"JUGNU – An Early Childhood Learning at Home Activity Kit for 3-5 years " is a collaborative design project with a non-governmental organisation, Aga Khan Foundation (AKF). The project aims to address the educational needs of children aged 3-5 years attending Anganwadi centres in rural areas of Bihar, India. It focuses on designing an engaging and comprehensive educational activities kit to ensure the timely development of learning milestones in their homely setup.
Extensive research was conducted to understand the specific requirements and challenges children and Anganwadi centres face in rural Bihar. Stakeholder consultations were held with Anganwadi workers, parents, and early childhood trainers at AKF, and best practices in early childhood education were explored. Based on the research findings and ideation sessions, a comprehensive development & milestone-tracking framework for the JUGNU activity kit was developed. The framework outlines critical learning objectives and activities aligned with the ECD curriculum. These activities focus on developing cognitive, sensory, motor, language, social, and emotional skills.
JUGNU incorporates various materials such as puzzles, flashcards, worksheets, storybooks, and hands-on, manipulative tools. These activities are designed to enhance children’s learning experience in a fun and interactive manner with the help of parents.
The Aga Khan Foundation, in collaboration with NID, will be responsible for the future development and production of the variations of JUGNU kits. They will work closely to refine the framework and source materials and create a user-friendly and culturally sensitive final product. The collaboration ensures the effective implementation of the JUGNU kits in Anganwadi centres across rural Bihar. Training and capacity-building initiatives will be provided to Anganwadi workers and parents to optimise kit utilisation and support children's learning outcomes.
Through the JUGNU project, children in rural areas of Bihar will receive an engaging and comprehensive learning experience that complements their education at their homes.
