Project Khusi
Khushi – is a unique tri-partite Public–Private–People initiative reaching out to 3117 Anganwadis. The project has completed its fifth year of project cycle with a widespread coverage of 0 to 6 years age group. Khushi has directly reached out to 58,000 children & 1,00,000 members from community this year. It embarked on identifying needs & providing support to ICDS system & community through improving functioning of Anganwadis and helping to provide early childhood care interventions at centres. The project is being implemented with Local reputed influenced personality of particular villages. In FY’ 20 – 33,000+ community meetings were held. More than 5400 recipe trails/competitions were organized at centres twice a year with 70,000+ participants – mothers, AW staff and other community members. Attendance improved from 43% (2016) to 65% (2020) at AWCs and 473 no. of Kitchen Gardens were developed.
Project Khushi by Care India’s major initiative strengthening India’s Anganwadi (rural childcare) system, focusing on improving early childhood care, nutrition, and education for kids 0-6 years, especially in Rajasthan, by engaging communities, supporting ICDS workers, and boosting attendance through recipe trials, health camps, and kitchen gardens. CARE India also supports similar “Project Khushi” efforts for police wellness in Bengaluru, focusing on mental/physical health.
Focus of CARE India's Project Khushi (Child Welfare)
- Goal: Enhance the effectiveness of the government’s Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme.
- Activities:
- Strengthening Anganwadi centres (AWCs).
- Community engagement through meetings and Health & Nutrition Awareness.
- Organizing recipe contests and kitchen garden development to improve nutrition.
- Improving child attendance and preschool education quality.
- Impact: Increased AWC attendance, better child health outcomes, and community participation.
Project Khushi (Wellness)
- Focus: A separate initiative for physical and mental well-being.
- Activities: Promotes simple, science-backed habits for stress management, better sleep, and physical health.
- In essence: “Project Khushi” refers to different programs, but CARE India’s primary focus with this name is on maternal and child health through Anganwadi strengthening, while another prominent initiative uses the name for police welfare, highlighting health through simple changes.