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. 

Program Name: Exposure visit to ECO Park

On 27th November 2025, Free To Be Kids organised an exposure visit to ECO Park for 17 children from the Salt Lake Slum Communities. These children are part of the Education and Nutrition project. The visit was supported by staff members Mr. Binu As, Mr. Abhijit Chakraborty, Mr. Rajib Paryal, Mr. Kala Roy, and Ms. Mousumi Mondal, who accompanied the children throughout the day.

During the visit, the children explored different sections of ECO Park where they learned about the rich cultural history of Bengal and the bravery shown by its freedom fighters. They also walked through the area displaying the Seven Wonders replicas, which helped them understand the importance and stories behind famous monuments from around the world. After the learning activities, the children enjoyed some relaxing time at the kids’ park, where they played fun games and joined in different recreational activities. This added excitement and happiness to their day, making the visit a memorable experience for all of them.

 The exposure visit created a meaningful learning experience for the children. They gained new knowledge about Bengal’s history, world monuments, and cultural heritage. The visit also encouraged curiosity, boosted their confidence, and strengthened their social interaction. Additionally, the recreational activities helped improve their physical fitness and emotional well-being. Overall, the visit offered the children both education and enjoyment, making it a valuable experience for their growth.

Program Name: Children’s Day Celebration

On 14 November 2025, the program began with a warm welcome by the host, Mr. Debasis Naskar, for all 105 participants. After the welcome, Mr. Abhijit Chakraborty shared the importance of Children’s Day and encouraged the children to work hard for their future. He also explained the efforts of India’s first Prime Minister toward child rights and development. Children then participated in different cultural activities, including games, dances, and small dramas. The activities created a lively and joyful atmosphere and allowed the children to express their talents. FTBK also arranged a special lunch for all the children, which made them feel even more, cared for and added to the happiness of the day.To conclude the program, Mr. Binu, Managing Trustee of FTBK, motivated the children to stay committed to their studies and make positive choices. He thanked everyone for their participation and support.

The Children’s Day celebration helped create a positive and happy environment for all children involved. It strengthened their confidence, encouraged them to participate in group activities, and reminded them about the importance of their rights and responsibilities. The program also helped build stronger connections between children, volunteers, and staff. Overall, the event supported the emotional and social development of the children and made them feel valued and inspired for the future.

Program Name: Community Children’s Day Week

During this week, FTBK organised Children’s Day programs across all our target communities with the participation of 355 children. Our team spent quality time with the children through different fun activities such as games, quizzes, and small group interactions. These activities helped create a cheerful and lively atmosphere for everyone. We also provided all the children with snacks and other items, which made them, feel special and added more happiness to the celebration. Throughout the program, staff and volunteers engaged closely with the children, encouraged them to express themselves, and shared positive messages about staying focused and confident in their lives.

The Children’s Day celebration brought smiles and excitement to all the children involved. The activities helped them feel included, supported, and connected with their peers and the FTBK team. The program strengthened their confidence, encouraged teamwork, and gave them a joyful break from their daily routines.