In Angalakuppam, agriculture is the primary source of income for many families. Both parents often need to leave home for agricultural work to earn a daily wage, but affordable and reliable childcare is limited. As a result, families may have no one to look after young children during working hours, while older siblings are sometimes expected to stay home and care for their younger brothers and sisters instead of attending school.
Sharana established the crèche in 2002 to address this need and support families in the village by providing young children with a safe, clean, and nurturing place to stay while their parents work. This also allows parents, particularly mothers, to continue working and contributing to their household income, while giving older children the opportunity to remain in school and complete their education.
Each year, around 20–30 young children attend the crèche and receive:
- – Daily informal education through age-appropriate learning and activities
- – School-readiness support to develop their emotional, physical, mental, and social skills before entering primary school
- – Nutritious meals, including a health-mix drink in the morning, a wholesome lunch, and a snack before they leave at 3 p.m.
- – Time for adequate rest during the day
- – Regular health and education monitoring, supported through monthly parent meetings and access to Sharana’s dispensary
