Provide Nutrition to Migrant Children For a Year

Devi and Suraj (names changed), young parents from the northern Indian state of Bihar, arrived in Bengaluru (India) with little more than hope. Back home, repeated crop failures and shrinking incomes had made survival uncertain, pushing them to migrate in search of stable livelihoods and a chance to rebuild their future.

But their biggest concern wasn’t work; it was their 9-month-old son, Rahul (name changed). With no family support in the city and both parents needing to work to make ends meet, they faced an impossible question: who would care for their infant during the day?

At a time when uncertainty loomed large, Sampark’s Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) centre at Kadugodi, Bangalore, became a lifeline. What began as a desperate search for childcare turned into a turning point for the family.

Sampark’s ECCE centre: A second home 

When Devi and Suraj enrolled Rahul at Sampark’s ECCE centre, they were hoping for a safe place where their son could be cared for while they worked. What they found was much more – a second home for Rahul and a pathway to a brighter future.

For the holistic development of migrant children and to ease the childcare burden for migrant families, Sampark has set up more than 125 ECCE centres across Bangalore since 2007. As of March 2026, 66,000 children have been provided support in their holistic development. Sampark currently provides early years care and nutrition to more than 1,495 migrant children across 31 ECCE centres, ensuring every child experiences a healthy start.

For this reporting period (December-March 2026), take a look at 8 of Sampark's ECCE centres in Bangalore:

1. Whitefield ECCE Center - Nallurhalli, Whitefield 
2. Patalamma Layout ECCE Center - VS Reddy Layout, Patalamma Layout, Kadugodi Road
3. Hoodi ECCE Center – Basavanna Nagara, Hoodi 
4. Bidadi ECCE Center – Rangegowdana Doddi, Manchanayakana Halli, Bidadi, Ramanagara
5. Siddapura ECCE Center – Sri Byraweshwar Swamy Vasathi Nilaya, Siddapura 
6. Haralur ECCE Center - Dinne Anjaneya Temple Road, Haralur 
7. Bellandur ECCE Center - Margosa Ave, Green Glen Layout, Bellandur, Ibbaluru 
8. Kadugodi - Kashi Vishwanath Temple Road, British Bridge Kadugodi

Across these 8 centres, more than 619 migrant children began their journeys towards a healthy childhood. Rahul was one among these children who received holistic support for his healthy development. 

A small vaccine, a lifetime of protection

During Rahul’s enrolment, Sampark’s team conducted a health assessment and discovered that he had missed several essential vaccinations, critical during the first 1,000 days of a child’s life. When the team spoke with Devi and Suraj, it became clear that they had never been informed about the importance of immunisation. 

Like many migrant families newly arrived in the city, they did not know where to go for vaccinations or even for a basic health check-up. To tackle this issue, Sampark immediately links the families to nearby public health services and supports them in getting their children’s missed vaccinations.

Alongside Rahul, 55 other children received timely immunisation support and referrals, helping them stay healthy and grow stronger. Through counselling and regular follow-up, the parents of these children also learned why timely immunisation matters: these simple, preventive measures can protect a child from serious illness and lifelong health complications, laying the foundation for a healthier future.

Tackling malnutrition, and nourishing growing minds 

Rahul and his friends began receiving three nutritious meals every day at the ECCE centres, carefully planned to meet the calorie and energy requirements for their age. Rich in proteins, vitamins, and minerals, these meals give them the nourishment needed to grow well during their most formative years, supporting not only their physical development but also their ability to learn, play, and thrive.

When Rahul was first enrolled, Sampark’s team discovered that he was severely underweight. At just 6.8 kilograms, he weighed far below the healthy minimum of 9.7 kilograms for a child his age. Based on the World Health Organization standards and the traffic light system used by Sampark to monitor children’s nutritional status, Rahul was placed in the “red” category, indicating severe malnutrition and an urgent need for support. He was one among the 31 children across 8 centres who were malnourished and needed extra nutritional support. 

To ensure that no child slips through the cracks, Sampark regularly tracks the height and weight of every child at the ECCE centre.

• Using WHO growth indicators, each child is mapped into a green, yellow, or red category.
• This helps the team identify children at risk of malnutrition early and immediately provide targeted support, including supplementary nutrition and micronutrient therapy such as iron and multivitamins for children facing anaemia or undernutrition. 

Without the ECCE centre, Rahul and his friends would most likely have received only one proper meal a day while their parents were away at work. They may have relied on cheap, sugary snacks and junk food to fill their stomachs. While these foods may ease hunger for a short time, they do little to support healthy growth and often lead to poor nutrition, frequent illness, and even tooth decay.

• If not for Sampark’s early intervention and regular monitoring, Rahul’s low weight could have had lasting consequences.
• Malnutrition affects far more than a child’s body: it weakens immunity, increases the risk of repeated illness, limits a child’s ability to learn and develop, and reduces their chances of a healthy and successful future.
• By stepping in early, the ECCE centre is helping children like Rahul not only survive but also truly thrive.

27 children (75%) successfully improved their nutritional status, starting their journeys towards a bright and healthy future. 

Sampark also conducted 10 paediatric health camps to screen children, address emerging health concerns, and guide parents, helping every child stay healthy and grow stronger.

Childcare begins early 

In addition to supporting children, Sampark also focused on the health of 11 expecting and new mothers.
We linked mothers to essential pre- and post-natal maternal health care services, ensuring they received proper check-ups, supplements, and medical guidance during and after pregnancy.

• By strengthening maternal health, we helped give every child a healthier start from the moment they were born, reducing the risk of low birthweight, early malnutrition, and preventable illnesses.

Learning today, building tomorrow

At the centre, Rahul was welcomed into a nurturing environment where he could receive the care every young child deserves. He and his friends were provided STEM-based early years education, strengthening their foundational literacy and numeracy skills, through storytelling, rhymes, alphabets, numbers, outdoor activities, play-based learning, creative arts and crafts, age-appropriate puzzles, and memory games. 

Whether a child just began their learning journey, was preparing for school, or was transitioning back into formal education, our centres provided a nurturing environment where healthy meals and stimulating activities worked together to support growth.

“It takes a village to raise a child."

Sampark, recognising that childcare is not a one-man show, works with the entire family and community to bring about healthy development for the children.

611 parents and community members through 8 focus group discussions and 4 parent–teacher meetings were engaged regularly, during which they gained awareness about child nutrition, healthy feeding practices, early signs of malnourishment, etc. By involving families in conversations on their children’s growth and well-being, we strengthen the support system around each child, ensuring better growth and care both at home and in the community.

Rahul’s story is just one among hundreds unfolding across Sampark’s ECCE centres every day. Behind every child who gains weight, receives a missed vaccine, learns a new word, or smiles with confidence is a family whose future has become a little more secure. For migrant parents like Devi and Suraj, the centre is far more than a childcare space; it is a source of hope, stability, and opportunity. They could go to work each day knowing that their son was safe, loved, and being given the opportunity to grow and thrive. Suraj could work as a security guard, while his wife Devi started working as domestic helper, earning an average of INR 15,000 per month (approximately USD 160 per month)

Because of your support, children who once faced hunger, neglect, and uncertainty are now healthier, happier, and better prepared for school and life. Together, we are not only helping children survive their earliest years; we are giving them the chance to dream, learn, and build a brighter future.