In the midst of beautiful green fields and open countryside lies the village of Korkumbedu in Thiruvallur District. The village may be surrounded by nature, but for many children growing up here, finding a quiet and suitable place to study is a significant challenge.
Most families in the community live below the poverty line. Many of the children attend the local free government school, while a few attend private schools. Their homes are typically only 250–300 square feet, often shared by parents, siblings and other family members. A television may be playing in the background, conversations are taking place, and there is little space where a child can sit quietly and concentrate on schoolwork.
For children who are already struggling academically, this lack of a suitable study environment can make learning even more difficult.
Learning Without Hunger
A child who is hungry finds it difficult to concentrate.
At the study centre, we provide each student with a snack and a hot drink. This small provision helps ensure that children can spend their after-school hours learning without having to worry about hunger.
We also provide lighting, allowing students to continue studying after sunset. In a rural community where resources are limited, these basic facilities can make a meaningful difference.
Bringing Technology into Rural Education
Marek Foundation believes that technology can help bridge the educational gap faced by children from disadvantaged communities. Through our learning app, Un Vayppu (Your Opportunity), students have access to learning content based on their school textbooks. Complex concepts are simplified using AI and presented through animated videos and simplified audio content, making difficult subjects easier for students to understand.
Technology is particularly valuable for children who may not have access to additional educational resources at home. But technology alone is not enough. Some subjects require interaction with a teacher, the opportunity to ask questions and receive immediate guidance. Through the After-School Study Centre, students can also participate in online classes conducted by teachers, including subjects such as Mathematics and Accountancy where interaction and explanation are particularly important.
This combination of a physical learning environment, technology and teacher support gives students opportunities that would otherwise be difficult for them to access.
More Than a Tent
The tent has enabled us to establish the centre and begin serving the children. However, it is not an ideal long-term solution, particularly during the monsoon season.
We are grateful that Marek Foundation has recently been able to rent a small house in the village. We plan to modify this space into a more suitable permanent After-School Study Centre.
The new centre will provide the children with a safer, more comfortable and more reliable environment for learning throughout the year.
Investing in a Child's Future
The children of Korkumbedu are growing up in a community surrounded by beautiful fields and natural surroundings. But beauty of surroundings does not automatically translate into opportunity.
For many of these children, education can be the pathway to a different future. Marek Foundation's role is to remove some of the barriers that stand between these children and that future—whether it is the lack of a quiet place to study, hunger, inadequate lighting, limited access to learning resources or the absence of additional academic support.
The Thideer Nagar After-School Study Centre is more than a tent, tables and chairs. It is a place where children are encouraged to learn, ask questions, develop confidence and believe that their circumstances do not have to determine their future.
Today, 17 children are benefiting from the centre. Our hope is that, through continued support, many more children will have the opportunity to learn, grow and build a better future.
Give a Child a Place to Learn
Every child deserves a quiet place to study, the encouragement to keep learning and the opportunity to realise their potential.
Marek Foundation is committed to making that opportunity available to children who need it most.
A Place to Study
This is where the Marek Foundation After-School Study Centre makes a difference. The centre currently supports around 17 children from Class 6 to Class 12. We provide something that may seem simple but is extremely important—a safe, welcoming and dignified place where children can sit down, concentrate and study.
At present, the centre operates under a large tent. Tables and chairs provide the children with a proper place to work, rather than having to study on the floor or in a crowded home.
We believe that the environment in which a child studies can influence how that child sees learning—and how they see themselves. Our goal is not simply to provide a place for children to complete their homework. We want to create an environment that tells every child:
“You are important. Your education matters. You have an opportunity to succeed.”
