EMPOWER & IGNITE THE YOUTH FOR A BETTER NATION

Virtual Teachers Partnering with Community Teachers creating Sustainable Model

“Concept of E- Tuition have created new horizons for me and the children i tutor; my computer learning & E-tuition training from Literacy Indiaensures my livelihood and educating children with the help of Gyantantra Software”. Their overall results have improved in academics.”Sukuntala(Name changed)  from Baldeopura village in Rajasthan.

Sukuntala’s & Rehana Bee’s Classroom for E-Tuition

 Sukuntala(name changed) & Rehana Bee (name changed) are news in Manoharthana area in Rajasthan. Both of them are E-tutors implementing “Gyantantra Digital Education” among children and youth at the ground level in the remotest part of the village, who are very weak in basic education. Both Sukuntala and Rehana took the initiative to spread digital literacy among children in their respective areas. Both of them are professionally doing Private Tuitions as part of their livelihood. Hence, while the opportunities come from Literacy India for pertaining training on E-tuition, both are coming forward to mobilise other potential students who can take training for livelihood. Sukuntala Kumari is born and brought up in the village Baldeopura while Rehana is a married woman and staying at Manoharthana area. Baldeopura village is a medium sized village located in Manoharthana of Jhalawar District in Rajasthan. It has 96 families with a population of 420 as per 2011 census.

Sukuntala, after completion of graduation, started applying for Govt. jobs. Her father was engaged in agriculture. Meanwhile she did Computer Basic Learning Course from Literacy India’s Learning Centre at Manoharthana. She also engaged herself in Pvt. Tuitions in order to sustain.

Rehana Bee is married and has two children and her husband remains sick most of the time. Rehana, for her sustainability, started Tuitions in the community. However, in both cases, for Sukuntala and Rehana work do not yield regular income as children’s parents are very poor. Both of them were facing challenges with children as there were many dropouts and there always remained an uncertainty about their attendance. Parents are the first generation learners.

 While both of them joined Literacy India Centre they came across children who came for Gyantantra classes. Gyantantra is a proprietary software developed by Literacy India through which helps children academically. Children have responded well to technology. Private tutors find this software as fast track effective tool that enables children to learn fast. Moreover, it has reduced the dropout rate amongst children. Besides, they found the results improving who came to attend Gyantantra .

It was in this context that Literacy India offered them training on E-Tuition and also provided two old systems for conducting the E-tuition program. Within 3 months both E-Tutors have become famous in their respective areas. Now more and more children want to come and get admission for Private Tuitions.

 According to Rehana “my husband, along with my two children are very happy as I am doing this work. My earning through Private Tuition is providing me sustainability. My husband can depend on me when he falls sick”

About Project Karigari- Vocational Training: Youth Focus

Vocational training program in computer evolves in Literacy India in order to provide a step to integrate youth and young adolescents’ group in livelihood platform for achieving the three E’s goal (Education, Employment and Empowerment). Youth group is always crucial in the sense they are in the intermediary stage of psychological development occurring between puberty and legal adulthood which has struggles with the issues of independence and self- identity.

 With that background the vocational training for computers came into operation, as Technology absorbs a lot of negative energy, though it has its own evil. It helps the young to learn and gain knowledge about ICT and builds aspiration for future jobs.  In present day world, basic computer learning is always required and youth also realises that.

Literacy India is dealing with the youth who are under-privileged and come from socially and economically backword community. They might not get the opportunity to have the basic computer knowledge while studying in school and colleges. As a result, they would again face challenges at the time of interview  for a job or  any other employment opportunities.

ICT has empowered the youth to do better in their interviews and they learnt about wider scope in various industries through internet.

 Situation in Manoharthana Rajasthan & Literacy India

 Geographically Manoharthana in Jhalawar District is termed as Cherrapunji of Rajasthan. The area is remote, however, there is rainfall every year and agriculture is better compared to other region in the state.  Most of the community people are engaged in Agriculture; few are engaged in daily wage labour and there are tendencies to migrate to Delhi & MP for jobs. Youth had attended school till class VIII and few have completed school leaving Madhayamik and Higher Secondary Exam. Few are going to the college. Parents have not been able to mobilise the youth folk to get engaged in agricultural farming. Hence, youth have a long leisure time; most of them are addicted with drug, alcoholism and smoking. Apart from that, they tend to easily get involved in the negative activities such as sexual harassment, assault, eve-teasing on the one hand, and in other activities of  local goons such as stealing, theft etc, on the other hand.

