The Timbaktu Badi is a residential learning centre that was started in 1994 with the idea of addressing the problems of children from very difficult family conditions (in addition to poverty). These children are extremely poor and most of them have faced very challenging situations. Most of them are Dalits or from backward castes.

Children join the centre at various age levels and stay in the centre for 3 to 5 years. In some cases, children need to be looked after till they become independent. Academic classes lead to 7th and 10th standard state board exams. There are craft classes in tailoring, embroidery, soap-making, pottery, masonry, carpentry and poultry rearing. Training in cattle rearing and food processing are being developed. Children learn all these from their teachers, friends of Timbaktu, visitors and part time resource persons. Children also take part in gardening in which they produce greens and vegetables.

In the field of traditional folk arts, children learn Kolattam (a traditional stick dance), Chekkabhajana (another dance), Tabla, Dance, singing and dramas. They also have a lot of time for sports, nature walks and loads of fun. After spending 3-5 years in this school, they write 7th or 10th standard board exam. Their performance in these exams has been quite good. This is probably one indicator to say that children can learn a lot without missing arts, crafts and games. Later they join either mainstreams higher studies or take up some enterprises. Now some of our old students are in undergraduate level colleges. junior colleges or high schools. Some have taken up weaving, tailoring, driving, sari designing, house construction and agriculture.

Children are given healthy food, good health care and lots of personal attention. Timbaktu attracts a large number of visitors from a variety of places. Most of these people spend some of their time with our children. These visitors are like windows to the outside world. The children interact boldly and confidently with all the visitors. Some of the visitors get confused that they are not well disciplined. The teachers try to direct the interaction so that the children learn more about the people, histories, lifestyles and technologies of the places of the visitors. Leadership building awareness building on different issues, and caring for the environment are integrated into their life at Timbaktu.

Timbaktu School is also the location for various children's camps. A good infrastructure has been slowly built up over the years. It is developing into a beautiful children's world.

Financial support for this centre has been received TdH - Germany and ASHA - USA.