Background

In India, every year, there are millions of children who experience struggles with their mental health, and in some cases, even experience mental illnesses. UNICEF estimates that this number was close to 50 million before the pandemic, and has witnessed a steady increase since. The impact of these mental health challenges manifests itself in children dropping out of school, experiencing immense amounts of distress, and being unable to live full lives. It is further estimated that over 286 million children up to Grade 6 in India dropped out of school in the period between 2020-2021. This was further exacerbated by the great digital divide in the country, as schools moved operations fully online during the pandemic. 

Creative writing, in light of these circumstances, can be a powerful tool for children. It allows them to express themselves creatively, while also engaging in an active exploration of emotional growth. It can facilitate a form of connection with oneself in long periods of isolation, as have been the norm in the pandemic. Here is where the role of Page by Page becomes crucial. It is a project dedicated to using creative writing therapy in a child-friendly context, especially for students from humble socioeconomic backgrounds in India. The modules incorporate social emotional learning, in an endeavor to enable students to express their emotions in a free-flowing, cathartic manner. The eventual goal of the project is to publish an anthology of student work.