​Vachan Katta is a flagship initiative of Maay Mati Foundation, created to nurture a culture of reading, curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking among children in rural communities. In a world increasingly dominated by screens, Vachan Katta is bringing children back to books, conversations, imagination, and the joy of learning.

More than a library, Vachan Katta is a vibrant community learning space where children discover the power of stories, develop confidence, and learn to express themselves freely. It is a place where reading becomes a habit, learning becomes joyful, and every child is encouraged to dream beyond the boundaries of their village.

The Need

Many children in rural areas have limited access to quality books, libraries, and engaging learning environments outside their classrooms. This often affects their language skills, reading habits, comprehension, creativity, and self-confidence.

Vachan Katta was established to bridge this gap by creating accessible village reading spaces where children can explore ideas, ask questions, think independently, and develop a lifelong love for reading.

Our Learning Spaces

Vachan Katta currently operates in three villages of Jalgaon district:

• Dhamangaon

• Awar

• Turkheda

These village libraries provide a welcoming environment where children regularly gather to read, discuss stories, participate in creative activities, and learn together without the pressure of examinations or rote learning.

What Happens at Vachan Katta?

Every session is designed to make learning enjoyable while developing essential life skills through books and creative engagement.

Activities include:

• Reading sessions with carefully selected, age-appropriate books

• Storytelling and interactive discussions

• Creative writing, drawing, and book reviews

• Theatre, role-play, poetry reading, and public speaking

• Question circles that encourage curiosity and critical thinking

• Nature-based outdoor learning sessions

Children are encouraged to share their ideas, listen to others, collaborate, and build confidence through meaningful participation.

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Our Impact

Today, Vachan Katta has grown into a thriving community learning initiative.

• More than 1,600 books available across village libraries

• Over 130 regular student participants

• Indirectly impacting 2,800+ people, including parents, teachers, youth, and community members

The initiative has contributed to:

• Improved reading fluency and language skills

• Stronger comprehension and independent thinking

• Increased confidence in communication and self-expression

• Greater participation of girls and first-generation learners

• Enhanced creativity, empathy, and curiosity

• Stronger connections with nature, community, and social values

Vachan Katta is not simply a library—it is a movement that nurtures informed, confident, and compassionate young citizens.

Our Vision

Our vision is to expand the Vachan Katta model across more villages and schools, ensuring that every child has access to books, inspiring learning spaces, and opportunities to grow.

Our future goals include:

• Expanding Vachan Katta to additional villages across Jalgaon district

• Establishing well-equipped village libraries with curated collections

• Training local youth as reading mentors and community facilitators

• Using stories to promote environmental awareness, gender equality, civic responsibility, and social values

• Partnering with schools to strengthen joyful learning alongside formal education

Join the Vachan Katta Movement

Books have the power to transform lives, inspire dreams, and build stronger communities. You can become part of this journey by supporting Vachan Katta.

You can contribute by:

• Donating children's books

• Volunteering as a reading mentor

• Sponsoring village reading spaces

• Supporting the initiative financially or through in-kind contributions

• Helping spread awareness about the importance of reading in rural communities

Together, we can create a future where every child has the opportunity to discover, imagine, and grow through the power of books.