Roopkatha Foundation started working in the village of Kaikala (near Tarakeswar) in Haripal Block of Hooghly district in West Bengal, India from April 2013. Roopkatha started running a Resource Center for the underprivileged and special needs children, where the volunteers work to give the stimulation in all aspect of development to these children that are otherwise hard for them to get in their homes or schools. The volunteers are mainly the interested local youths, young housewives, higher class school and college students. They are trained and experienced to work with the underprivileged and special needs children. 

From this humble start, Roopkatha today has spread its wings to the following rural areas:

Most of the children are first generation learners and belong to the families which are socio-economically backward. The children have different kinds of learning problems mainly owing to their adverse home situation. The dedicated and trained community volunteers impart stimulating education to the children on two days a week for two hours a day after school hours.  They follow Play way methodology adapted to local conditions. The activity-based curriculum includes training to develop Reading, Writing, and Mathematics skills of the children as well as to develop their awareness and skills in art and craft, science, environment, health and general knowledge. The goal is to help the children develop self-confidence and interest in learning which help them overcome their learning problems.

The children receive some nutritional tiffin at the end of class.

Cultural programs, exhibitions and picnics are organized at Centers to motivate the children.

Resource (Inclusive Learning) Centers Details:

1. MAIN CENTER: Composition – 70% SC children, 20% OBC children and 10% other children attend the Center. The Center is run on Saturday and Sunday for 2 hours in the morning. Teacher-in-charge is Ms. Swapna Ghanti. Total Students: 28 (Boys – 11, Girls – 17). Age group wise break up: Below 6 years – 07, 6-10 years – 08, 11-14 years – 13
2. GHANTIPARA-MAJHIPARA CENTER (Combined): Composition – 100% children come from SC Community. Distance of this Center from Main Center is 0.5 km. The Center is run on Sunday in the morning along with the Main Center and separately on Wednesday in the afternoon for 2 hours each day. Teachers-in-charge are Ms. Manju Shee and Ms. Limpa Santra. Total Students: 28 (Boys – 12, Girls – 16). Age group wise break up: Below 6 years – 10, 6-10 years – 13, 11-14 years – 05)
3. KAIKALA SABARPARA TRIBAL CENTER: Composition – 90% children come from ‘Sabar’ Tribal Community. 10% are OBC and Muslim children. Distance of this Center from Main Center is 0.5 km. The Center is run on Saturday and Sunday for 2 hours in the afternoon. Teacher-in-charge is Ms. Sushmita Sabar assisted by the Resource Volunteers. Total Students: 50 (Boys -19, Girls – 31). Age group wise break up: Below 6 years – 15, 6-10 years – 23, 11-14 years – 12
4. BHORERPAR CENTER: Composition – 95% children come from SC ‘Bauri’ Community. 5% are OBC and Muslim children. Distance of this Center from Main Center is about 2.5 km. The Center is run on Saturday and Sunday for 2 hours in the afternoon. Teacher-in-charge is Ms. Sarfana Begum who is assisted by the Resource Volunteers. Total Students: 46 (Boys – 20, Girls – 26). Age group wise break up: Below 6 years – 20, 6-10 years – 20, 11-14 years – 06)
5. KUNJABAN CENTER: Composition – 60% children come from ‘Bauri’ SC Community. 40% are ‘Santali’ Tribal and Muslim children. Distance of this Center from Main Center is about 5 km. The Center is run on Saturday and Sunday for 2 hours in the afternoon. Teacher-in-charge is Asim Duley who is assisted by the Resource Volunteers. Total Students: 45 (Boys – 18, Girls – 27). Age group wise break up: Below 6 years – 12, 6-10 years – 20, 11-14 years – 10, 14 + – 03).
6. BALIA CENTER: Composition – 100% SC children attend the Center. Distance of this Center from Main Center is about 1.5 km. The Center is run on Sunday in the morning and on Friday in the afternoon, each session for 2 hours. Teacher-in-charge is Ms. Arpita Malik who is assisted by the Resource Volunteers. Total Students: 52 (Boys – 27, Girls – 25). Age group wise break up: Below 6 years – 15, 6-10 years – 20, 11-14 years – 11, 14 + – 06)