Opportunities in the district town are very scarce. The youth are trying to get either Govt. Jobs at Block Offices, District Offices or Schools, both Primary and Secondary, or private run English medium schools. Few are engaged in private jobs in local groceries, trading businesses and so on

 Against these odds, Literacy India had started vocational training of computer literacy course in the village for the youth both girls and boys, and has mobilised local youth who can take training on computer courses in the learning centre.

 Activities undertaken:

1. Listing down the Potential youth who have completed Higher Secondary and Graduation and are looking for  job and who have completed CCA from Literacy India Centre
2.  Orientation and Concept dissemination on E-Tuition with the group.
3. Profile making of each candidates and the situation in the villages was mapped through Centre-In-Charge where the candidates would undertake E-Tuitions.
4. Mapping of outreach and target beneficiaries for each candidate.
5. Group formed for E-Tutor Training with 10 members each.
6. Training organised for 10 member team for 15 days.
7. Hands-On Training on email and live chat through G-Chat was organised.
8.  After completion of training, those members started training in the Centre as pilots.
9. Two candidates came forward and started the operation in their respective villages.

 Achievements of the program:

 Total 10 youth have been enrolled in the E-Tuition program.  

1.  Two weeks training program was completed successfully
2. A platform of E-group created among 10 members team who are regularly in touch and exchange their ideas, their work and their challenges.
3. Two members already started their work. One is working in Manoharthana and the other one is working in Baldeopura village.
4. Total strength of the students for both are 41. There are more in queue but they cannot take up more due to shortage of system and space.

Overall Impact of the program:

Community:

• Community feels proud as their young adult groups are becoming tech-savvy.
• Parents feel delighted and proud as their young children started earning and their names are spreading as E-Tutor across villages.

 Behavioral Change:

• A lot of change has been observed in the behavior amongst youth. These two E-Tutors are becoming role model
• Many youth are coming to Literacy India Centre and enrolling themselves
• Positive feeling & aspiration are found amongst E-Tutors who are trying to upgrade their skill and knowledge

Challenges observed:

• Major challenge observed here is the electricity problem. Power Backup is required to make teaching continuous and uninterrupted. 
• Internet connectivity through dongle is slow, often creating problems.

Way Forward:

• Increased participation in E-Tuition
• Mobilizing Computer Systems so that it can have maximum outreach
•  Refresher Course on E-Tuition
• Group Learning through Internet

Links:

• AFTER 20 YEARS - OUR NEW LOGO & OUR BRAND NEW WEBSITE
• Wind beneath her wings

Youth evolved using Techno- Tool assisting the Farmers and their own community

“Yes, I cannot believe, last year these young groups started training on computer literacy from Literacy India and their contribution enabled to transform earlier system of oral calculation of Farming into documents & excel sheet; this year these young groups are thinking to be a part of digitalised world of Literacy India to impart education through E – Tuition training which will bridge the distance between schools and students. It can make the school at the doorsteps for our children. We are really thankful to Literacy India. ” -  Father of Haradhan Kuira from Bhorsu Village.  

About Project Karigari- Vocational Training: Youth Focus

Vocational training program on computers has  evolved to next level in Literacy India .It will provide a step to integrate youth and young adolescents’ group on livelihood platform for achieving the three E’s goal (Education, Employment and Empowerment). Youth group are in the intermediary stage of psychological development occurring between puberty and legal adulthood which has struggles with the issues of independence and self- identity. Hence, these groups are facing challenges in family, schools and other institutions.  Nature of complains varies according to gender specification. Males are vulnerable; it is found that during this stage they are developing with habits of smoking, alcohol, eve teasing, other illegal activities, peer pressures and involvement with local goons, addiction towards substance abuse of drugs, love affairs and so on. Girls on the other hand get involved in love affairs at a very young age, cannot concentrate on studies, and cannot score properly, not attending the schools etc. In both cases common complains on the  rise about their mood swing, sexual behavior etc. From the children perspective, there are feedbacks against adults such as high expectation, children should engage into part-time work so that children can contribute in the family, exploring  early marriage options for girls while girls are not ready.

In this psychological milieu of the youth and with this background the vocational training for computers came into operation, as Technology absorbs a lot of negative energy, though it has its own peril. It helps the young to learn and gain knowledge about ICT and builds aspiration for future jobs.  In present day world, basic computer learning is always required and youth also realised that.  Literacy India is dealing with the youth who are underprivileged and coming from socially and economically backword community. They might not get the opportunity to have the basic computer knowledge while they are studying in school and colleges. As a result, they would again face challenges at the time of interview in future for job or employment opportunities.  Hence, the aim of this project is basically 1) to ensure a platform for sustainable livelihood where the youth are able to learn computer and prepare themselves with technology so that they would competent to face the challenges of interview for future job selection 2) to safeguard and channelize the youth energy in the proper areas that would able to curb the feeling of disorientation, distress & frustration among youth.

