited to reading books or passing examinations. It is the foundation on which confidence, dignity, and opportunities are built. Even today, when transformation and development are widely discussed, many children continue to be deprived of education and the chance to lead a better life. For children living in remote and tribal areas, access to education often determines whether their future will be shaped by choice or by compulsion. When education reaches such communities, it does more than educate children—it strengthens families, unites villages, and opens pathways to lasting change.
Malpur, Kumbharpada, is a small tribal village located in Nandurbar district, with a population of 1,314. Surrounded by hills and scattered hamlets, the village remains geographically isolated. Most families depend on unskilled daily wage labour and work long hours to meet their basic needs. In such conditions, education often becomes a secondary priority, not because parents do not value it, but because survival takes precedence.
The village has two Zilla Parishad schools that provide education only up to the 4th standard. As a result, around 160 children studying from 5th to 10th standard are forced to travel long distances to nearby villages to continue their education. After spending long hours at work, parents are often unable to monitor their children’s studies or provide academic support. Without a dedicated learning space, tuition assistance, or exposure to creative and recreational activities, many children spend their evenings wandering in the village or accompanying their parents to work. Limited exposure and opportunities restrict their ability to dream beyond their immediate surroundings. The situation of the youth reflected similar challenges. While many young people in Malpur have aspirations and a strong desire to learn, they lack guidance, platforms for skill development, and a common space to come together and grow. In the absence of opportunities, several young boys enter labour work at an early age, while many girls remain confined to household responsibilities. Potential remains untapped, and ambition slowly gives way to acceptance of limited choices.
In April 2025, CYDA initiated conversations with the Gram Panchayat, Village Development Committee, parents, and youth to discuss the importance of education for children and young people in Malpur. Through these discussions, one need became clear—a safe, inclusive, and accessible learning space for the community. Under the Samruddha Kisan Project – Phase 3, implemented in collaboration with ASK Foundation and CYDA, the idea of a Community Resource Centre took shape—not as an external intervention, but as a collective effort built by the community, for the community. The Gram Panchayat, community members, youth, and volunteers came together to turn the vision into reality. Despite their own economic constraints, families contributed small amounts from their limited resources. Villagers offered shramdaan, working on construction after long, tiring hours of labour. Young people carried materials, painted walls, and helped prepare the space, while children watched eagerly and repeatedly asked when their classes would begin. Every brick laid carried a sense of ownership, pride, and hope.
In July 2025, the collective dream became a reality. A new building stood at the centre of Malpur, not just as a physical structure, but as a symbol of unity, belief, and shared aspirations. The Community Resource Centre soon became a safe and welcoming space for learning, creativity, and interaction. Today, 73 children regularly attend the centre, receiving academic support and engaging in activities that build confidence, curiosity, and discipline.
The impact of the Community Resource Centre has been visible across the village. Children have developed better study habits, shown increased interest in learning, and gained confidence through exposure to sports, art, music, and creative activities. Youth have found opportunities to participate in group activities, access guidance on education and careers, and rediscover motivation towards meaningful futures. Beyond individual change, the centre has strengthened community bonds, creating a shared space where learning and interaction thrive. A strong sense of ownership and pride has emerged, with villagers actively protecting and sustaining the centre.
The formal inauguration of the Community Resource Centre on 21 November 2025 marked a moment of great pride for Malpur. It stood as a reminder of what a community can achieve when it comes together with a shared vision and collective effort.
Looking ahead, the Malpur Community Resource Centre aims to reach more children and youth from nearby villages, evolve into a cluster-level learning and development hub, strengthen local skills to reduce youth migration, and offer academic, technical, cultural, and life-skills programmes. Rooted in community ownership and sustained by collective responsibility, the centre stands as a living example of how participation, shramdaan, and belief can create inclusive and long-term transformation.
