The Knowledge Hub for Education and Learning (KHEL), run by the Diksha Foundation provides 300 first generation learners; girls and boys, between the ages of 5-18, from socially and economically vulnerable communities in central India, with a creative learning resources that, in addition to supporting their literacy needs, is empathetic, violence free, nonhierarchical, and vibrant.
According to the 2014 Status of Education Report 96.7% of children in the age group of 6-14 years are enrolled in school in rural India. In Bihar, 82.4% children, between 6 to 14 years, are enrolled in state run schools. The ability to recognise numbers from one to 100 amongst children in Grade 3 is only 74.4% and only 61.6% of students can read letters or words. 66.6% of students in Grades 3 to 5 are able to read a Grade 1 text, while only 58.7% have basic computation skills.
Having identified the weakest link, Diksha, through its Knowledge Hub for Education and Learning, works primarily with displaced children between the ages of 5 - 18. These are primarily first generation learners whose parents are primarily daily-wage earners unable to provide access to steady or quality education to their children. In addition to addressing the gap of numeracy and literacy, the children are given access to tech tools; taught how to use computer programmes and use the internet.
Educating 300 learners directly benefits their community. These children are better placed to access opportunities that will allow them contribute better to their society. Crucially, focussing on the girls education and their access to technology instils confidence and builds their creativity so that they are able to voice their aspirations meaningfully alongside their male peers. In the long run this results in an overall community transformation.
