Twenty years ago, a simple idea took shape: that every child, no matter where they’re born, should have access to quality education. What began as an initiative to support school infrastructure has today evolved into a broader mission: helping children not just attend school, but truly learn and thrive.

Over the last two decades, P&G Shiksha continues to reach over 50 lakh children across India, working with grassroots partners to tackle everything from learning gaps to early childhood education. But beyond the numbers are real stories. Stories of children who’ve overcome obstacles like poverty, lack of resources, or personal loss, and discovered what’s possible when learning becomes accessible.

As P&G Shiksha marks two decades of its journey, we take a closer look at a few remarkable young lives that found wings.

Chennai

Jayamani | A Journey from a Hut to a Chartered Accountant

Jayamani’s journey began in a government school in Minjur, on the outskirts of Chennai. She joined in Grade 2 when the school was little more than a thatched hut. Today, she is a successful Chartered Accountant and the proud founder of her own firm. She credits that transformation, both personal and institutional, to the foundation she received there.

With support from P&G Shiksha and Round Table India, the school evolved over the years to include proper classrooms, toilet blocks, and a stronger faculty. “My school education played a pivotal role in helping me build my career,” Jayamani says. Thanks to dedicated teachers and an encouraging environment, she never needed extra tuition.

Having completed her B.Com and M.Com, she eventually earned her Chartered Accountancy qualification, becoming a role model for others like her. “The school now has more than 1,000 students,” she reflects. “I’m proud to be its alumna and grateful for the opportunities P&G Shiksha helped make possible.”

Delhi

Naina | Rebuilding the Bond Between a Child and Her Mother Through Education

Naina, a six-year-old student at MCD School in Mandoli, Delhi, often struggled to focus in class and frequently missed school. Her teachers noticed that something was holding her back at home, and that’s when a Community Instructor Mentor (CIM) from P&G Shiksha’s Early Childhood Education (ECE) program stepped in.

During a home visit, the CIM discovered that Naina had been adopted later in childhood, not as an infant. This made it difficult for her to adjust to her new environment and form a strong bond with her parents, especially her mother.

To support the family, the CIM invited Naina’s mother to join a group of mothers whose children were of a similar age. Through these regular meetings, and with the help of play-based activities designed by the Pratham Foundation – P&G Shiksha partner, Naina’s mother began engaging with her daughter more meaningfully, even while managing household chores.

Over time, this gentle, consistent effort helped rebuild their relationship. Naina began attending school more regularly, listening to instructions in class, and bonding better with her classmates. Her mother, now a regular participant in the group, found strength in the support of other caregivers and continued to stay involved in her daughter’s learning.

Today, Naina comes home and shares stories from school with her mother, who listens with interest, helps with homework, and continues to build their connection through simple, joyful activities. What began as emotional distance has turned into a warm, growing bond enabled through education.

Madhya Pradesh

Garima | From a Small Town to the Gates of IIT

“When passion fuels your wings, you can fly to touch the sky.” This is true for Garima Mandloi, now pursuing Civil Engineering at IIT Roorkee.

Garima always ranked among the top in her school in Satlapur, Madhya Pradesh, one of the firsts to be supported by P&G Shiksha since 2002. P&G Shiksha’s infrastructural interventions helped Garima by creating a conducive learning environment, supporting students as well as teachers with the right support so that they gained the most out of the ecosystem, fueling motivation as well as school attendance. In addition, P&G Shiksha continued to support the learning outcomes for these children like Garima, by offering additional support, such as English education, fueling their dreams.

Garima worked hard, cracked the JEE, and today stands as an inspiration for many girls. She credits the school and P&G Shiksha’s early intervention for her success, saying, “The English teaching support I received early on at the school immensely helped me improve.

Garima is set to complete her degree in 2025, emerging as a shining role model for many girls who aspire to follow in her footsteps.

How the Programme Evolved with India’s Needs

Over the years, P&G Shiksha’s approach has evolved from building school infrastructure like classrooms and toilets to addressing deeper educational needs like learning gaps. According to the Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2024, more than 50% of students in grade 5 are unable to read grade 2 level text, highlighting a critical issue—the ‘learning gap’.

When a child falls behind in their learning level, it creates a gap between their current learning levels and what is expected at grade level. The gap significantly impacts children who perpetually keep trying to cope and are often labelled owing to lack of awareness regarding learning gaps. Alarmingly, only *28% adults have a complete understanding of learning gaps.

P&G Shiksha address these learning gaps via a three-pronged approach: Prevention, Remediation, and Ensuring Learning Continuity. These include initiatives like early childhood education, STEM scholarships for girls, and AI-driven learning support. In partnership with organizations like Pratham Education Foundation, Round Table India, and Educational Initiatives, the initiative continues to adapt to India’s changing educational landscape.

As India moves from focusing solely on enrolment numbers to improving learning outcomes, efforts like these show how consistent and long-term support, especially at the grassroots level, can create meaningful change.

And somewhere in that quiet shift, P&G Shiksha has been there. Believing in the power of a classroom and the dreams that start there.

*As per a third-party survey.

Here’s a compilation of all the stories: Link