SCALING THE ARUNODAYA (“SUNSHINE FOR THE BLIND”) PROGRAM

Ek Kadam Aur (EKA) is a nonprofit organization that works with blind children and their families and schools in the states of Chandigarh and Uttar Pradesh, India to remove barriers to their attainment of quality education. In 2020, the Government of India required public schools to adapt their curricula and delivery methods to be inclusive of all children with disabilities, which poses significant challenges to resource-constrained systems. EKA engaged a Capstone team with the goal of reaching more blind students who are in need of education programming. During its 10-day fieldwork in Auraiya, Uttar Pradesh, the team observed EKA’s Arunodaya (or “Sunshine for the Blind”) program and the contextual dynamics affecting its participants. The team described its findings in a SWOT analysis, which drew on its observations, stakeholder interviews—with students, trainers, teachers, parents, and EKA staff members—literature review, and comparative analysis of similar programs. The team’s final report provided recommendations for strengthening and scaling the Arunodaya program, and offers tools for future impact evaluations.