Training Sessions That Strengthen Haliyal’s Learning Facilitators

Every new academic year brings fresh energy into our Shikshas—but this year began with something even more powerful: a series of hands-on training sessions designed to strengthen the skills and confidence of our Learning Facilitators. Thanks to our earlier partnership with The Meghshala Foundation, and now with CFTE these sessions helped educators’ step into the classroom better prepared, more inspired, and equipped with new tools to support every child’s learning journey. Learning the Digital Tools That Bring Classrooms Alive Over the summer, our facilitators attended workshops focused on the Meghshala App, the digital backbone of our Shiksha classrooms. Meghshala creates interactive learning modules that our educators use on tablets, making lessons more engaging and accessible for children. During the training, facilitators explored each element of the digital modules—how to navigate them, how to pace lessons, and how to blend technology with their own teaching styles. For many, it was a moment of empowerment: technology was no longer intimidating, but an ally in the classroom. Beyond the App: Building Strong Teaching Practices In June, a two-day workshop led by Mr. Manjunath Hemapur from Meghshala shifted the focus from digital tools to teaching techniques. Through group activities, discussions, and demonstrations, facilitators learned how to create classrooms where children feel safe to question, experiment, and make mistakes. They explored ideas like: These sessions helped facilitators see how their own presence, tone, and seriousness shape the learning environment. When they show enthusiasm, children respond with the same energy. A Stronger Foundation for Haliyal’s Children By the end of the training cycle, something had shifted. Our Learning Facilitators walked away not just with new skills, but with a deeper understanding of their role as educators. They now carry a renewed sense of responsibility—and pride—in shaping young minds. These learnings will ripple outward into every Shiksha classroom.Better-equipped facilitators mean more confident students, more joyful learning, and a stronger foundation for children across Haliyal. The year has only just begun, but the impact of these sessions is already taking root—quietly, steadily, and beautifully.

Transforming Lives: How Local Women Became Educators in Haliyal

On a typical weekday afternoon in Haliyal, you’ll find a small classroom buzzing with energy—songs echoing through the room, children acting out stories, and a group of young women learning how to teach with confidence and joy. This is the heart of the CherYsh Shiksha Learning Program, where local women are trained to become Learning Facilitators for their own communities. The journey begins with Mr. James D’Souza, a dedicated high-school teacher from Haliyal. With years of classroom experience and a strong foundation in functional English from the Regional Institute of Language, he brings both expertise and heart to the program. Every week, he leads lively training sessions filled with activities, role-plays, and creative teaching techniques—turning learning into something vibrant and alive. For many of these women, this is their first step into a professional role. They arrive shy, unsure, sometimes hesitant. But over time, something shifts. With every class they attend and every skill they master, their confidence grows. They begin to see themselves not just as learners, but as educators—women who can shape the futures of children in their villages. The impact has been remarkable.Over the years, trainers like Mr. D’Souza have invested hundreds of hours into building this community of educators. And today, 37 young women from Haliyal stand proudly as trained Learning Facilitators. They teach with confidence, earn regular incomes, and hold a respected place in their communities. What began as a training program has become a movement—one that transforms not just classrooms, but lives. These women are no longer just participants in the education system; they are leaders, role models, and the driving force behind a brighter future for rural children. In Haliyal, education is no longer something that arrives from outside.It is something grown from within—nurtured by the women who call this place home.

Training Women for Sugarcane Entrepreneurship in Haliyal

If you visit Mundwad village during planting season, you’ll notice something quietly powerful taking shape—not in the fields, but in the hands of a small group of determined women. Here, in the heart of Haliyal’s sugarcane belt, a new kind of rural entrepreneurship is taking root. It began with a simple idea:What if women could turn the region’s most abundant crop into a steady source of income? In 2019, that idea took form as the Mundwad Sugarcane Bud Nursery, created through a partnership between CherYsh and EID Parry Ltd. The goal was clear—equip women with the skills, tools, and confidence to grow and sell high-quality sugarcane buds, a product always in demand among local farmers. Where Training Meets Opportunity Three women from Mundwad stepped forward first. They travelled all the way to Nellikkuppam in Tamil Nadu, where EID Parry runs a specialized training center. There, they learned the science and technique behind cultivating healthy sugarcane buds—knowledge rarely accessible to rural women. When they returned, they didn’t just bring back skills.They brought back possibility. Soon, a group of five women formed the first livelihood collective in Haliyal. With training, seed funding, and ongoing expert guidance, they set up the nursery and began their first cycle of cultivation. A Business Begins to Bloom The results came quickly. The group started selling saplings at a profit, proving that women could lead agro-allied enterprises just as effectively as men—sometimes even more so. Their success sparked curiosity in neighboring villages, where more women are now exploring similar opportunities. Growing More Than Sugarcane What’s happening in Mundwad is more than a livelihood project. It’s a shift in how women see themselves—as entrepreneurs, as contributors to the local economy, and as leaders shaping the future of their communities. With each sapling sold, confidence grows.With each training completed, possibilities expand.And with each new group formed, Haliyal moves one step closer to a thriving, women-led rural economy.

