Learning From the Ground
Grounded insights from the field to inform gender-responsive development.
Enlightened India Foundation undertakes community-led research to better understand educational gaps, access challenges, and local realities in rural and underserved regions.
Our research efforts inform program design, improve delivery, and contribute grounded insights from the field.
Why We Do Research
Sustainable development requires an understanding of lived realities. Our research helps ensure that programs respond to actual needs rather than assumptions, and that community voices remain central to decision-making.
At Enlightened India Foundation, research is not about producing reports — it is about understanding real lives before designing solutions. In rural communities, learning gaps often remain invisible until they become barriers. Our research helps identify these gaps early, so interventions are informed, ethical, and grounded in reality.
Our Areas of Research
Education & Learning Gaps
Foundational literacy, numeracy, access to learning resources, and school engagement.
Digital Access & Literacy
Availability, usage patterns, and barriers to digital tools and skills.
Youth & Gender Participation
Participation of girls and youth in education, sports, and leadership activities.
Community Wellbeing
Health, substance exposure, and social participation indicators.
Our Research Approach
Research is conducted through community surveys, participatory assessments, and field observations, often involving trained youth leaders as facilitators.
Data collection emphasizes ethical practices, consent, and contextual understanding.
Community Health & Wellbeing Insights (2023–24)
Understanding learning readiness across rural communities
In 2023–24, Enlightened India Foundation conducted community-based surveys across rural villages in Himachal Pradesh to understand key issues affecting children and youth—nutrition, household substance use, and adolescent wellbeing. Led by trained local youth leaders, the studies covered child BMI patterns, alcohol and tobacco use within families, and substance exposure among adolescents and college students.
Findings showed that while most children fell within healthy nutrition ranges, a small proportion faced under- or overnutrition. Household surveys revealed widespread alcohol and tobacco use among adults, and adolescent studies highlighted early exposure to substances, particularly among boys.
The results informed family counselling, community awareness efforts, and dialogue with local authorities—strengthening the Foundation’s commitment to evidence-led, community-rooted action that responds directly to real needs on the ground.
Current Research (FLL Survey 2025-26)
Understanding learning readiness across rural communities
The Foundational Learning & Literacy Survey is a community-based study conducted by Enlightened India Foundation to assess whether children in rural and semi-rural areas possess the minimum academic foundations required to cope with their current grade level.
Rather than focusing on marks or examinations, the survey evaluates learning readiness in English, Mathematics, and Science by assessing children on previous-grade competencies. This approach helps identify gaps early — before they become long-term barriers to education.
The survey is being conducted across 30 villages in:
- Uttar Pradesh: Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, Shamli, Baghpat
- Himachal Pradesh: Kangra District
Using a household-based methodology, the study includes regular students, irregular attendees, and children at risk of falling behind — offering a more accurate picture than school-based assessments alone.
Alongside academics, the survey captures key contextual factors such as:
- Access to learning support and digital resources
- Distance to school and tuition availability
- Household exposure to tobacco or alcohol use
- Selected life-skills indicators like confidence and persistence
All data is collected by trained local youth leaders using a child-friendly, ethical, and non-intrusive approach that prioritizes dignity and privacy.
The findings from this survey are being used to:
- Design targeted learning-gap interventions
- Strengthen community awareness
- Inform partnerships and funding proposals
- Support evidence-based engagement with local administration
This study also establishes a replicable model for community-led educational research, reinforcing our belief that meaningful change begins with understanding real conditions on the ground.