Lakshya Foundation Annual Report 2013

“From Eradicating Dropouts to Preventing Them”

Phase 1: Healing the Wound

When Lakshya Foundation began its journey, tribal villages around Lavhali and Murbad were struggling under the weight of illiteracy. Children were leaving schools in alarming numbers, stepping into low-income jobs and menial labor, their dreams cut short before they could take flight.

Over the last three years, our first mission—to bring back dropouts to education—has borne fruit.

Nearly hundreds of students returned to classrooms, breaking free from the cycle of poverty and hopelessness.
With our consistent coaching and mentoring, these students aced their Grade 10 and 12 exams.
Many of them are now confidently stepping into higher education, vocational training, and skilled jobs in urban cities.

Their stories reflect courage, resilience, and the transformative power of education:

Deepa Pardhi – once a dropout, is now pursuing her Bachelor of Arts degree.
Meena Vare – also studying for her Bachelor of Arts.
Chandrakant Wagh – has enrolled in ITI, preparing for a skilled trade.
Surekha Kambli – has set her eyes on becoming a nurse, determined to serve her community.

These journeys are not just individual successes—they are symbols of hope for the entire tribal belt. The fear of venturing into cities has been replaced by confidence. Where once there was hesitation, now there is aspiration.

Phase 2: Preventing the Wound

But as we celebrated these milestones, a crucial realization emerged.

Bringing back dropouts is like applying a bandage on a wound. Healing has begun, but unless we stop the causes, the wound will reopen.

So, in 2013, we stepped into the second phase of our mission:

???? Not just bringing back dropouts, but preventing students from dropping out in the first place.

The Reality of Tribal Schools

Our team visited 27 Zilla Parishad primary schools and an equal number of pre-primary schools across villages like Lavhali, Dharol, Nambarwadi, Kuderan, Boradpada, Shilandwadi, Mandvyachi Vadi, and many others.

The findings were heartbreaking:

Crumbling Infrastructure – Walls, windows, and ceilings stood on the verge of collapse. Classrooms were dark and suffocating.
No Electricity – Most villages lacked power, making schools gloomy and uninviting.
Invisible Boundaries – With no compounds, schools lacked security and a sense of belonging.
Dilapidated Toilets – Most toilets were unusable, robbing children—especially girls—of dignity and safety.
Water Scarcity – Villages struggled for drinking water; schools, too, were parched and helpless.

This was more than an infrastructural problem—it was psychological.

Children sat in depressing, unsafe spaces that silently told them:

“Education won’t change your life.”

Faced with poverty at home and hopelessness at school, many families found dropout an obvious choice.

The Road Ahead: A Humongous Mission

Our experience showed us clearly:

If education is to thrive, the school environment must inspire hope, safety, and dignity.

And so, Lakshya Foundation is now setting out to:

Renovate and strengthen 27 primary schools and their surrounding compounds.
Support 27 pre-primary schools in the same villages.
Create educational spaces that are safe, bright, functional, and inspiring.

We recognize the enormity of this task. With nearly 50 schools in the region, this will take years of consistent effort, resources, and support. But the path is clear.

This is not just about bricks and mortar.

It is about building confidence, dignity, and a future worth dreaming about.

Voices from the Ground

Adding life to this journey are the voices of those who live it every day:

????‍???? Deepa Pardhi (Student, now pursuing B.A.)

“Earlier, my village friends used to laugh at me when I talked about studying again. Now, when they see me in college, they ask me how to get admission. I feel proud that I can guide them.”

????‍????‍???? Parent from Dharol village

“We were about to send our son to work at a brick kiln. But Lakshya Foundation’s team came to our door and convinced us to let him study. Today, he is preparing for his 12th exam. This change has brought respect to our family.”

????‍???? Z.P. Teacher from Boradpada

“Children are not afraid anymore. Earlier, they sat silently. Now they ask questions, demand books, and even scold us when school starts late. This energy was missing for years.”

???? Surekha Kambli (Aspiring Nurse)

“Becoming a nurse is my dream. If not for Lakshya Foundation, I would be married by now. Today, I am studying hard to serve my people.”

Conclusion: From Hope to Habit

2013 marked a turning point.

Phase 1 gave us the joy of seeing dropouts re-enter classrooms. Phase 2 sets us on the path to make education a habit in these villages—not an exception, but the norm.

We began by healing wounds.

Now, we are working to make the community so strong that no wound appears again.

As we take on this mission, we carry the same belief that guided us from the start:

Every child deserves not just education, but the dignity of learning in an environment that nurtures dreams.

✨ Lakshya Foundation – Lighting up classrooms, one school at a time.