Karakushala Kendras: Where Craft Becomes Community in Haliyal

Walk into the village of Mundwad on any quiet afternoon, and you’ll hear it before you see it—the soft rhythm of wool being looped, stretched, and woven. Inside a modest room, sunlight spilling across the floor, a circle of women sit together, laughing, sharing stories, and creating something beautiful with their hands. This is the CherYsh Karakushala Kendra, a space born from tradition, talent, and the simple desire for women to come together. For generations, the women of Haliyal have carried with them a treasure trove of skills—intricate hand embroidery, delicate crochet, quilting techniques learned from mothers and grandmothers. These crafts were often practiced quietly at home, admired within families but rarely seen as a pathway to income or independence. Yet the talent was unmistakable, and the need for a shared space—somewhere to learn, create, and grow together—became impossible to ignore. In August 2019, that space finally took shape. A Room Full of Possibilities The first Karakushala Kendra opened its doors in Mundwad, and twenty-two women stepped into a new chapter. Here, they began crafting woollen shawls and stoles using the traditional Khilla technique—a method involving a wooden board and nails, transforming simple yarn into vibrant, patterned fabric. What began as a gathering of skilled hands soon became a gathering of confident voices. The women registered themselves as an SHG, taking ownership of their craft and their enterprise. Decisions were made collectively. Designs were chosen together. Every finished shawl carried not just the warmth of wool, but the warmth of community. A Second Home for Craftswomen The success of Mundwad sparked something bigger. In the nearby village of Jogankoppa, another group of women came together—this time to create stunning crochet tapestries. Their Kendra became a place where creativity flowed freely, where women who once doubted their abilities now taught others with pride. And this is only the beginning. Plans are already underway to open more Karakushala Kendras across Haliyal, each one a small but powerful hub of skill, sisterhood, and self-reliance. More Than Craft—A Community Reimagined What makes these Kendras special isn’t just the artistry. It’s the transformation that happens quietly, day after day. Women who once worked alone now collaborate. Those who hesitated to speak now lead discussions. Income that once felt uncertain now arrives with dignity and consistency. In these rooms filled with yarn, needles, wooden boards, and laughter, something deeper is being woven—a stronger, more confident community of women who know their worth and shape their own futures. The Karakushala Kendras are not just centers of craft.They are centers of courage, creativity, and collective strength.

Karakushala Kendras: Crafting a Community in Haliyal

Women in Haliyal possess various handicraft skills, such as embroidery and crochet. To share these abilities, the “Karakushala Kendra” was established in Mundwad in 2019, allowing them to create woollen shawls. Additional centers are being planned in other villages. The women in Haliyal have several skills which includes specialised hand embroidery, crochet and quilting among several other handicrafts. Many of these skills are handed down from elders while some are acquired by women during their life’s journey. The need for a space where women can come together became critical. They needed a place to put their skills to use and share techniques with each other. A “cherysh Karakushala Kendra (Handicraft Centre) was inaugurated in Mundwad village in August 2019. Twenty two women work as a group in this village. They make woollen shawls and stoles using the “Khilla technique.” This technique involves a wooden board and nails to make beautiful pieces of fabric in myriad colours. The women have registered their group as SHG and the operations of the enterprise are carried out under its ambit. Another Karakushala Kendra was started in the village of Jogankoppa where women make tapestries using crochet technique. Efforts are in progress to open more “Karakushala Kendras” in the villages of Haliyal.

Training Women for Sugar Cane Entrepreneurship in Haliyal

The Mundwad sugar cane bud nursery initiates agro-allied livelihood groups in Haliyal, empowering women through income-generating opportunities in sugarcane cultivation. Supported by EID Parry Ltd., training has enabled local women to successfully sell saplings and explore further business ventures. The sugar cane bud nursery in Mundwad is the first step towards setting up agro-allied livelihood groups in Haliyal. Haliyal is part of the sugarcane cultivation belt. It offers a bright opportunity for women. They can earn regular income from growing and selling sugarcane buds. This entrepreneurship was developed in partnership with EID Parry Ltd. which is a major sugarcane industrial house in Haliyal. Three women from Mundwad made the idea a reality. They came forth to take training in sugar cane bud cultivation. This training came from the center run by EID Parry at Nellikkuppam in Tamil Nadu. The first group was formed by five women from Haliyal. They are supported with training, seed funding and expert advice from cherysh and EID Parry. The business is progressing successfully as the group has started selling the saplings at a profit. More such opportunities are being explored in the villages of Haliyal.

