Our Story

Today, we are here. From a single community in 1995 to 25 states and union territories in India and more than 20 countries worldwide, Pratham is transforming millions of lives through learning and earning opportunities.

Pratham International is founded to meet growing global demand for partnerships.

Karona: Thodi Masti, Thodi Padhai (Do it: a little fun, a little study) is introduced during the COVID-19 lockdown to keep children engaged and focused on learning. The new initiative, delivered through a variety of channels—Zoom, WhatsApp, text messages, and phone calls⁠⁠—offered daily lessons in art, music, theater, math, language, and science.

Pratham and the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) collaborate on TaRL Africa, a joint venture to address the learning crisis in primary schools across the continent.

Pratham is named a winner of the LUI Che Woo Prize, a cross-sector innovation award that recognizes outstanding contributions benefiting humanity.

Pratham introduces digital technology tools to offer children high-quality, interactive content to improve their basic literacy and numeracy skills.

Pratham's Lakhon Mein Ek campaign mobilizes 375,000 citizens. Over the course of three months, these volunteers assess the literacy and numeracy levels of 10 million Indian children.

Pratham announces leadership transition—Dr. Rukmini Banerji takes the reins as CEO of Pratham from Dr. Madhav Chavan. 

The People's Action of Learning (PAL) Network, comprised of organizations in thirteen countries conducting citizen-led, household-based assessment of children's basic reading and numeracy competencies, is established, with headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya.

Pratham pilots a successful teaching-learning model in two rural districts of Bihar, which eventually forms the basis for partnerships statewide in Bihar and five other Indian states.

Pratham launches Second Chance program to help girls and women  complete their secondary schooling.

Pratham receives international recognition winning the Henry R. Kravis Leadership Prize (2010), Skoll Foundation Award for Social Entrepreneurship (2011), and Wise Prize for Education (2012).

Pratham goes global with adoption of the ASER tool in Pakistan and Kenya. Other countries, including Bangladesh, Ghana, Tanzania, Mali, Senegal and Mexico, follow suit.

Pratham establishes the ASER Centre to generate evidence for action.

The Read India campaign is launched. In partnership with state governments, Pratham reaches nearly 33 million children.

The first ASER survey is conducted, eventually reaching every rural district in the country. Pratham becomes a national organization.

Pratham Council for Vulnerable Children leads a coalition of government and NGOs to eliminate child labor in Mumbai’s Zari industry, freeing over 17,000 children. This model will be used in other states in subsequent years.

Pratham starts work in rural India with the innovative Learn-to-Read program.

Pratham scales up with rapid expansion to other cities including Bangalore, Delhi, Lucknow, Jaipur, Pune, Ahmedabad and Patna. Pratham USA is founded in Houston and New York City.

Remedial learning programs for out-of-school and in-school children are launched. Computer-assisted learning program starts in partnership with Mumbai schools.

Pratham is founded by Dr. Madhav Chavan and Farida Lambay with launch of Balwadis (preschools) in Mumbai. 

Pratham USA is a 501(c)(3) organization. We exist to mobilize resources in the U.S. to support Pratham’s programmatic work.