SMART believes that poverty has a woman's face, and that literacy and information are major tools for inclusive growth, eradicating poverty, enlarging employment opportunities, advancing gender equality, promoting democratic participation and for empowering people. Looking at education and literacy as an important tool for providing skills to make choices, understand technology and raise self esteem and confidence, SMART started running AIE centers under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan (SSA) flagship program of the government of India, for children in the age group of 5-9 years. In its 5 years of running the centers SMART mainstreamed over 500 young boys and girls into schools and also did a short period of hand holding to ensure that they did not drop out of school once again. Engaging with parents was an important component of this effort.