The higher education system in India has grown in a remarkable way to become one of the largest systems of its kind in the world. However, the system has many issues of concern, like access, equality, relevance and quality of higher education. These issues are important for the country as a powerful tool to build a knowledge-based information society. There are 20 Million orphans and even more vulnerable children who lack opportunities in Higher Education and Miracle Foundation understands this need. Miracle Foundation wants these children to instil in themselves high expectations of their future and join the professional workforce of the country. Through its education strengthening program, Miracle Foundation India has provided access to opportunities for higher education to all the children under its care. There will be 189 children in higher education in 2021-22.

The following is covered under this program-

Career Assessment

• Miracle Foundation India enables children in classes 10 & above to identify and pursue higher education/vocational courses based on the results of their aptitude test assessment.
• An outsourced professional counsellor analyses and discusses the results of the aptitude tests with the children, their caregivers/parents and the CCI leader. They help them to understand the array of career options that the child will have potential in and what are the appropriate courses to help them establish their goal.

Higher education courses

• Supporting children with higher education course fees, accommodation and living expenses, travel expenses, coaching support, education materials, etc.
• The education facilitator with the guidance of Miracle India’s Education team identifies colleges, Pills out admission applications and determines the other nits’ grits in helping the children begin college.
• Scholarships are awarded to children who apply and meet the eligibility criteria set by Miracle India. A student who is unsuccessful in his/her scholarship application will still receive funding from the Miracle Foundation through regular funding covered under higher education.

Vocational Training/Skills development

• In a few cases, the child might not show inclination towards studies and is advised to take up vocational courses along with computer, English language classes etc. to pave the road to a successful career.
• Children who are interested to take up vocational/ skill training are encouraged to do so.
• Children with learning disabilities are also motivated to take up vocational courses for a self-­â€ sustainable future.

Mentoring of children in Higher Education

• Miracle India is always connected with the children to ensure that they are doing well in their studies. Regular monitoring is undertaken to ensure that they are settled in the society and able to confidently take care of themselves.
• The children write quarterly progress updates to keep us updated about their developments. The education program team also meets with the children every quarter to check on their progress.

Enhanced Transition Program

• To prepare children to live in mainstream society after they turn 18 years old, counseling to make them comfortable and confident to face challenges is provided. They also given exposure to various community and institutional settings in the society, and provided counselling and support for entering the professional world.
• They provide transitional services once they complete their education and settle in jobs. The support can be varied in nature and wholly depends on the need of the child. For example, if a child needs a supplementary English Language class to help enhance his/her chances at employability, they will help them enroll in one.
• Miracle India and the CCIs maintain timely and regular communication with each child to track their progress and ensure them moral and emotional support. The CCI submits a quarterly progress report of all the children pursuing higher education to Miracle Foundation India.

This year alone, 166 children supported by us enrolled in higher education and vocational training, and 17 children were employed in sustainable jobs. Like a family, they stay in touch and in regular communication with the children and help transition them into adulthood. Their effectiveness is measured by the outcomes of these children as they settle in society with a secure job, fixed salary, a decent place to live, and in future when their children have access to these opportunities without needing any intervention.

Monitoring

The current scenario and a need for going digital has prompted them to move their work to an online mode where the children in communities and CCIs can continue to benefit from their interventions. They’ve been working to set up a digitally enriching infrastructure where these children will have access to education and career counseling opportunities remotely through tablets and a stable internet connection.

The staff checks in once a week with the children in families to ensure their health and safety. For monitoring of education as well, the CCI team will be in regular touch with the children via phone calls and video calls to support the process whenever required. Miracle team will follow up with the CCI team to get updates on children’s learning.

Additionally, child safeguarding will be ensured during this entire process for safety as well as for an enhanced learning experience.

Sustainability

They are constantly adapting their program to continue ensuring what is in the best interest of each child. Hence, as they strengthen their infrastructure to provide support on higher education opportunities digitally and remotely, the children in CCIs as well as in communities will continue to benefit from this initiative.

This model will then be further refined to incorporate their goal of ensuring that every child grows up in a loving family while continuing to receive educational support, psychosocial support, life skills, and other skill sets remotely.

1. Providing Higher education opportunities
2. Creating Prospects through Vocational Training
3. Enabling children to make informed academic and career decisions through career counselling and aptitude tests

Supporting orphaned and vulnerable children while bringing about sustainable change that reduces the need for Child Care Institutions (CCIs)

For the past 20 years, Miracle Foundation India has improved the lives of more than 15,000 orphaned and vulnerable children in need and impacted more than 300 CCIs in India. Their revolutionary Thrive Scale™ methodology is based on the UN Rights of the Child and leverages data and technology to give every child the chance to reach their full potential. Miracle Foundation India is an international non-profit organization for children, with headquarters in New Delhi, Austin, Texas, and New York City. A majority of the work is conducted in India, an epicenter of the global orphan crisis. Their approach is rooted in years of on-the-ground experience, driven by a careful methodology and powered by a deep passion to improve the lives of children and give them a chance to grow up in a family. They believe in collaboration as this work is bigger than anyone organization being a part of a global network of non - profit organizations leading the worldwide movement to end the need for Child Care Institutions by 2040.

Their Core Initiatives

• Ensuring that Every Child Thrives
• Preventing Children from Entering the Institutional System