Innovative Interventions for Child-Friendly Rural Schools
Innovations for Children & Classrooms
Inclusive Innovations for Learning & Hygiene
Dewas Roof Water Harvesting System
Vibhavari developed an extremely low-cost and efficient model of the Dewas Roof Water Harvesting System, making sustainable water conservation accessible to even low-income households. Between 1999 and 2001, this simple yet impactful technology was implemented in nearly 2,000 houses across Dewas city, significantly contributing to water enrichment and reducing dependency on depleting groundwater sources.
The system quickly gained attention for its practicality, affordability, and ability to address pressing water scarcity issues in urban areas. Its success was not only reflected in the improved water availability for households but also in the growing community awareness about rainwater harvesting as a viable solution for long-term water security.
Hand Wash Unit
Water scarcity has long been a challenge for ensuring proper handwashing before the Mid-Day Meal (MDM) in schools. While working on behavioral change in school sanitation, Vibhavari identified key issues such as limited water supply, time constraints caused by a single washing station, and short break timings. To address these challenges, Vibhavari designed an innovative, pre-fabricated, and portable hand wash unit that allows ten children to wash their hands at the same time, making the process faster and more efficient.
Weighing less than 9 kg, the unit is easy to move and store, saves 60% water and 80% time, and its child-friendly design encourages regular handwashing habits making it a practical hygiene solution for schools in water-scarce areas.
Khel Khilone
An innovative approach to promoting primary education in rural areas, Khel Khilone is a concept that uses local resources and community expertise to create simple yet impactful tools that make school campuses more attractive and engaging for children. These tools not only beautified the school environment but also proved highly effective in enhancing learning among primary school students by making education more interactive and enjoyable.
This innovation played a significant role in reducing dropout rates and increasing community participation, leading to stronger social monitoring of schools. Entirely self-funded, the initiative demonstrated how local creativity and ownership can transform education, earning appreciation from the World Bank Team for its effectiveness and sustainability.
Soap Bank
Soap Bank is an innovative initiative by Vibhavari to ensure the continuous availability of soap in schools for regular handwashing. Under this model, the Child Cabinet passed a resolution that every student will donate a bar of soap to the school on his or her birthday. This simple act not only ensures a steady supply of soap but also instills a sense of pride and ownership among children, as they contribute directly to the well-being of their school community while receiving heartfelt wishes from classmates.
The Soap Bank has proven to be a highly successful and sustainable model, requiring minimal external support. Its effectiveness and simplicity have inspired other schools to adopt the idea, allowing it to spread organically and create lasting change in hygiene practices among students.
Jagmag Sena
In 2008, an innovative model for WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) emerged in the form of Jagmag Sena a group of volunteer students who took it upon themselves to lead and organize WASH-related activities in their schools. These enthusiastic young leaders became role models for their peers, promoting good hygiene practices, water conservation, and sanitation awareness through engaging activities and peer-to-peer learning.
The success of Jagmag Sena not only improved hygiene habits in schools but also inspired the creation of the Child Cabinet a structured body of student representatives responsible for various aspects of school management, including WASH. This student-led approach empowered children to take ownership of their environment and fostered a culture of responsibility and leadership from an early age.
Jagmag News letter
Jagmag Newsletter was published for giving a platform to voice of children to know their views on child rights and WASH issues. This has provided a forum to children where they can share their experiences and new ideas on WASH and this sharing is intended to provide learning to sanitation planners and workers. About 15 editions of Jagmag have been prepared by students in middle schools of Guna and Dewas districts and published with the support of UNICEF.
Jaibee Thaila Campaign
Vibhavari has made a meaningful contribution towards spreading awareness about environmental pollution, with a focus on tackling the widespread use of polythene. Being non-biodegradable, polythene is one of the biggest threats to a clean and healthy environment, yet it remains omnipresent in daily life. Recognizing the urgent need for a sustainable alternative, the organization designed and promoted Jaibee Thaila a reusable, eco-friendly, and affordable cloth bag.
This initiative was actively implemented in the districts of Khandwa and Dewas, Madhya Pradesh, where nearly 10,000 Jaibee Thailas were distributed to households and market vendors. By replacing single-use plastic bags with this sustainable option, Vibhavari aimed to inspire a long-term behavioral change within the community, reduce plastic waste, and encourage collective responsibility for a cleaner environment.
Grey Water Reuse In Urinal
Following the premise of “Known-to-Unknown,” Vibhavari members introduced the Book of Village to middle school students as a unique learning tool. The book begins with familiar topics—teaching children about the geography of their village, its agriculture, soil, water resources, and forests—while encouraging them to take pride in, preserve, and promote these valuable assets.
Gradually, the content expands to develop an understanding of the local society, arts, culture, and history, before moving on to broader subjects about the district, state, and nation. This approach not only builds academic knowledge but also fosters a deep connection with the students’ roots, instilling in them a sense of responsibility towards their environment and heritage.
Navankur: An innovation experimented in Pre-Primary Education
Navankur: An innovation experimented in Pre-Primary Education- Vibhavari deeply understood the vacuum of elementary education in government schools and prepared an innovative experiment model under the title Navankur, a pre-school education center in Anganwadies, which are the village-level institutions run by government’s Woman & Child Development Department.
The pilot project had been conducted by the support of ITC-MSK in two anganwadies of Sehore district. The program was inaugurated by Education Minister, Mr. Deepak Joshi, who appreciated the program for its uniqueness and potential.
Community Led Government School- As a welfare state, government provides well-educated and trained teachers, decent infrastructure, mid day meal, free books, uniform, scholarships, etc. So, on one hand, all these resources and expenditure are being wasted and on other hand poor villagers are being burdened with private school fees and other related expenses.
Pad Bank
An incinerator has been installed in the girls’ toilets of all model schools in Guna and Shivpuri, which has greatly helped in the safe disposal of sanitary waste. Along with this, VIBHAVARI has initiated the Pad Bank scheme in model (middle) schools. Pad Bank is an innovation by Vibhavari aimed at providing a comfort zone for adolescent girls. In this scheme, teenage girls form a club in which they contribute sanitary pads, maintain a storage box, and refill it as per their requirements. This initiative has received a positive response in all model schools of Guna and Shivpuri, with female teachers also joining as Pad Bank members. This small yet impactful step has given immense confidence to the girls, ensuring their comfort, dignity, and participation in school activities.
