A Preschool Built by Unity

The Success of Egodakalugaha Vadiyalaya

In Egodakalugaha Vadiya, a local SHG united the community to build the village’s first preschool, creating a safe and nurturing space for children through collective effort and leadership.

The story of Egodakalugaha Vadiyalaya is not about one person—it’s about an entire village coming together for the sake of its children. What began as a shared concern became a powerful movement, showing that when a community unites around a cause, even the most pressing challenges can be overcome.

In this small rural village, families struggled for over a year without a single preschool. Children had nowhere to learn or play, and working parents—especially daily wage earners—faced the impossible task of balancing childcare with survival. Sending children to distant preschools was simply unaffordable and unsafe.

But change was on the horizon.

Under the CREAM project, a Self-Help Group (SHG) was formed. Among its members, one woman emerged as a determined voice for the children. Backed by her SHG and supported by local facilitators, she began mobilizing. Letters were written. Meetings were held. The village started to rally.

A breakthrough came when Mrs. A.M. Iresha Sadamali, a generous community member, donated a 20-perch plot of land for the preschool. That spark of generosity ignited a wave of action. SHG members, neighbours, and donors—both local and from outside the village—came together to:

• Clear the land

• Build a temporary structure

• Set up a safe and welcoming learning space

It was not funded by large grants or outside agencies—this was a 100% community-led effort, driven by vision, love, and unity.

On March 23, 2023, the preschool opened its doors. That morning, 12 children entered their very first classroom—just steps away from home. The atmosphere was filled with pride and emotion as parents, teachers, SHG leaders, and children marked the beginning of something extraordinary.

“We couldn’t afford to send our children to large town preschools. Now, thanks to the village preschool, even our children can get an education.” – A Parent “It feels like a dream come true. This shows the strength of our group. With this unity, we believe we can achieve even more in the future.” – SHG Member

Today, the preschool stands as more than a classroom. It is a living symbol of what grassroots action can achieve. The people of Egodakalugaha Vadiya have proven that sustainable change doesn’t need to come from outside—it can rise from within.

When a village comes together, its children can rise with it.