HEADSTART is an initiative to address children dropping out of school at higher primary stage and assist a smooth transition from the primary to secondary stages of education. It strives to ensure continuity till the 10th grade for the vulnerable and underserved children.

At a time when Indian school education scenario is flooded with complementary and alternative approaches and ideas, we embarked upon giving the child and their parents the right to join a school of their choice. While accessibility and enrollment in the elementary education is getting a major boost by the efforts of Governments, NGOs, bilateral agencies, the high school education scenario is plagued with a plethora of problems like accessibility, quality and equity issues. While addressing these issues the most unpleasant reality is the high dropout ratio of children after their higher primary stages.

While the elementary education is almost free in the schools run by Government, the story is different when it comes to secondary education. So bringing the children to schools is only a part of the battle, while ensuring continuity of their education is the real challenge. HeadStart aims to assist, mentor and monitor children who are susceptible to dropping out of school at the Higher Primary stage. The programme strives to reach the most vulnerable groups like children rehabilitated from Child Labour, orphans, with single parent, disabled etc. - from dire socio economic conditions who pursued their higher primary schooling from a government school.

The underlying driver of the programme is to ensure that children both continue into high school and are provided an opportunity to join a school of their choice in the neighbourhood without being discouraged by the financial liabilities.

A major constituent of the HeadStart programme is the education and development facility these children can avail. This facility provides them with curriculum assistance, life skills, library and laboratory facilities, interaction with subject experts , computer and spoken English education and exposure trips apart from counseling and personal mentoring.

The programme is strengthened by volunteer-involvement to mentor and track the performance of the participant students and motivate them through committed financial support for 3 years of High School Education.