SETU
SETU (meaning “bridge”) connects child rights expertise with those who need it most. Through rich curricula, learning materials, and hands-on training, it strengthens impact on the ground. Turning experience into practical tools for transformative change.
The problem
Access to quality education remains a significant challenge for children from disadvantaged communities. Mainstream education systems are often overcrowded, understaffed, and unable to deliver a quality education that meet children’s needs or engages them meaningfully. As a result, many struggle to stay in school, and those who do graduate often have a weak foundation in academics and essential skills, leaving them inadequately equipped to compete as equals in the real world, ultimately limiting their aspirations and reinforcing cycles of poverty and inequality.
SETU was set up with the intention of making child-centric resources accessible to all those who need them and to simultaneously build a cadre of trained professionals capable of working with children through a rigs-based, child-centric, and participatory approach.
Play-Based Learning Resources
Over the years, Shaishav has found that play is a powerful tool for learning, helping children develop life skills, enhance cognitive abilities, and retain knowledge more effectively. Over the years, Shaishav has developed a range of interactive resources that integrate play with learning, ensuring that children grasp vital concepts in an enjoyable and impactful way. These resources empower children to build confidence, think critically, and strengthen their academic foundation, ultimately empowering them to chart out their own future paths and participate as equals in the outside world.
A unique feature of SETU is that most of its materials are co-created with children through participatory action research, allowing them to identify their own needs and actively shape solutions. Moreover, all resources are rigorously tested by grassroots facilitators and refined based on direct feedback, ensuring their relevance and effectiveness.
More than just a bus
The Multipurpose Mobile Resource Centre
The Mobile Multi-Resource Centre (MMRC) was one of Shaishav’s earliest innovations to make learning accessible and joyful for children in informal settlements. Launched in 1996 by converting an old vehicle into a mobile library and activity space, MMRC carried books, games, and learning materials directly into communities and government schools. It created child-friendly spaces where education became engaging and meaningful.
The MMRC also brought together children from private and government schools, encouraging shared learning and breaking social barriers. Over time, MMRC reached thousands of children, becoming a powerful symbol of inclusive, participatory education and Shaishav’s commitment to creating spaces where children could learn, connect, and thrive.