Situation in Lowakui Village at Purulia, West Bengal

 Geographically Lowakui is situated in the extreme western part of the district Purulia & coming under Matha Forest in Baghmundi Block. The communities here are tribal groups, SC and OBCs.  The village is remote and placed within the small hills and dense forest where communication between the places is really challenging.  The main occupation or livelihoods are forest collection and mono-cropping agricultural farming. Forest Collection, at times was sent them behind bar under Indian Forest Act, hence was risky. As a result, there is seasonal unemployment, wide migration, alcohol addiction & no conscious effort to change the situation. The women were mostly staying at home- few are either engaged in part-time forest collection or in agricultural farming.  Regular alcohol intake & no sustainable income and long leisure among the men & youth folk made them aggressive and violent.  

  About Youth in Lowakui and adjacent villages like Bhorshu, Suisa, Dugdha:

 Youth have no work but roaming around; most of them had attended school till class VIII; few have completed school leaving Madhayamik and Higher Secondary Exam. Few are going to the college.   Parents could not mobilise the youth folk to be engaged in agricultural farming also.  Alcoholism, smoking are common behaviour among youth. As they have no work to do they are very easy to get involve in the negative activities such as sexual harassment, assault, eve-teasing on the one hand, and on the other hand in the activities of local goons like stealing, theft and so on.  These youth are tribal- they are very bold and if the energy is going into incorrect track that yield the negative result so fast.

Against this odds, Literacy India had started vocational training of computer literacy course in the village for the youth both girls and boys.  It has mobilised local youth who can take training on computer courses in the learning centre. There is orientation regularly from local corporate, local business personnel so that the youth can be tracked in the proper way.

 Activities undertaken:

1. Survey in the villages in order to identify the drop out youth
2. Listing down the youth who have completed Higher Secondary and Graduation and are willing to take up job
3. Parent Teachers along with the Literacy India’s volunteers group meetings were held  within the community for advertisement
4. Admission of the youth were taken place
5. Identify and recruit a teacher who can regularly guide the youth
6. Regular evaluation and assessment of the  youth are taking place in the learning centre
7. CV and Resume making classes were taking place
8. Mock Interview and how to handle the situation in the interview was taking place
9. Orientation of the youth from local business personnel had taken place about career counselling and goal setting.
10. Concept of E-Tuition has been floated and three potential candidates were identified to take training on E-tuition.
11. Training started for E-tuition for three students.

  E-tuition Orientation by Capt. Indraani Singh & Team

Capt. Indraani Singh founder of Literacy India, in her recent visit to Purulia had met youth group in Lowakui village learning centre who are taking training on Computer Basic Course. During discussion the concept of E-tuition floated and it was found that there are few students who already started E-tuition model in their own.  She had explained about E-Tuition and E-Tutor model which can be a part of Livelihood of this young group.  According to her “E- Tutor and E- tutors are in demand now-a-days at every corner may be the remotest corner in the village in every district and state. Every year a good number of youth  completes CCA course in Literacy India. These youth groups are the powerful resource for spreading their learning to the remotest corner where both formal educations through school & vocational training for computer do not reach. Literacy India has already surveyed few places where communities are facing this type of problems. Hence, Literacy India is trying to promote the concept of E- Tutoring from these students that can ultimately caters outreach and yield output toward making E-platform among children and youth. It is part of livelihood also. Those youth who are providing these facilities to door steps of the communities can earn from them like they are doing through Private Tuition to the children.   Here both Gyantantra Software Digital learning( GDD) and CCA teaching can work together to mobilize both children and youth.”   GDD is self paced multimedia based educational software catering K5 students – vision is to help each this to many children through private community Tutors.

After her orientation there are 5 candidates who were willingly come and enroll their name for training.

Achievements of the program: 

1. Total 63 youth have been enrolled in the learning centre in June, 2015.
2. Group had been divided among them and these 63 are regular in the learning centre.
3. 23 boys and girls are identified who are ready to take up the job in any organisation.
4. 5 potential candidates identified for having E-Tuition Training.

