Share your story and shine at JK Monitor!🌟 Welcome to JK Monitor, where every story matters and every achievement is celebrated! We invite you to share the remarkable journey of your life and showcase your accomplishments to the world. Join our exclusive interviews that honor exceptional individuals just like you. BENGALURU: Magic Bus India Foundation, in collaboration with Guru Krupa Foundation, has launched a three-year initiative to equip adolescents with critical life skills, strengthen Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN), and build an enabling ecosystem through deep engagement with schools, parents, and government stakeholders. Titled “Shaping Futures: Delivering Life Skills Education and Bridging Learning Gaps of Adolescents”, the programme will be implemented in Raichur district, Karnataka.
The initiative will reach 1,000 adolescents aged 12–14 years (Grades 6–8), with 60% girls, through an activity-based, experiential curriculum covering 11 core life skills across social, emotional, and cognitive domains. It follows a cohort-based approach, with Community Learning Centers (CLCs) providing additional support to address learning gaps among adolescents who need it most.
Implemented across eight government schools in Raichur district, the intervention combines in-school life skills sessions with targeted foundational learning support. Delivered by trained educators and facilitators, it uses interactive methods, reinforced through home-based learning and continuous assessments. The programme also engages parents, teachers, school leaders, and other key stakeholders to build a supportive ecosystem for sustained learning outcomes.
Through this partnership, Magic Bus India Foundation and Guru Krupa Foundation aim to improve school participation, regular attendance, retention; strengthen life skills competencies; and reduce learning gaps, while enhancing adolescents’ aspirations and preparedness for higher education and future livelihoods. The initiative is designed to build confidence, deepen engagement with education, and enable adolescents to make informed life choices.
“Life skills education is fundamental to shaping the future of India’s adolescents, particularly those from underserved communities. As India moves towards its vision of a Viksit Bharat, investing in their skills, confidence, and aspirations will be critical to unlocking the country’s economic growth and demographic potential. Our partnership with Guru Krupa Foundation reflects a shared commitment to enabling adolescents to stay in education, build resilience, and become active contributors to India’s future,” said Jayant Rastogi, Global CEO, Magic Bus India Foundation.
Mukund Padmanabhan, President, Guru Krupa Foundation, said, "We are proud to support this initiative, as it takes a holistic approach to adolescent development. Funding this program is vital because it bridges the gap between formal schooling and the practical life skills needed to navigate the real world. By engaging parents and local schools alongside the students, we are helping create a permanent ecosystem of support that will benefit not only the Raichur district, but all of India, for years to come."
About Magic Bus India Foundation
Magic Bus India Foundation is one of India’s leading NGOs in education and skilling. Over the past 27 years, the organisation has expanded its reach and impact across the country through innovative, inclusive, and gender-responsive programmes.
With a strong focus on school-to-work transition, Magic Bus enables adolescents and youth from underserved communities to build the life and employability skills needed to break cycles of poverty and empower future generations. Magic Bus is also empowering women aged 25 years and above, in peri-urban and rural areas, to enable their economic and financial independence.
Through its Adolescent Programme, Magic Bus equips adolescents aged 12 to 18 years with life skills and Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN), reaching over 38 lakh adolescents. The programme is implemented across 22 states and Union Territories and is strengthened through partnerships with 11 state governments and NITI Aayog, with interventions across nearly 30% of India’s aspirational blocks. Girls account for 52% of participants.
The Livelihood Programme empowers youth aged 18 to 25 by equipping them with transferable life and employability skills. The programme reaches over 3.5 lakh youth annually, with 80% placed in sustainable jobs. Young women constitute 60% of participants, reflecting a strong and continued focus on gender equity.
The Rural Livelihood Programme empowers women by strengthening life skills, leadership, and entrepreneurial skills. The programme has supported over 2000 women across 7 states to establish and sustain enterprises and move towards financial independence.
For more information, visit: https://www.magicbus.org/
About Guru Krupa Foundation
Guru Krupa Foundation is a private charitable foundation based in NY that gives grants to various organizations for different programs across India and the US. Their projects range from providing support for under privileged children and individuals, to supporting various education initiatives and also programs that promote cross-cultural integration and tolerance.
More information about their projects can be found at https://www.guru-krupa.org.