Transforming Lives: Women Educators in Education

The cherysh Shiksha learning program trains local women to become Learning Facilitators. Mr. James D’Souza, a high school teacher from Haliyal, selects and trains these young, qualified women. The cherysh saadhan learning program has a fantastic initiative to develop local Learning Facilitators. They select and train young, qualified women from the community to become Shikshas’ educators. Mr. James D’Souza, a high school teacher from Haliyal, coordinates the training program.  He brings his teaching experience from the local high school. He also has an impressive command of functional English from his studies at the Regional Institute of Language. Every week, they have training classes with lots of activities, songs, and plays.  Many trainers have worked hard over the years. They provided hundreds of hours of coaching. With the support of the program, 37 young women from Haliyal have become confident educators. They now have regular incomes.

Exploring Livelihood Strategies in Rural India

Exploring Livelihood Strategies in Rural India Last month, I assisted cherysh Trust’s educational projects in Haliyal, gaining insights into project management and community needs. The experience highlighted the importance of inclusive environments, challenges like unreliable electricity, and the determination of local women in sustainable development efforts. Hi, I’m Samantha Kennedy, an intern from the University of Ottawa. Last month, I visited Haliyal. I had the pleasure of lending a hand with cherysh Trust’s learning and livelihood projects in rural communities. It was an eye-opening experience. I gained valuable insights into project management through training, inspections, and a pilot evaluation project. The Meghshala training really motivated the learning facilitators to take their roles seriously and appreciate the importance of their work. It was great to see the young mothers being accommodated. They were allowed to bring their children along, creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for collaboration and empowerment. We conducted a pilot project to assess the impact of after-school learning programs on students. Pilot projects are a great way to find potential issues and build a successful program. We also visited villages to watch how Shiksha runs and uses cherysh’s learning tools. Tablets are a fantastic way to expose children to innovative learning. Nonetheless, the unreliable electricity can make it difficult to update and charge them. I had never experienced this challenge before. It really opened my eyes to how it affects access to education. I also had the chance to meet and interview the women group that cultivates sugarcane buds. Nurseries, a successful livelihood project run by cherysh, provided firsthand insights. I learned about its successes, challenges, and future prospects from the women who are directly affected. This understanding is crucial for creating a program that meets the needs of the community and promotes sustainable development. My extended stay really gave me a deeper understanding of how the program is being implemented. I talked to the community members. I identified areas where we could offer support. I also observed the challenges they’re facing. Despite the difficulties, the women’s determination to build a better life was truly inspiring. The warm hospitality and kindness of the community really showcased their beauty. Being in a different environment really broadened my perspective on international development. My visit to Haliyal was an absolute pleasure, and I’m so grateful for the support that made it possible.

Empowering Kids Through Community Learning Spaces

Cherysh Shiksha After School Learning Centres target all-round development of children through quality support to their learning needs. The cherysh Shikshas aim to foster village neighborhood learning spaces. These include community homes or common rooms. In these spaces, children can learn, aspire, and progress. Selected and trained community women serve as Learning Facilitators. The Shikshas offer augmented learning support to over a thousand children through an Active Rural Curriculum. This curriculum incorporates activity-rich approaches like music, art, puppetry, and games to teach English and Math. Phonics-based English learning is followed, with Learning Facilitators using phonics modules on digital devices in their classrooms. This program builds a strong foundation for English, the most challenging topic for rural Indian students. Beyond English, children get help with schoolwork, revision, and exam preparation. A day is dedicated to sports and physical activities, with all Shikshas equipped with sports kits. Arts and creative skills workshops are conducted in all Shikshas. They offer hands-on practice in clay modeling, paper crafts, and creative writing. Participants also engage in plays, songs, and dance. These activities are led by experienced trainers. From 2015 to 2019, cherysh covered 26 villages, with 37 Shikshas, 37 Learning Facilitators, and over a 1000 children enrolled. Future plans include expanding to more villages in the region.

Empowering Education: Tackling Digital Disparities Post-Covid

Tech is the future, and we are introducing computer science through infrastructure and education in the villages of Haliyal district, Karnataka. The Covid-19 pandemic highlighted the paramount importance of technology in the education sector. Urban schools and colleges successfully transitioned to online learning platforms. Rural areas faced significant challenges due to limited infrastructure. They also struggled with technical skills. We identified disparities that necessitated attention. Thus, we established a collaborative partnership with The PiJam Foundation. Our goal is to transform eight Shiksha Centers into digital learning hubs. These centers will use low-cost, open-source technology and Raspberry Pis to foster computer literacy among students. The curriculum will encompass Physical Computing, Programming, and Digital Making, equipping students with essential problem-solving and design thinking skills. Learning Facilitators will undergo comprehensive training over a year to transform into Tech-Learning Facilitators. This initiative aims to enhance computer science knowledge among girls and Learning Facilitators. It ensures their preparedness for the evolving digital landscape. ThoughtWorks and Innovative Technology Trust generously supported this transformational project.