CherYsh Educate

CherYsh Educate After-School Centres, led by village women, build holistic learning, digital literacy, and critical thinking in rural children.

In the villages where CherYsh works, the school day doesn’t end when the bell rings. The children then make their way to familiar community spaces, that feel safe, warm, and full of possibility. These are CherYsh After-School Learning Centres, where education becomes a doorway to confidence and empowerment.

Inside there are trained village women who understand the rhythms of the village and the dreams children carry. Under their care, learning becomes lively and hands-on. Through Junior Shiksha and English-Science-Math Shiksha, children explore language, numbers, and the world around them. With the STEM Labs, they touch digital tools many had never seen before, discovering how technology can open new horizons.

The curriculum is active and rooted in village life, encouraging children to question, experiment, and think for themselves. A child who once hesitated to speak now reads aloud in English. Another who had never held a tablet now solves STEM puzzles with ease. These small moments add up to a quiet transformation.

Today, more than 10,000 children across 100+ villages have experienced this shift. They are growing up with the skills the future demands—digital literacy, critical thinking, and the courage to imagine bigger possibilities. By making technology, STEM, and English education accessible in the heart of rural communities, CherYsh is helping the next generation step into a technology-driven world with pride and readiness.

From Learning to Livelihood

Every girl and woman in rural India deserves the chance to rise beyond the barriers around her. At CherYsh, this belief shapes our vision: to help her learn, grow, and step into a life of dignity and purpose.

Our work follows a simple, powerful arc—Educate, Equip, Empower. Children begin their journey in our After-School Learning Centres. As they grow, these same principles guide young women toward skills, confidence, and pathways to meaningful livelihoods.

Our approach is rooted in collaboration with the communities we serve. We design programs that reflect real aspirations and bring innovation into everyday learning—digital tools, STEM exposure, and English fluency—so rural children and women can thrive in a world shaped by technology.

CherYsh’s mission goes beyond addressing immediate needs. We work to change the systems that limit opportunity, creating a world where rural women and children can stand on equal ground and move from learning to livelihood with pride

AI & STEM LABS

Through Cherish Educate, we focus on strengthening foundational and future-ready learning for rural children. With the growing emphasis on technology-driven education in Karnataka, where Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital literacy are increasingly becoming part of the educational ecosystem, our goal is to ensure that rural students are not left behind in this transformation. We are establishing AI and STEM Labs in underserved schools to introduce students to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) through hands-on, experiential learning.By integrating AI-based learning modules with the existing curriculum for Grades 6–10, we aim to make advanced concepts accessible, engaging, and relevant for students from marginalized and rural communities.

To strengthen the quality of learning and mentorship, we are collaborating with institutions such as KLE. Through these partnerships, corporate and academic volunteers support our initiative by mentoring students, conducting workshops, and assisting in the delivery of AI and STEM learning modules. Their involvement helps bring industry exposure, technical expertise, and innovative teaching approaches to rural classrooms.

Junior Shiksha
(Ages 3-7)

Learning through play and joy

CherYsh Junior Shiksha empowers rural communities by nurturing young minds, fostering creative and emotional growth, and engaging parents in their children’s educational journeys. Together, these efforts are transforming the lives of rural children and shaping a brighter future for women as well.

ESM Shiksha
(Ages 7-14)

English, Math, Science that strengthens young minds with the power of literacy and logic

The CherYsh English-Science-Math Shiksha program, in partnership with the Deshpande Foundation and supported by Tata Elxsi’s CSR initiative, empowers rural students aged 10 to 14 in Haliyal Taluk, Karnataka. Over three years, this initiative has enhanced English proficiency, self-confidence among students.

Stem Labs
(Ages 12-18)

Coding, STEM, and digital futures where technology stops being intimidating and starts being empowering

The Gram Labs (formerly eShiksha) program bridges the digital divide by offering quality technology education to rural students. By empowering Learning Facilitators (LFs) as Master Trainers and equipping Gram Labs centers with digital tools, the program fosters holistic digital learning and problem-solving skills through coding.

What People Say

“I’m Ravi Mantur, a Teregaon student. I thank CherYsh for their English Shiksha program. Before joining, English was challenging, but my skills improved significantly. I now speak English confidently. My parents are thrilled. Thanks to CherYsh’s excellent teaching methods, I can communicate confidently in English.”

“I’m Jaishri, a CherYsh English Shiksha program facilitator. Before joining, my English was limited, but the program improved my communication and critical thinking skills. Activity-based learning and well-designed workbooks helped students retain what they learned. The program also emphasizes personality development, crucial for students’ overall growth. Today, I’m confident teaching English, and I owe it all to CherYsh and their excellent teaching methods.”

"As head of the Deshpande Foundation’s Skill in Village Program, I’m proud to partner with CherYsh to bring quality education to government schools in Haliyal district. CherYsh’s strong network and local connections have been key to the program’s success. Ms. Kaveri, a cluster head and trainer, delivers well-prepared content and modules. Combined with Deshpande Foundation’s training and assessment tools, this partnership has positively transformed students’ lives. Classes 5 to 8 now receive quality education, boosting their confidence and motivation. This collaboration has also led to improved exam scores. We’d be delighted if CherYsh expanded its program beyond Haliyal district, impacting more communities and benefiting students across the region. Together, we can make a meaningful difference in rural students’ lives."

"As a CherYsh Junior Shiksha program student, I can confidently say it transformed my life. Before joining, I struggled with English and Math, making it hard to keep up with classmates. But now, I have quality learning support right in my neighborhood."

“Beyond academics, the CherYsh Junior Shiksha program fosters students’ growth in sports, art, and creativity. Witnessing their blossoming creativity fills me with gratitude. It has also boosted my teaching confidence, making me a respected village member. I hope more villages in the region can benefit from this program.”

Our Partners In Transformation

We don’t work alone. Every partnership is a collaboration between belief and action.

Gautham is a management professional with experience across the corporate & development sectors, bringing a strategic & data-driven perspective to organizational growth & governance. He has expertise in strategy formulation, program effectiveness & evidence-based decision-making across Education, Natural Resource Management & Entrepreneurship.

He currently serves as Head – Strategy & Program Analysis at the Deshpande Foundation, Hubballi, strengthening program design, performance measurement & impact strategy. Earlier, he worked as a Project Lead at L&T Technology Services, Bengaluru, leading engineering initiatives for industrial product development.

He holds an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore & a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Visvesvaraya Technological University, Karnataka.