Building Engaged Communities

Community Mobilization

Community Mobilization is a core pillar of the ECD Mission aimed at strengthening awareness, behaviour change, and community-led action across Meghalaya. It engages diverse community institutions—CLFs/VOs/SHGs under MSRLS, Faith-Based Organisations, and Block-level platforms—to ensure that ECD concepts reach households, caregivers, and frontline workers in every village.

Through structured training, peer-learning, sensitization events, block conventions, and FBO-led outreach, the intervention shifts behaviours related to child development, brain development, nutrition, caregiving, stimulation, and early learning. Community mobilization directly supports behaviour change and community ownership by ensuring awareness flows through existing community networks—CLF monthly meetings, VO meetings, SHG weekly meetings, parish gatherings, and block conventions.

CLF-VO-SHG Cascade Training

A peer-learning model where ECD concepts flow from State/District trainers to Cluster Level Federations (CLFs), then to Village Organisations (VOs), and finally to Self-Help Groups (SHGs), creating a sustainable cascade of ECD knowledge reaching the grassroots.

Each CLF has two representatives from constituent VOs who receive training and then conduct peer training at VO level. VOs subsequently train their respective SHGs. Training covers foundational years, brain development, Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC), Exclusive Breastfeeding (EBF), play-based learning, serve-and-return, and related ECD concepts. With 374 CLFs in the state and ~8,559 SHGs, this cascade model ensures sustainable, widespread dissemination of ECD knowledge through existing community governance structures.

• State/District trainers train CLF representatives
• CLFs conduct peer training at VO level
• VOs cascade training to SHGs at grassroots
• Covers brain development, KMC, EBF, play-based learning
• 374 CLFs and ~8,559 SHGs in the state

Block Conventions & Community Sensitization

A two-tier approach: Block Conventions bring together 150+ participants including district/block officials and community representatives for day-long ECD awareness, followed by Community Sensitization Programs (CSPs) reaching villages through trained Block officials.

Post-convention, trained Block officials form ECD Committees to conduct CSPs in villages, with 7-10 villages and 70 participants per program. The CSP follows a structured one-day format with ice-breaking games, ECD videos, Brain Wiring Game, Learning Through Play demonstrations, and group discussions. Three ECD facilitators are identified per village to champion ongoing community engagement. With 16 Block Conventions completed and ~89,900 participants sensitized, the program demonstrates significant reach across Meghalaya.

• 16 Block Conventions completed across Meghalaya
• 150+ participants per Block Convention
• CSPs reaching 7-10 villages per program
• 70 participants per CSP session
• 3 ECD facilitators identified per village

Faith-Based Organisation (FBO) Partnerships

Formal MoU-based partnerships with Faith-Based Organisations to conduct ECD sensitization, maternal and child health awareness, and responsible parenthood counseling through their existing parish networks and church gatherings across Meghalaya.

FBOs deploy Block/Parish Coordinators who conduct community sensitization sessions targeting married couples, pregnant mothers, adolescents, and parents, while linking critical cases to government health services. The programme targets 5 FBOs including BAKDIL (Diocese of Tura covering 5 Garo Hills districts), ABDK (institutional sensitization), Potternet Ministry, EKH Catholic Church Social Service Unit, and WKH Nongstoin Social Service Society. FBOs have deep community reach through parish priests, catechists, and youth leaders.

• Target of 5 FBO partnerships through formal MoUs
• Block/Parish Coordinators deployed for outreach
• Sessions for married couples, pregnant mothers, adolescents
• Health service referral linkages
• Coverage through parish networks and church gatherings

ECD Community Fairs & Events

Interactive community events featuring child development domains, nutrition education, developmental milestones, and hands-on engagement activities, with materials available in English, Khasi, and Garo languages.

The ECD Community Fairs use an interactive, celebratory approach with activity stalls covering five domains of child development—cognitive, physical, socio-emotional, language, and creative—through hands-on games and demonstrations. Families rotate through stalls learning through experience rather than lectures. Papa & Me sessions specifically engage fathers in early childhood development. These events combine education with celebration, making ECD advocacy fun and memorable while reaching those less likely to attend formal trainings.

• 5 Domains of Child Development activity stalls
• Brain Wiring Game and Serve & Return activities
• Papa & Me father engagement sessions
• Developmental milestones and nutrition education
• Materials in English, Khasi, and Garo