During January 2026, the Education Program achieved notable progress in supporting children’s learning and transition into formal schooling. Three long-term beneficiaries, who had completed two years in the FTBK preschool program, were successfully enrolled in the Pre-Primary class, reflecting the program’s strong focus on school readiness and sustained follow-up. Staff also worked closely with parents, including those engaged in housemaid and daily labor work, to encourage the importance of government schooling despite complex family circumstances. Across seven operational areas, the program enrolled a total of 148 children and maintained strong attendance levels. Continuous monitoring remained a priority, with 119 individual progress reports completed across six areas by January 31^st.

FTBK organized a Winter Support Program on 7 January to provide warm clothing to children and protect them from the cold season. The main aim was to ensure their safety, comfort, and well-being, while also supporting their families and creating a caring and inclusive environment. On the day of the program, Managing Trustee Mr. Binu A.S., along with the project team, visited the children and spent quality time with them. The team engaged the children in games and celebrated the New Year together, creating a joyful atmosphere. A total of 38 children, including 18 boys and 20 girls, received warm clothes according to their needs. The children were happy and enthusiastic during the celebration, and parents appreciated the support as it reduced their financial burden.

FTBK organized a Special Nutrition Support Program on 13th January under the Education & Nutrition Project. The main objective was to provide a nutritious and balanced meal to the children, support their physical well-being, encourage healthy eating habits, and create a joyful and caring environment. The nutritious lunch was generously sponsored by Mr. Tarun Kumar Jana and Mrs. Chandana Jana on the occasion of their son’s birthday. A special meal including rice, dal, chicken curry, fish curry, chutney, and sweets was prepared and served. A total of 107 project children (59 boys and 48 girls) and 19 identified needy individuals from the surrounding community received the meal, benefiting 65 families in total. The children actively participated and expressed happiness during the meal. The activity positively contributed to their health and well-being and reinforced the importance of proper nutrition in child development.

FTBK has been supporting this young man since Class VIII by providing books and other educational materials. Most recently, on 23rd January 2026, FTBK provided him with a set of books, notebooks, and a t-shirt to support his ongoing education.

In January 2026, Free To Be Kids organised an Alumni Meet at the Balarampur Computer Centre to reconnect with former students and understand their current career situations. A total of eight ex-students participated in the programme. Mr. Samrat Barui welcomed the participants, and Mr. Abhijit Chakraborty interacted with them to understand their challenges and goals. The students showed interest in communicative English, job market guidance, interview skills, and government job preparation. Three participants filled out admission forms for the DTP course. The programme strengthened FTBK’s relationship with its alumni and motivated the students to focus more seriously on their career development.

Free To Be Kids organised a End of Year Programs for children & young people from across our projects. The program aimed to spread joy, encourage active participation, and provide children with a safe and supportive space to express their talents.

The FTBK team, along with 18 selected children, visited each target area to conduct the celebrations. The program included drama, dance performances, games, and interactive activities, with children from each area also participating through dances and poem recitations. All children received a gift, and refreshments were shared at the end. The celebration brought happiness, boosted children’s confidence, and strengthened their connection with the FTBK team, making the program a joyful and memorable experience.

On 11th December 2025, Free To Be Kids organized a Mother and Child Care Program at Krishnarampur in Collaboration with the Rotary Club of Behala. The program was attended by a total of 47 beneficiaries, including 23 mothers and 24 children. The session began with welcoming the guests. Mrs. Sanghamitra Dutta Gupta, President of the Rotary Club, attended the program as the Chief Guest, along with Ms. Sakuntala Ghosh Hazra, Secretary, and Mr. Binu, Managing Trustee of Free To Be Kids. Three other Rotarians were also present.

The health awareness session was conducted by Dr. Sumita Basu, who interacted closely with the mothers. She first discussed the condition of primary health facilities in the area, highlighting that families often face long waiting periods or need to travel nearly 10 km to access government health services. Dr. Basu spoke about the importance of breastfeeding, avoiding market milk and bottle feeding, maintaining a balanced diet, and practicing proper health and hygiene. She advised mothers to avoid giving junk food such as chips and Kurkure, encourage children to play outdoor games instead of using mobile phones, and use antibiotics cautiously. She also distributed diet charts to help mothers understand balanced nutrition, conducted basic health check-ups for a few children, and prescribed medicines where required. A question-and-answer session was held to address mothers’ concerns.

After the session, all mothers received a blanket and iron syrup, and all children were provided with a bottle of Horlicksas nutritional support.

The program helped mothers improve their understanding of child health, nutrition, and hygiene practices. Participants became more aware of healthy feeding habits, the importance of breastfeeding, balanced diets, and preventive care. The direct interaction with the doctor and child check-ups increased the confidence of mothers in managing their children’s health. Overall, the program was well received and contributed positively to promoting healthier practices among the participating families.

Literacy Program

Objective

The Free To Be Kids (FTBK) runs a Literacy Program for Women in the community with the aim of empowering them through education. This program helps women learn to read and write in Bengali, enabling them to handle their daily lives with greater confidence and independence. By gaining literacy skills, they are better equipped to care for themselves and their families, manage household responsibilities, and participate more actively in their children’s education. Beyond learning, the program also creates a warm and supportive environment where women come together, share experiences, and build strong bonds of friendship. It serves as a safe and encouraging space for personal growth, mutual encouragement, and collective empowerment—helping each participant move towards a more self-reliant and dignified future.

Key Achievements in Month

The Adult Literacy Program supported all 60 enrolled learners across four groups during the month. The team continued focused lessons to build basic literacy skills. Group 1 worked on alphabet practice, Group 2 practiced signatures and Book 1, Lesson 5, and Group 3 learned to write addresses while also completing Book 1, Lesson 5. The program also completed 37 Individual Progress Reports to track each learner’s progress.

Education Program

Objective

The main objective of the Education Program is to support the overall development and learning of underserved children across all centres. The program aims to build strong basic literacy and numeracy skills through regular, age-appropriate lessons. It also helps children enrol in school, stay in school, and gain confidence in their studies. Along with this, the program creates a supportive environment by monitoring each child’s progress and involving families through awareness activities on safety, health, and hygiene.

Key Achievements in NOVEMBER 2025

The Education and Nutrition Program continued its essential support across all areas in November 2025. The education team conducted regular learning sessions in six centres, where 165 children were enrolled and 121 attended during the month. Classes were held for four age groups and focused on basic literacy, general knowledge about India’s longest geographical features, and simple moral stories.

A key milestone this month was preparing six children for the new school session in 2026, including children from Area 2 and Tank No-05 who are getting ready for Pre- Primary, Class 1 and Class 5. In total, the program continued to support 112 school-going children. A total of 13 children received study materials, including copy books and pencils.

World Toilet Day Awareness Program

FTBK observed World Toilet Day to teach children the importance of proper toilet use and good hygiene. The program encouraged them to keep their surroundings clean and take responsibility for shared spaces. On 19 November 2025, 50 children from four target slums joined the sessions. The team explained correct toilet use, hand washing, and simple cleanliness habits. Afterwards, the children and staff cleaned the community toilets together as a practical activity. The program increased the children’s understanding of hygiene and motivated them to keep their toilet areas clean. It also encouraged teamwork and supported healthier habits in the community.