Where Mountains Embrace Young Minds: The Story of Hello Kids Apple Cheeks
In the quiet town of Kanispora-B, located in Baramulla district, Jammu & Kashmir, a small building behind a petrol pump hides a big dream. It’s the home of Hello Kids – Apple Cheeks Branch, run by Mr. Mir Manzoor Ali, who turned an idea into a mission to bring quality early education to hilly terrain regions, even on a limited budget.
Established in 2012, Hello Kids – Apple Cheeks has been nurturing young minds in the hills of Baramulla with quality early education. Starting in a low-budget setup in a rural area, Mr. Mir ManzoorAli and Mrs Firdous Akther faced many challengesfrom limited infrastructure to low awareness about early childhood education. But with passion and a strong will to make a difference, he took the first steps.
Today, Hello Kids Apple Cheeks Branch is lighting the path for many young minds, proving that with the right guidance and spirit, even the most rural areas can rise with education.
Hello Kids Support: From Franchise Model to Full Hand Holding
This is where Hello Kids, a national preschool brand, played a transformative role.•
Zero royalty franchise model: Hello Kids offers a"no-royalty" agreement, meaning Mr. Ali could set up with very low recurring cost burdenperfect for a rural, low-budget location.
Complete start-up support: Hello Kids provided help in site evaluation, infrastructure planning, classroom setup, guidance on licence or affiliation, all pitched at low investment thresholds.
Curriculum aligned to NEP 2020: Their structured program combines Montessori, Playway, Gurukul traditions, age-appropriate themes, and life-skill activities. Crucially, it aligns with NEP 2020, especially in recognizing the importance of Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) in the foundational age group (3–8 years).
Teacher and staff training, ongoing mentoring: Even a small rural centre benefits from regular training sessions, monthly expert talks, and direct founder mentorship to help them grow from an initial 20-30 children up to a sustainable scale.
Digital tools and parent communication: Tools like digital slates, talking-pens, ERP systems, parent app for updates, even VR-kits help AppleCheeks look and feel professional, bridging the tech gap with urban setups.
Here’s how the National Education Policy 2020 supports this model:
Formal recognition of ECCE: NEP 2020, implemented 29 July 2020 and beyond, formally includes preschool (ages 3–6) under structured schooling, shifting from 10+2 to a 5+3+3+4 model with early years focused on play-based learning and foundational literacy/numeracy.
Mission on Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN): NEP mandates universal basic literacy by 2025, especially in rural areas. Hello, Kids’ ECCE programs feed into that goal by laying strong basics early.
Teacher training emphasis: NEP requires credentialing and up-skilling educators; Hello Kids offers training and ongoing professional development for small centres like Apple Cheeks.
Multilingual, culturally rooted curriculum: NEP encourages mother-tongue or local instruction up to grade 5. At Apple Cheeks, lessons are delivered in local Kashmiri or Urdu, with regionally relevant stories and songs, alongside play and craft.
These systemic changes in India’s education landscape have legitimized and accelerated preschool franchising in Tier II and III towns, including places like Baramulla, creating demand from parents and support from regulators.
Mr. Pritam Kumar Agrawal, Founder & Director of Hello Kids, supports branch members and expresses his vision
Pritam reminds us that patience, affection, and human connection are at the heart of early education solely technology. Pritam played a part in national ECCE policy dialogues as Vice President of Early Childhood Association India. He welcomed NEP 2020’s formal inclusion of ECCE in compulsory schooling, seeing it as validation of Hello Kids’ model and a catalyst for sector-wide growth.
In Mr. Agrawal’s Own Words: “Every child, regardless of geography or background, deserves access to quality early education. Our ‘No Royalty’ model not only supports local entrepreneurs but ensures affordability for parents.”
The Big Picture: NEP + Franchise Model + Rural Education
The combined forces of NEP 2020 and franchise-based preschool growth drive broader educational equity:
NEP formalizes ECCE and early years under structured schooling.
Franchise networks like Hello Kids scale quality preschool across India, even to rural areas, by lowering barriers for local entrepreneurs.
Franchise support ensures standard quality, alignment with policy, and operational sustainability.
Rural branches like Apple Cheeks become local hubs of early learning, helping families see the value in preschool and investing in their children’s future.
From Hills to Hope: How Hello Kids is Powering Apple Cheeks’ Journey
24/7 Founders Support: Perhaps the most powerful support came in the form of direct access to Hello Kids’ founder and director, Mr. Pritam Kumar Agrawal. This ongoing mentorship, personal care, and fast response gave the Apple Cheeks team confidence, direction, and motivation to keep growing.
Teachers Training: Teachers at Hello Kids Apple Cheeks Preschool were trained regularly to manage the classroom, engage children better, and use creative ways to make learning fun and effective.
Ready-to-Use Curriculum: Apple Cheeks Branch received a complete teaching plan that was easy to follow and perfect for young children. It included fun activities, stories, and lessons that suited the local environment.
Social Media Support: Even in a rural area, the Apple Cheeks Branch got guidance and support to promote the school on social media. This helped spread awareness and build trust among local parents.
Logistics Support: Hello Kids helped Hello Kids Apple Cheeks Preschool with everything needed to start, from books and learning materials to affordable, premium-quality uniforms. The setup was smooth and stress-free.
A Lesson in Hope and Education Hello Kids Apple Cheeks isn’t just a preschool; it’s a symbol of what’s possible when passion meets the right support system. Mr. Mir Manzoor Ali has shown that even in the farthest corners of India, a child can dream, learn, and grow if someone believes in them. Thanks to the vision of Hello Kids, the backing of NEP 2020, and the spirit of people like Mr. Manzoor, education in India is not just growing’s reaching every child.
“You don’t need big buildings to teach big lessons, just big hearts and the right guidance."
