🌸 Learning Has No Age: The Global Recognition of  “Shiksha Plus Initiative” of Shiv Nadar foundation  and a New Chapter for Lifelong Learning in Varanasi

By PVCHR / JMN Blog Desk

When local initiatives are rooted in empathy, dignity, and community empowerment, they often travel far beyond the borders of their origins. Such is the inspiring journey of  “Shiksha Plus initiative” of Shiv Nadar foundation and implemented by Jan Mitra Nyas (JMN) in the Bada Gaon block of Varanasi.

Recently, the programme gained international visibility when Piotr Bartoszewicz-Malicki, Head of the European Parliament Info Hub, reshared Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi’s LinkedIn post, calling it “an interesting post by Dr. Raghuvanshi, an EUVP Alumnus from India.”

This recognition underscores a powerful truth: lifelong learning resonates globally because it is a universal human aspiration.

🌱 The Spirit of the Programme: Learning at Every Age

The “Shiksha Plus Programme” is much more than a literacy initiative.

It is a celebration of lifelong learning, a movement that encourages people at every stage of life to embrace knowledge, growth, and self-discovery.

📍 Location: Primary School, Kathiraon, Bada Gaon Block, Varanasi

📅 Event Date: 18 October 2025

🔗 Full article (LinkedIn): https://lnkd.in/gDAJdnib

Built on the philosophy that “learning never stops,” the programme nurtures communities through literacy, emotional development, intergenerational bonding, and empowerment.

✨ Shruti Nagvanshi’s Inspiring Message

Shruti Nagvanshi’s appeal during the event touched the hearts of all participants:

“सीखना किसी एक उम्र का अधिकार नहीं, यह जीवन का निरंतर उत्सव है…

जब दादा-दादी और नाना-नानी अपने पोते-पोतियों के साथ किताबें पढ़ते हैं, वह केवल ज्ञान नहीं — भावनात्मक बंधन बन जाता है।”

Her words beautifully capture the essence of inclusive education, where:

• Elders rediscover confidence and joy

• Children witness the power of learning

• Families connect through shared knowledge

• Communities grow together

It is a model of intergenerational learning rarely highlighted in conventional education systems.

🌍 Shiksha Plus & the SDGs: Local Actions, Global Impact

The programme aligns directly with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals:

🎯 SDG 4: Quality Education

🎯 SDG 5: Gender Equality

🎯 SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

By enabling women, elders, and marginalized groups to re-enter the world of education, “Shiksha Plus” strengthens the foundation of inclusive development.

This alignment is one reason the programme caught international attention through the European Union Visitors Programme community.

💫 Stories of Transformation

The event featured emotional moments:

• Elders who once discontinued schooling picked up pens again after decades.

• Learners receiving certificates felt deep pride and newfound self-worth.

• Participants shared how literacy opened new doors in their personal lives.

These are not just success stories—they are micro-revolutions of dignity.

📸 Photographs That Speak

The smiles, confidence, and intergenerational bonding captured in the event photos reflect the programme’s real victories.

They show:

• A grandmother reading alongside her granddaughter

• Adults learning with youthful enthusiasm

• A community awakening to the joy of education

These images affirm a simple but powerful message: Every age is the right age to learn.

🌺 A Movement That Belongs to Everyone

“Shiksha Plus Programme” is creating a new culture of learning in rural Varanasi—one that honors dignity, opportunity, and empowerment.

International recognition, such as the appreciation from a senior European Parliament official, sends a strong message:

Grassroots social innovation in India is shaping global conversations about lifelong learning.

This is not just a programme.

It is a quiet revolution—one classroom, one learner, one village at a time.