The MCF Story

What We Do

The Mountain Children’s Foundation (MCF) is a 21 year old organization that leverages the power of collective action and the energy and idealism of youth to empower children in rural mountain regions to improve their communities from the ground up.

MCF has been empowering children and communities in Uttarakhand, India, to build safer, healthier, and more equitable futures. At MCF, we believe that children are not passive recipients of aid—they are active agents of change. Our innovative “bottom-up, inside-out” approach equips children with leadership skills, self-confidence, and knowledge, enabling them to become vocal advocates for their rights combat discrimination, and raise the profile of child rights and child participation in their communities

Our Impact

Working in 59 villages and 4 Bastis across Dehradun and Chamoli districts, MCF reaches 8,396 children, 2,755 adults, and 900 infants annually, with an indirect impact on over 34,000 people.

Our Core Focus Areas

• Child Protection & Safety: Through the strengthening of 34 Village, 4 Ward, and 1 Block-level Child Protection Committees, we ensure that children are safeguarded from abuse, and exploitation. These committees, play a crucial role in ensuring that every child grows up in a safe and nurturing environment.
• Child Participation & Leadership: 64 Bal Sangathans (children’s groups) across the region empower young people to become leaders and change makers. These groups give children a platform to voice their concerns, and address local issues like education, gender equality, discrimination, sanitation, and climate change. By involving children in decision-making processes, MCF ensures that their voices shape the solutions to the challenges they face.
• Education & Schooling: MCF improves pre-primary education, nutrition, and community involvement in 40 Anganwadis and Mata Samitis in 27 villages. We strengthen School Management Committees to uphold children’s rights under the Right to Education Act. Our remedial education programs also help primary school children succeed in Math and English.
• Health & Sanitation: MCF promotes better hygiene, environmental sustainability, led by children who drive the change in their communities through awareness campaigns and advocacy.

Why It Matters

At MCF, children are empower to lead by strengthening child participation, we are creating a generation of empowered young leaders who not only understand their rights but actively work to make them a reality. Whether it’s advocating for gender equality, better sanitation, or improved education, children are at the forefront of every solution. Their involvement ensures that solutions are both locally relevant and sustainable, creating lasting change that impacts generations to come.

Recognition

In 2022, MCF was honored with the Children Champions Award by the Uttarakhand State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, recognizing our child-led approach and its profound impact on the safety, rights, and well-being of children.

Join Us

With over 21 years of experience and a proven track record of success, MCF is building a brighter future for children in Uttarakhand—one that is led by children themselves. We invite you to join us in empowering children to create lasting change.

Registered Under

• Indian Societies Act: UK0600312203012469
• FCRA Registration: 347900144
• CSR Registration: CSR00002578
• Udayam Registration: UDYAM-UK-05-0082528

Annual Report

In our latest annual report see how the young people of the MCF have continued to demonstrate their dedication, creativity, and commitment to working together to improve their communities.

We successfully carried out the following programs:

• MCF AU Bank and Sanjay Jyoti Agarwal Foundation: Enhancing Child Nutrition and Fostering Community Development
• MCF APPI: Child Participation and Child Protection Mechanisms
• MCF Nucleus Software Foundation: Remedial Teaching for Quality  Education.
• MCF IRIS Foundation : Child Participation, Nutrition and Hygiene
• MCF Nainital Bank: Safe Guarding Children

In addition, we published and distributed a total of 600 copies of PABAM magazine to our children’s groups every quarter.