GIFT THE GIFT OF EDUCATION TO AN UNDER-SERVED GIRL

Literacy India has been working with the migrant communities for more than two decades, where children with weak educational foundation are forced to follow their parents, irrespective of school session schedule. We have strongly advocated technology aided education and now its relevance is more than ever. It is only with technology and specially designed software that vulnerable and underprivileged children can be brought up to speed, given the situation.

Gyantantra Digital Dost has successfully been implemented by us to ensure out-of-school children as well as school dropouts, students weak in academics to get basic education for their better future and accelerate the learning process. However, with education centers and schools being shut, these children need devices to continue to push against the despair of the situation. The marginal communities cannot afford mobile phones or laptops, and this is the community which needs the crutches of educational foundation the most – not just to survive such unprecedented situation but also to ensure that the progress made by the country does not slip away.

The COVID 19 pandemic has impacted each one of us, the severity of which is yet to unfurl. As the world braces itself for what lies ahead, the Indian Government is struggling to ensure the security of the future generation. One of the key aspects, education – especially elementary education - is at a critical junction as experts worry that the progress made so far, has since suffered.

The recent migrant crisis and the continuity of schools being shut is a major blow to the 427 million children in the country. But especially impacted are children above 6 years of age, a critical age to create a robust educational foundation.

Literacy India has a robust solution to meet this monumental challenge. Not only do we have an intelligent educational software which focuses on individual learning capacity but also serves as a resilient and patient ‘teacher’. We started the project using Google Classroom with the children of these communities. Students made trained in Google classroom, assigned worksheets, assignments, recreational projects where these children can be engaged under the guidance of teacher.

Gyantantra Digital Dost in the time of Lockdown:

Literacy India has developed multimedia software called Gyantantra Udbhav as a part of the ICT-based learning program called Gyantantra Digital Dost (GDD). This software was conceptualized to be used in conjunction with classroom/text-book teaching. GDD is a revolutionary digital education model which develops & enhances children’s interest towards education. It has made the learning process more interesting, attention-grabbing and enjoyable along with increasing student retention. This self-paced learning software benefits underprivileged women and children.

In the time of pandemic, when schools across nations were shut to curb the spread of coronavirus, Literacy India made the digital education accessible to the students virtually. The GDD Google classroom has enabled the children to continue their education through virtual mode. They were able to continue their academic with same pace and able to compete with peer group.

Process Undertaken:

• Analyzing the situation of covid-19, Series of conference call made among the Literacy India project team to come up with the solution.
• Teachers made trained in Google Classroom & Zoom to take up the interactive session with students.
• Teachers connect with students and mobilize for virtual classes and train students to effectively use the technology for the purpose of education
• Online education classes began where content shared via Google Dashboard.

Activities undertaken during the quarter:

• Community survey conducted to approach students and mobilize for online classes.
• Teachers training for capacity building on usage of technology in education
• Door to door Google classroom training for effective use of technology for the purpose of education and to bring the process on ease
• Awareness session on Covid 19 to safeguard themselves against pandemic
• Live Classes, developing assignments as per the level of students, sharing academic worksheets and online assessment to measure the students’ performance.

  Story of Change

Veena ( Name Change) , Class III  Location : Rajashthan India 

‘The Harder you work, the greater you feel when you achieve it’

Veena, a student of Class III got disconnected with her education due to sudden shutdown of schools in covid pandemic. She had no access to education for months that made her unlearn many learnt concepts.

In the time of crisis, when student’s future surrounded with darkness, Literacy India (LI) came up with the model of digital learning, accessible to the underserved. Ravina made enrolled under the Gyantantra Udbhav program of LI. She was provided training on Google Classroom to make her understand the concept of live classes and method to operate it. In the Pre-assessment conducted to measure the students’ learning level, she scored below average and was not able to solve the questions of her level.

