Little Literacy Library

The Little Literacy Library is a community-driven initiative from the NNEdPro Global Institute for Food, Nutrition and Health, developed to bridge educational gaps in underserved urban slums of Kolkata, India.

This initiative builds upon the Mobile Teaching Kitchen (MTK) model, which has successfully delivered nutrition education and culinary training to empower communities.

In 2021, inspired by the impact of MTK, Junior Ambassador Nikitah Rajput-Ray conceptualised a mobile library project to offer children in marginalised communities access to educational resources. Through a Diwali workshop fundraiser at her school in St Andrews, Scotland, she raised the funds necessary to bring this vision to life.

By early 2022, the first two Little Literacy Libraries were established in the Chetla Lock Gate and RG Kar slum communities.

The libraries offer bilingual materials (English and Bengali) for children aged 5 to 15 years and are overseen by local library assistants, a librarian, and an Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) teacher.

Impact

Since their establishment, the libraries have:

Provided books and learning materials to children with limited prior access.
Supported nutrition and health education in collaboration with the Mobile Teaching Kitchen, offering healthy meals during library sessions.
Encouraged community engagement by involving local volunteers and educators in managing the libraries.

To date, the initiative has reached 45 children across two sites, offering not just literacy education but also promoting overall well-being.

Connection to the Mobile Teaching Kitchen

The Little Literacy Library extends the philosophy of the Mobile Teaching Kitchen, which started in 2016 to tackle malnutrition in Kolkata’s slum areas.

The MTK’s "see one, do one, teach one" model trained local women to become educators in culinary nutrition. Building upon this, the Little Literacy Library now integrates education with nutrition, providing holistic support to the community’s next generation.

How You Can Help

The Little Literacy Library depends on donations to expand and continue its work. Your support will:

Help create more libraries in underserved areas.
Provide bilingual books and learning materials.
Sustain nutrition initiatives through the Mobile Teaching Kitchen.

To support us, please visit our GoFundMe page.

Learn more about the inspiration behind the Little Literacy Library in the Junior Ambassador’s blog post.

MOBILE TEACHING KITCHEN INTERNATIONAL