7. BIHARIPALLI CENTER: Composition – 100% SC children attend the Center. Distance of this Center from Main Center is about 35 Kilometers. The Center is run on Saturday and Sunday for 2 hours in the afternoon. Teacher-in-charge is Ms. Maya Bera. Total Students: 53 (Boys – 29, Girls – 24). Age group wise break up: Below 6 years – 18, 6-10 years – 16, 11-14 years – 19
8. MAHESHPUR SABARPARA TRIBAL CENTER: Composition – 100% ‘Sabar’ Tribal children attend the Center. Distance of this Center from Main Center is about 7 km. The Center is run on Friday and on another suitable day which is flexible for 2 hours in the afternoon. Teacher-in-charge is Ms. Pinki Mal who is assisted by the Resource Volunteers. Total Students: 42 (Boys – 14, Girls – 28). Age group wise break up: Below 6 years – 14, 6-10 years – 11, 11-14 years – 15, 14 + – 02
9. ADANGACHI CENTER: Composition – 100% ‘Bauri’ SC children attend the Center. Distance of this Center from Main Center is about 6 Km. The Center is run on Saturday and Sunday for 2 hours in the afternoon. Teacher-in-charge is Ms. Sunita Bauri who is assisted by two local volunteers and Resource Volunteers. Total Students: 47 (Boys – 20, Girls – 27). Age group wise break up: Below 6 years – 11, 6-10 years – 23, 11-14 years – 13)
10. KANAKPUR SABARPARA TRIBAL CENTER: Composition – 100% ‘Sabar’ Tribal children attend the Center. Distance of this Center from Main Center is about 3.5 km. The Center is run on Saturday and on another flexible day which is flexible for 2 hours in the afternoon. The Center is run by the Resource Volunteers. Total Students: 34 (Boys – 16, Girls – 18). Age group wise break up: Below 6 years – 07, 6-10 years – 18, 11-14 years – 09)
11. MALIA CENTER: Composition – 100% children come from ‘Duley’ and ‘Bauri’ SC Communities. Distance of this Center from Main Center is about 12 km. The Center is run on Sunday for 2 hours in the afternoon. Teacher-in-charge is Ms. Shampa Hait. Total Students: 32 (Boys – 13, Girls – 19). Age group wise break up: Below 6 years – 12, 6-10 years – 14, 11-14 years – 06)
12. BALIGORI CENTER: Composition – 60% children come from ‘Sabar’ and ‘Santhali’ Tribal Communities. 40% are SC and OBC children. Distance of this Center from Main Center is about 4 km. The Center is run on Sunday in the morning and on another suitable day which is flexible in the morning or afternoon with each session for 2 hours. Teacher-in-charge is Ms. Anita Dhara who is assisted by the Resource Volunteers. Total Students: 39 (Boys – 13, Girls – 26). Age group wise break up: Below 6 years – 10, 6-10 years – 18, 11-14 years – 11)
13. GOSA SABARPARA TRIBAL CENTER: Composition – 100% children come from ‘Sabar’ tribal community. Distance of this Center from Main Center is about 9 km. The Center is run on Tuesday and on another suitable day which is flexible for 2 hours in the afternoon. Teacher-in-charge is Ms. Archana Sabar who is assisted by the Resource Volunteers. Total Students: 48 (Boys – 23, Girls – 25). Age group wise break up: Below 6 years – 13, 6-10 years – 21, 11-14 years – 14).
14. RAMNAGAR CENTER: Composition – 100% children come from ‘Bauri’ SC community. Distance of this Center from Main Center is about 10 km. The Center is run on Saturday and Sunday for 2 hours in the afternoon. This Center is run by the local volunteers Ms. Sakhi Bauri and Ms. Mantia Bauri who are assisted by the Resource Volunteers. Total Students: 33 (Boys – 21, Girls – 12). Age group wise break up: Below 6 years – 10, 6-10 years – 14, 11-14 years – 09)
15. CHANDANPUR (BABLAPUKUR) TRIBAL CENTER: Composition – 100% children come from ‘Sabar’ Tribal Community. Distance of this Center from Main Center is about 15 km. The Center is run on Sunday or Thursday and another suitable day which is flexible for 2 hours in the afternoon. This Center is run by the Resource Volunteers. Total Students: 52 (Boys – 24, Girls – 28). Age group wise break up: Below 6 years – 17, 6-10 years – 29, 11-14 years – 06)

We aim that each such unit in rural Bengal will create modern day Roopkathas.