Strengthening Early Childhood Education in Rural Rajasthan

IMC Mumbai has entered its first formal partnership with a state government in India through a three-year agreement with the Government of Rajasthan and Sesame Workshop India Trust. The initiative supports more than 8,000 young children in the Baran district by enriching the quality of early childhood education and strengthening the skills of around 500 early childhood care and community-health workers, known locally as Anganwadi workers.

These workers form the core of India’s longstanding early childhood care system. The Anganwadi network was established by the Government of India in 1975 to support children’s health, nutrition, and early development, and it remains one of the world’s largest community-based child welfare programmes. Supporting this system is key to creating impact that endures.

Baran, where this initiative is being implemented, experiences some of the most significant educational challenges in Rajasthan. The district’s literacy rate is around 67% compared with the national average of 80%, and the gender gap is considerable, with 79% literacy among men and 52% among women. High-quality early childhood development can play a crucial role in helping communities overcome such disparities over time.

The Play. Learn. Grow. Rajasthan initiative focuses on making early learning more engaging, inclusive, and developmentally aligned. IMC Mumbai’s support enables the creation of age-appropriate learning materials, enhanced training programs for community-health workers, playful digital learning content, and the deployment of trainers and coordinators to ensure consistent implementation across the district.

Sesame Workshop India Trust is a trusted partner with deep experience in India’s early childhood landscape. While it is part of Sesame Workshop, the internationally recognized nonprofit behind Sesame Street, its programs in India are shaped by a strong understanding of local needs and realities. Sesame Workshop India Trust designs solutions that are culturally relevant, inclusive, and impactful, ensuring that learning experiences build on community strengths and address challenges with sensitivity and respect.

Karolina Brzozowska, CSR Manager at IMC India, reflects on the long-term importance of this partnership. “Investment in early childhood creates lifelong benefits for children and society,” she says. “Our partnership with Sesame Workshop India Trust and the Government of Rajasthan combines deep local knowledge with global research to deliver measurable, lasting outcomes.”

This initiative reflects IMC’s broader commitment to empowering underserved and marginalized communities. By providing local workers with the skills and resources they need and by strengthening systems already rooted in the community, IMC aims to contribute to community-led development that lasts.

From IMC’s founding in 1989, giving back has been an integral part of our culture. Across our offices, we support global, local, and employee-led initiatives that help build stronger, more inclusive societies. Education has always been central to this mission, and our work in Rajasthan continues this focus on long-term, meaningful impact.

IMC is a place where employees can get involved in purpose-driven work and contribute to programs that create real, sustainable change. Whether through local volunteering, thematic giving, or office-led initiatives, there are many opportunities to participate in work that strengthens communities and expands learning opportunities for children.

With implementation now under way, IMC looks forward to supporting children, families and early childhood workers in Baran as they learn, play and grow together.

Discover more about how IMC Mumbai gives back to communities