She has been proven as an active learner. She regularly attended live classes under the mentorship of teacher facilitator. She always completes her work on time. During the time, she also came across number of problems in her day to day life but didn’t give up but worked with focus and dedication. Initially, she faced problem in solving mathematical questions for which she took assistance from teacher virtually and cleared her doubts. Now, she independently solves the questions of addition and subtraction of 3-4-digit numbers without any difficulty. Her knowledge in Hindi and English language enhanced. She is able to read the story books of her level efficiently and attempt the questions of days of the week, names of the month, parts of body and word formation without any error.

Veena belongs to the farmers family, residing in Jhalawar, Rajasthan. Her parents are illiterate but understand the significance of education. They are happy with the progress of Veena in academics and overall personality development. They are thankful to Literacy India for supporting their daughter’s education.

Links:

• Empowering minds since 1996- Agents of Change

Enabling Women and Youth to become Future Workforce & Industry Employable

Youth and women in our society are in immense need of livelihood opportunities, however most often they are not found capable to acquire a required skill for the same, hence limits their decisions.

Karigari believes that women and the youth are torch bearers of sustainable development. Their potential as agents changes in the lives of their children and their communities at large need to be harnessed. By Providing education and employability skills to women, Karigari aims to reduce social and economic inequalities. Through this project women gain confidence and are not only able to manage their household better, but they are also become decision making

Our Karigari Program helps to improve the status of Women / Youth in the society by providing them with livelihood opportunities through vocational training in the areas based on beneficiaries’ preferences and aptitude.

• Computer literacy offered at our centres allows beneficiaries to build careers in IT related fields like BPO Centres, Data Processing Units and lately in UID centres etc. especially in the cities like Delhi, Gurgaon & Kolkata, hence creating entrepreneurs.
• Stitching, Embroidery, Beauty Culture, Block Printing, Tie & Die, electrical Training, Mobile Repairing & Computer Hardware etc enables beneficiaries to get employment in the garment industry or set up their own stitching and tailoring units.
• Vocational training in driving encourages beneficiaries to build careers as drivers in the automobile, transport and travel industry or seek self-employment as professional drivers.
• Community based skills like kitchen gardening, and organic farming empowers people to sustain themselves in their community.

The opportunities created in the following manner:

• Step 1: Conducted survey of the area and identified beneficiaries
• Step 2: Assessed the skills/ trainings that would benefit them most
• Step 3: Set up and installation of equipment and machines
• Step 4: Invited beneficiaries for an orientation session
• Step 5: Regular ongoing training till completion of the program as per the module
• Step 6: Workshop on business development and motivational sessions
• Step 7: Support to set up business models and provide ongoing support to sustain the business
• Step 8: Assistance for Job placement

‘Self-belief and hardwork always earn you Success’

Name: Aarati Devi ( Name chaged) Howrah, West Bengal

Aarti ( name changed) is a lady with strong will power who possess a persistent attitude for life. She didn’t give up in her tough times but looked for opportunities around to tied over the problems. She is a 25 years old young woman, resides in Howrah, West Bengal with her husband and two children. Her husband works as a labour who doesn’t have a regular income. She also works as a domestic help in neighbourhood to support her husband but the income earned by both remains insufficient in meeting the family needs.

To support her husband financially, Bharti joined Literacy India skill training program and enrolled herself under stitching and Tailoring course. She also wanted to learn some skills for earning a stable income and give her children a good upbringing. She completed her education only till Class V due to which she faced problem in making mathematical calculation.

In the beginning, she was little nervous and hesitant in learning new skills. Her paper cutting was not up to the mark and also was unable to gain confidence in stitching cloth without teacher’s assistance. Analysing the situation, she was provided motivational sessions on earning sustainable livelihood and prepare them for success.

With regular practice and counselling sessions conducted, she gained self confidence and does the stitching work independently. She successfully completed her course in the period of 6 months and received certificate. Literacy India assisted her in taking up a job and made her placed in the shopping bag factory. In the present time, she is working in a factory and gained proficiency in stich various sizes shopping bag and earn Rs 5000 per month. She also trains the junior artisan in making a bag. Her family income rose to Rs 11000-12000 per month and able to meet the family needs without any difficulty.

Aaarti expresses her thanks to Literacy India for their support and guidance in making her skill and capable for employment.

Links:

• Literacy India FY 19-20 Annual Report