Transforming Education for Every Child in India

Pratham Education Foundation is India's largest non-governmental organization working to improve the quality of education for underprivileged children. Since 1994, we have reached over 10 million children across 21 states in India through innovative, low-cost, and replicable learning interventions.

Our Programs See Our Impact

Join Our Mission

Help us bridge the learning gap for millions of children.

Our Story & Mission

Founded in 1994 in the slums of Mumbai by Dr. Madhav Chavan and Farida Lambay, Pratham began with a simple goal: to ensure every child is in school and learning well. Today, we are a multi-faceted organization with programs spanning early childhood education, primary learning, digital initiatives, vocational training, and research.

Our mission is to "improve the quality of education in India and to ensure that all children not only attend but also thrive in school." We believe in a collaborative approach, working closely with governments, communities, parents, teachers, and volunteers to create sustainable change.

Explore Our Journey
Pratham classroom activity with children learning

Our Milestones

1994

Pratham is founded in Mumbai with the goal of universal primary education in the city's slums.

2001

Expansion beyond Mumbai begins, reaching rural areas across multiple states in India.

2010

Pratham's Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) gains national recognition as a crucial education survey.

2018

Launch of 'Hybrid Learning' model, integrating technology with community-based teaching.

Our Core Programs

We design and implement high-impact, scalable programs that address the most critical gaps in India's education system.

Early Childhood Education (ECE)

Our 'Pratham Arvind' program focuses on holistic development of children aged 3-6 years through play-based learning. We establish community-based preschools (Balwadis) and train local women as early childhood educators.

  • Curriculum: Cognitive, language, socio-emotional, and physical development.
  • Reach: Over 150,000 children annually across 12 states.
  • Parental Involvement: Regular workshops to engage families in early learning.

Research shows that children who attend our Balwadis are 40% more likely to be school-ready compared to their peers.

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Young children engaged in play-based learning activities

Read India & Learning Camps

Our flagship 'Read India' program addresses foundational literacy and numeracy gaps among children in grades 1-5. We use a simple, activity-based 'Teaching at the Right Level' (TaRL) methodology.

  • Approach: Group children by learning level rather than age/grade.
  • Intensive Camps: 30-50 day learning camps with trained volunteers.
  • Impact: 70% of children achieve basic reading fluency after camp completion.

This model has been adopted by several state governments and has reached over 5 million children since its inception.

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Children reading books in a village learning camp

Digital Learning & Innovation

Pratham's 'Digital Divas' and 'Hybrid Learning' programs leverage technology to create engaging, personalized learning experiences in low-resource settings.

  • Content: Interactive apps, videos, and games in regional languages.
  • Delivery: Tablets, smartphones, and community TV screens.
  • Training: Youth volunteers trained as digital facilitators.

Our 'Hamara Gaon' app allows community volunteers to track children's progress and access teaching resources offline.

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Children using tablets for interactive learning

Pratham Institute: Vocational Skills

We provide market-relevant skill training to youth (18-25 years) from disadvantaged backgrounds, enabling them to secure employment or start micro-enterprises.

  • Sectors: Retail, hospitality, healthcare, construction, automotive.
  • Partnerships: Industry collaboration for curriculum and placement.
  • Impact: 75% placement rate within 3 months of course completion.

Over 100,000 youth have been trained since 2005, with a special focus on empowering young women.

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Youth receiving vocational training in electrical work

Our Impact in Numbers

Measurable outcomes and scalable solutions are at the heart of our work.

10M+
Children Reached

Since our inception in 1994

21
States & UTs

Across India with active programs

500K+
Volunteers

Trained community volunteers

85%
Learning Gain

Average improvement in reading skills

Stories of Change

Anjali Sharma
Anjali Sharma

Mother & Community Volunteer, Rajasthan

"I never finished school, but through Pratham's volunteer training, I now teach 25 children in my village. Seeing them read confidently fills me with pride. My own daughter is now the first in our family to attend college."

Rahul Kumar
Rahul Kumar

Pratham Institute Graduate, Bihar

"After my father passed away, I had to support my family. The 6-month retail management course at Pratham Institute gave me skills and confidence. I now work as a supervisor at a retail chain in Patna and earn ₹25,000 per month."

Priya Reddy
Priya Reddy

Government School Teacher, Telangana

"Pratham's 'Teaching at Right Level' workshop transformed my classroom. I now group children by learning level, and their progress has been remarkable. The government has adopted this approach across our district."

Partners & Supporters

We collaborate with a diverse network of organizations, governments, and individuals to maximize our impact.

Microsoft logo
Google logo
Apple logo
TCS logo

Friends & Allies in Education

The Akshaya Patra FoundationSmile FoundationHelpAge IndiaAction Aid AssociationCentre For Science & Environment

Get In Touch

Whether you want to volunteer, partner with us, or support our work, we'd love to hear from you.

Head Office

Y.B. Chavan Centre, Gen. J. Bhosale Marg
Nariman Point, Mumbai 400021
Maharashtra, India

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Contact Numbers

General Inquiries: +91-22-2204 1234
Donor Relations: +91-22-2204 1235
Media Inquiries: +91-22-2204 1236

Mon-Fri: 9:30 AM - 6:00 PM IST

Email Addresses

General: [email protected]
Partnerships: [email protected]
Donations: [email protected]

We respond within 48 hours.

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