Khushhali Kendras – Community Learning Spaces
Why
The challenges girls face today are not limited to the post-COVID period alone. While the pandemic disrupted education, learning routines, and access to digital resources, the larger community context continues to limit girls’ opportunities even beyond COVID. Restrictions on mobility, lack of safe spaces, limited learning resources at home, and social norms around gender often prevent girls from continuing education, developing skills, or spending time in supportive environments.
Khushhali Kendras respond to this reality by creating safe spaces within communities where girls can learn, pause, explore interests, and rebuild confidence. These spaces recognise that girls need more than access to education—they need sustained opportunities, care, and supportive environments to imagine and shape their futures.
Where
Khushhali Kendras are currently functioning in Matsula, Malpur, Pyara, and Jodhpur. In addition, Vishakha runs a Youth Resource and Well-Being Centre in Bagru, and a community-based centre for Muslim girls in Ghatala Basti, Bagru, responding to the specific needs and contexts of young women and girls in these areas.
What we do
At Khushhali Kendras, girls engage in computer and digital learning, sewing and skill-based courses, and academic support. The spaces also offer room for conversation, recreation, reading, and reflection on issues related to education, health, gender, and everyday life. Counselling support is available at the centres, and e-Mitra (government digital services) is accessible at the Matsula centre to support girls’ documentation and service-related needs.
How we work
Khushhali Kendras function as open and welcoming spaces where girls can come according to their needs and comfort. Learning happens in small groups and batches, combining skill-building with dialogue, care, and peer support. The centres prioritise safety, dignity, choice, and regular feedback from girls themselves.
What we need more
Khushhali Kendras are growing as trusted community spaces, and the focus now is to deepen and strengthen this work. We aim to expand these safe spaces to reach more girls who continue to face barriers due to distance, restrictions, or lack of resources. This includes strengthening digital learning and skill-building, extending academic and mentoring support, and creating more opportunities for girls to explore learning, work, and well-being.
Equally important is investing in care—strengthening counselling, peer learning, and community ownership—so that Khushhali Kendras remain safe, responsive, and rooted in girls’ needs, supporting their confidence, choices, and pathways over time.
