Our Vision
Every child has the opportunity to be mentored by an involved, educated, empathetic adult to discover and achieve his / her true potential.
Facts about Mumbai’s BMC school system
Over 318,000 students are enrolled in BMC schools in 2021- 2022
Only 40% of BMC Students continue their education up to Grade 10, 60% drop out, mostly from Grade 7 onwards
According to RTE norms, the Pupil Teacher Ratio should be 30, in BMC schools it was 41
Poor quality of and inequitable access to education hamper education outcomes
Ref: “White paper on State of Municipal Education in Mumbai“- December 2022 Praja.org
First-generation learners in slum dwelling families lack guidance from an educated parent. There are significant gaps in development in these regions; poor schooling, lack of nutrition, and the absence of basic necessities such as clothes, shoes and toys.
With the addition of their exposure to violence, these children miss out on opportunities to discover their talent.
Through our programs, we prevent children from participating in poor-value systems and straying into lives of drugs and criminal activities. With the help of our experienced volunteers who tutor, mentor and guide the students, we provide them with the opportunity to become educated citizens of the world and transform their future and break out of the circle of poverty.
Our Mission
Provide opportunities for committed, loving and enthusiastic adults to mentor first-generation learners from slums, through collaboration with local communities, schools, corporates, government agencies, and other developmental organisations.
We consistently enhance our format, curriculum and execution capacities
We want each child to grow into a well-rounded adult.
Our curriculum can be implemented by any group of educated volunteers
Our Milestones and Goals
In 11 years, we’ve grown in strength and numbers.
Track our milestones:
2012 -13
First Centre launched in Bandra West, Mumbai with 80 children in April
Added Santacruz Free Learning Centre with 220 children in September Total number of children impacted 300
2013-14
Added Juhu Free Learning Centre, AXF Free Learning Centres reach 3
Santacruz Centre started evening classes
In-school English Program launched to teach English in vernacular medium municipal schools
Total number of children impacted 2480, 780 children in Free Learning Centres and 1700 in In-School English Programs
2014 -15
Added Andheri East and Sewri Free Learning Centres, AXF Free Learning Centres totalling 5
Raised major corporate and institutional funding
Total number of children impacted 3280, 1580 children in AXF Free Learning Centres and 2500 in In-School English Program
2015-16
Introduced standard curriculum, assessment practices and Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) processes
Received significant local community support
2016 -17
Added Malad, Colaba, and Powai AXF Free Learning Centres
Added 2nd centre in Santacruz, bringing number of batches in one centre to 4
Total number of children impacted 3500, 1000 children in AXF Free Learning Centres and 2500
children in In-school English Program
2017-18
Added Goregaon East, Versova and Amboli AXF Free Learning Centres
Launched community owned and managed centres at Poisar, Mulund and Ghatkopar with summer camps
Added new members to program team and advisory board
Sought freely shared spaces across the city, including schools
2018-2019
Total number of children impacted 2000 children at 17 AXF Free Learning Centres
Launched the Free Learning Centre (free franchise) concept
Conducted a user-beneficiary survey among stakeholders to make the AXF program more robust
Commenced the development of a life skill curriculum on WHO-mandated topics, using stories and activities across age groups
Piloted a therapy-based Social-Emotional Learning program for Grade 9 students
Established a Youth Engagement Program to connect education to livelihood, for students till Degree or Diploma or Vocational skill courses; focus on career, counselling, and job-readiness through collaborations
Started digitisation of back-end
Continued 1 hour daily lessons in English and Maths
2019-20
Total number of children impacted 2200, across a milestone of 20 Free Learning Centres, 11 are citizen-initiated and run
Impacted 2200 students with the support of 700 volunteers
Life skills program introduced along with self- development training for volunteers, enabling them to handle social/ emotional learning for children
School subject tutoring for board exams for Grade 9 and 10
Weekend classes for youth engagement introduced in 4 additional centres.
2020-2021
Conducted COVID-19 relief distribution to 2600 student’s families
Pivoted to online studies seamlessly for AXF students
2021-22
Added 11 Digital Centres to teach students online
Continued online classes at the existing 20 AXF Free Learning Centres
Impacted 2800 students
Added team members and new programs for students
2022-23
Started pivot back to in person learning at AXF Free Learning Centres
Increased AXF Free Learning Centres to 24, volunteers increase to 1500
Impacting 2500 students
Impact stories
Girl-Power “I want to become an IAS officer and bring about gender equality in our society. I want to ensure that women get the same respect as men do…they are empowered to think and act freely,” says 17-year-old Khushboo Suman Jha, an 11th standard…
In the news
One can see the sense of pride that the volunteers have in the children they teach …