Overall Impact of the program:

Community:

• Community feels proud as their young adults groups are becoming tech-savvy.
• Parents group are happy as their children can make the simple accounts keeping in the excel sheet like selling of paddy and quantity, selling of pattal ( shaal leaf plate) quantity and also the growth of paddy quantity, storage of vegetables like potatoes, onions and garlics and so on.
• Parents feel delighted as their young children are completing some of its work using their acquired soft skill knowledge and enrolled for E-tuition course also.

 Behavioral change:

• A lot of change has been observed in the behaviour of among youth. Youth earlier were roaming and doing aimless talk in their chatting; now it was observed that they are used to discuss about different competitive exam news, district based local employment opportunities and so on
• Earlier it was observed that they used to come to the centre with untidy clothes- at present after long discussion and orientation they used to come with proper dress code.

 Challenges observed: 

•  Major challenge observed in Lowakui Learning centre is electricity problems.  In the village there were thunderstorm , only transformer providing electricity to the village have gone bust. After that State Electricity Department did not take any initiative to repair or reinstall it.
• Absenteeism during Unit test is regular feature. Unit Tests is deliberately not kept easy as Youth tend to have an attitude of “Shortcut” to learn computers

Stories of change:

Name: Abhay (Changed) Location: West Bengal

Abhay (name Changed) has grown up in a joint family. There are 8 members in their family. His father and uncle both are engage in agricultural work. They have few bighas of land where they grows vegetables and sell in Suisa market. The village where Abhoy lives is very interior – communication is very poor. Bagmundi is their nearest town which is approx. 20 km distance from their village.  Abhay passed  his Madhayamik and Higher secondary from Sasa High School and then took admission in Balarampur College for graduation. Literacy India’s Learning center is between Bagmundi Balarampur Road. Once he came to the center and showed his interest for computer education. His academic performance was well and his aptitude for learning computer was tremendous. He did the courses very well and became savvy for MS word, excel , PowerPoint, html  etc.  From the beginning his intention was to go for business but he couldn’t decide what to do. After completion of his course from Literacy India Learning he already started business by opening up a computer shop. He started the shop with one Desk Top with a MTS Dongle internet connection. At first there were plenty of customers coming for Railway online ticket booking from IRCTC , then students used to come online form fill-up for Staff Selection Commission, Army Job , Airforce job , Police job. Few are coming for downloading songs and photo down load. At first, he was afraid of repaying loan that he has taken from his brother to start business.   Lot of challenges he has faced but he did not stop himself doing hard working. Meanwhile he bought a printer also. The first year he had struggled lot but at present he is quite stable and could earn average Rs.6000/- per month. He will be able to repay the loan of his brother also by June 2016.

He is a potential person to come forward to take a concept of E-tutor and ready to spread digital learning at his village through Gyantantra for children.  Abhay knows Gyantantra Softaware which is made by Literacy India for Children who can learn the primary level academic course faster. After completion of Gyantantra upto class V, children are being able to mainstream them into high school. Abhay `s village has one primary school which is too far away from the other villages.

Name: Bhavatarini (Changed) Location: West Bengal

Bhavatarini Kuira did postgraduate in Bengali from Sidhu Kanu University in Purulia.  Bhavatarini has two sisters and one brother. Her father is a marginal farmer and small land that do not yield anything fruitful so that livelihood can be obtained. Bhavatarini being a eldest in the siblings has struggled a lot for continuing study. After completion of class X, she started Pvt. Tuition for children through which she spent her own academic study cost. She joined Literacy India in 2014 for vocational training Computer Learning Course.  She completed successfully.  At present she is looking for job; meanwhile she had completed First Aid training organised by Literacy India.  She is delighted to hear E-tuition concept. She used to come from village Dugdha which is 35 km away from Literacy India Learning centre. In her village, youth are rarely thinking about to take training on CCA or basic computer learning course.  Children used to walk for mile to attend the school at Primary level.   Sidhu Kanu University exposure makes her to think about computer course and also beyond her own village.

She is the potential person- she shall use the E-tuition and she is planning to buy a 2^nd hand laptop through which she will be able to spread the e-learning to others.  She learnt the application of WHATSAPP and she started using / Chatting with Capt. Indraani Singh. However she is facing challenges of using proper functional English that she does not know. A small clipping has been pasted here.

Bhavatarini is now enrolling into the E-tuition training in Literacy India. According to Bhavatarini’s own language “I am really feeling honoured to meet Capt. Indraani Singh and also to take the training from Literacy India. I shall do my best for doing E-tuition successful that makes my livelihood as well as I can serve for the children and youth in my village who are struggling like me” 

Links:

• Literacy India 19 years of Transforming Lives