Pratham UK Announces Important Partnership with CVC: A Grant To Advance Children’s Educational Impact Across India

We are thrilled to announce a new partnership with CVC, which has awarded Pratham UK a generous grant to support Pratham’s Hamara Gaon programme. This funding, which will be distributed over three years between 2024 and 2026, will amplify our efforts to deliver high impact learning interventions in Jammu and Telangana, two states where respectively 81.9% and 68.4% of class five children are unable to read a grade two level text.

Supporting Pratham’s mission  
CVC is a leading global private equity and investment advisory firm with a legacy of driving growth, innovation, and positive change, managing funds and investments across EMEA, the Americas, and Asia, partnering with companies to create long-term value and sustainable impact. Through the CVC Foundation, the firm is deeply invested in making a difference by supporting initiatives that address global challenges. The partnership will provide a significant grant to the Hamara Gaon programme, which aims to help transform the lives of children in underserved communities in India, fostering empowerment through education at a grassroots level.

Addressing the education gap in India 
Despite progress in school enrolment, educational attainment in India faces critical challenges. In 2022, only 20.5% of 7-year-old children could read at their grade level, a decline from pre-pandemic levels, and just 25.9% demonstrated expected arithmetic skills. The Hamara Gaon programme, the focus of CVC’s support, is designed to bridge these gaps and combat learning loss through:

• Foundational learning: Providing school readiness for children aged 3-5 to prevent future educational deficits
• Catch-up interventions: Employing Pratham’s Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL) methodology for students in grades 3-5 who are behind in reading and maths. This proven teaching method groups students based on learning levels rather
  than age or grade, using targeted, engaging activities so their individual learning
  needs are met
• Community engagement: Partnering with parents, particularly mothers, and local
  volunteers to create a sustainable learning ecosystem.

What this means for communities
Through this partnership, we aim to impact up to 20,000 children annually until 2026 across over 300 communities. This includes training for teachers, active engagement of mothers, and establishing children’s reading groups—all designed to foster long-term, community-driven change. But Pratham’s approach goes beyond the classroom. By embedding good teaching and learning practices within communities and partnering with local governments, the Hamara Gaon programme ensures sustainable improvement even after our direct involvement ends.

Measuring success 
With CVC’s support, we will focus on measurable outcomes, including:

• Improvedreading and maths levels among children
• Increased participation of mothers in educational workshops
• Engagement of local volunteers to create a self-sustaining learning model
• Training and capacity-building for teachers and community leaders.

Looking ahead 
With CVC’s support, Pratham is better equipped to tackle the learning gaps in India and bring thousands of children closer to a brighter, more equitable future. CVC’s Global Head of Philanthropy, Judy Marsden, said: “Education is a core focus area for the CVC Foundation, as it helps build stronger communities and a brighter future. At the CVC Foundation, we are committed to driving meaningful change, and our partnership with Pratham UK represents an incredible opportunity to transform lives through education. By supporting the Hamara Gaon programme, we aim to empower children and communities in India, ensuring that every child involved has access to quality learning and the chance to reach their full potential.”

Executive Director of Pratham UK, Nick Sankey, said: “We are thrilled to partner with CVC! This collaboration will significantly enhance our ability to reach more children and create lasting change in their lives and their communities. We are deeply grateful for CVC’s commitment to supporting our learning initiatives and their trust and investment in our vision. We look forward to the positive impact we can achieve
together!”

If your company or foundation would like to discuss partnering with Pratham UK, please email Pratham UK’s Executive Director, Nick Sankey: nick@pratham.org.uk.