About Mrida
NVAL – Tinkering class in session – building & testing of design solutions.
Our aim
The total number of children studying in the residential schools under the Eklavya Model initiated by the Government for tribal children is 30,000 in Madhya Pradesh alone. Mrida’s work in building skills & career pathways for children in residential school will create a strong impact in uplifting the community.
Our work will help these children and youth break the unproductive cycle that forces them to either migrate to cities for menial jobs or remain unemployed in the villages and fall back to an exploitative lifestyle with low self-esteem.
Our Vision
To end poverty in tribal belts of rural India
Our Mission
To develop impactful and contextual education for children from tribal communities in rural
The total number of children in Mandla, Dindori, and Balaghat districts in the Mahakaushal region is over 450,000 with 70% of them being from tribal communities. Mandla and Balaghat are Naxalite-ridden areas.
With a deep desire to be of service to the impoverished tribal communities in rural India, Mrida is committed to ending poverty in these three districts through its grassroots-led intervention programs in education, sports and agriculture.
who we help
Primary Beneficiaries
Children from ages 4 to 16 years from impoverished tribal families. Children’s well-being is at the core of our hearts. Riverside Natural School was established in 2016 to provide education to 90 children from impoverished tribal families. The following year, realizing the need to provide a safe shelter to children from vulnerable families Mrida started the hostel facilities for children who are orphaned or are single-parent children in the rural region of Mandla, Madhya Pradesh. The number of students in the school is now growing and there is a dire need to find more sponsorships for students’ education. Get to know more about our education intervention program.
Secondary Beneficiaries
Youth from ages 17 to 21 years from poor tribal families. There is nothing much to do for the poorly educated youth in Mandla. The first chance they get, they migrate to towns or cities for manual labour. Mrida’s intervention program is building vocational, career, and skills training with an industry focus to help the rural children and youth to become qualified for employment in companies or become entrepreneurs to set up small trades and generate livelihood opportunities in the rural regions. Narmada Valley Football Academy initiated in 2017 is utilizing Mandla youth’s potential via Coach Development trainings to create a pool of AIFF certified football coaches for the upcoming talent in football in Madhya Pradesh. Get to know more about our sports intervention program.
Farmers from tribal communities survive mainly on agricultural produce for their household needs. The average landholding size here is 2.7 acres and families typically cultivate food grain for their own consumption in the Kharif season. The rabi season crop is taken only in fields where there is availability of water or irrigation. This leaves little by way of cash in the hands of the family. The average annual household income in this region is Rs. 30,000. The MGNREGA program guarantees 100 days of work in rural India – however, on average, people have got 40-45 days of work with erratic payment practices. Mrida started the food forestry program with farmer parents of students attending Riverside Natural School to enable them to become self-sustainable. Get to know more about our livelihood intervention program.
Brijkumari Maravi
Class 8th Student
Ajay Maravi
Class 9th Student
Brijkumari belongs to a farming family in Mohgaon, Mandla. She lost her father at a tender age and thereafter her mother remarried leaving her four children under the care of their old grandparents. Her life circumstances had made her sad and remorseful. She would not easily open up and stayed drawn in her shell. She did not feel confident and was unsure when asked about enrolment at Mrida’s residential school by Mrida’s community engagement team that identifies children from the most vulnerable families in the villages through initial surveys, community meetings and door to door visits.
After only 2 years at Mrida’s school, she is completely transformed into a confident, eager, active, and indomitable footballer. Read more about Brijkumari’s inspiring story in our blog.
Ajay’s induction to Mrida’s residential school happened out of his curiosity and interest in football. We are happy that he gathered his courage to seek out a different path for himself. Ajay belongs to the native Gond tribe in Mandla, Madhya Pradesh. Ajay’s father has no other means of income but to work as an agricultural labourer since they do not possess any family landholdings, due to this the family suffers frequent financial difficulties. Instead of going to school, Ajay used to accompany his father to work in the field as a farm help. Now he is part of the 13-player enthusiastic football team of the academy. The story of how Ajay got enrolled in the academy is quite interesting to know. Read it here.
