Anandshala, an initiative of Deshkal Society, is a joyful learning space for children from migrant and marginalized communities in Noida’s Shramik Colonies, with a special focus on adolescent girls.
Born out of field research in Shramik Kunj clusters, Anandshala addresses the disruptions caused by migration, poverty, and exclusion by offering after-school support, digital literacy, creative workshops, and community engagement with mothers and caregivers.
Aligned with SDG4 (Quality Education), we go beyond textbooks to nurture confidence, life skills, and self-expression, helping first-generation learners stay in school and build dignified futures.
Our work rests on three principles: inclusion, contextual relevance, and future readiness. Anandshala grows as a community-driven effort: one child, one family, and one spark at a time.
Anandshala approaches learning not as a one-size-fits-all model, but as a process deeply rooted in children’s everyday realities-particularly those of girls from migrant worker households in urban informal settlements.
At Anandshala, learning is shaped through art, community, collaboration, and lived experience. Each activity we undertake is rooted in the belief that education must be joyful, inclusive, and connected to everyday life.
Anandshala was launched with Shweta Mukti, a powerful Odissi performance by Kavita Dwibedi, exploring liberation through Buddhist philosophy and feminine introspection. Set against themes of migration and resilience, it symbolised Anandshala’s vision where tradition, gender, and education converge while uniting artists, educators, and communities.
Children explore imagination and expression in painting workshops, often their first exposure to colours and display of artwork. These sessions nurture storytelling, confidence, and creativity, proving that a safe space can unlock hidden potential even amidst precarity.
Anandshala uses playful tools like alphabet and number cards to strengthen early literacy and numeracy. For first-generation learners, these tactile resources connect daily experience with academics, making language and maths accessible and engaging.
Small group sessions foster peer learning, collaboration, and shared responsibility. Instead of competition, children discover leadership, empathy, and mutual support, turning the collective rhythms of their home lives into strengths for education.
Renowned vocalist Rashmi Aggarwal performed Melodies for a Better Tomorrow in support of Anandshala. The concert blended classical and semi-classical music, raising funds while affirming the power of art (like education) to inspire and connect communities.
Regular mothers’ meetings transform caregivers into allies in learning. Through discussions, games, and storytelling, they share challenges and strategies, support their daughters through adolescence, and find their own voices in the process.
To tackle bureaucratic barriers to education, Anandshala and Janpahal established a Common Service Centre. By providing Aadhaar, PAN, health cards, and welfare services, it links schooling with broader rights to citizenship, dignity, and state access.
Anandshala’s flagship after-school program equips adolescents, especially girls from migrant families, with digital literacy and future-ready skills. Through a six-month curriculum covering computers, Microsoft Office, design tools, coding basics, and soft skills, it builds confidence, career exposure, and employability for first-generation learners with little or no access to technology at home.
Anandshala is a learning space for children of migrant and daily-wage workers in Noida, blending quality education with life skills under the SDG4 model. A pilot by Deshkal Society, it will expand to five more Shramik Kunjs in Gautam Buddha Nagar. This video is a ground report by Parimal Kumar, Kiddocracy, from Sector 93, Noida.
Anandshala is a learning space for children of migrant and daily-wage workers in Noida, blending quality education with life skills under the SDG4 model. A pilot by Deshkal Society, it will expand to five more Shramik Kunjs in Gautam Buddha Nagar. This video is a ground report by Parimal Kumar, Kiddocracy, from Sector 93, Noida.
Your support builds a society of dignity, inclusion, and justice. Every contribution strengthens Anandshala and empowers communities through education, culture, and dialogue. Connect with us at deshkal@gmail.com for donations, partnerships, volunteering, or careers.
“When I visited Anandshala, I was deeply humbled by the gratitude I received. Seeing how my small donation was adding value to lives of children here was a heartwarming experience.”
-Shruti
“I started volunteering with Anandshala a couple of months ago. It gives me immense joy to be able to contribute meaningfully to the lives of children. Children here are quick learners and somewhere along the path of teaching them, I ended up learning more from them.”
-Jayant