Enabling Marginalized Students with Digital Education By providing Free Digital Devices & Education Materials

Cause Introduction – National Context

India has an estimated 46 million children between 6-18 years of age who should be in school but are working as child beggars or servants. Most of them have never had the chance to attend school or drop out due to a financial crunch. Manychildren, especially girls, are forced to get married or sold off. Nearly 23 million girls drop out of school every year when they start menstruating in India, and as per the UNESCO report, 264 million slum children do not have access to education.

The situation has become worse due to the covid pandemic, which has shut down the schools and increased the big gap in school-based learning and education for students in marginalized sections of society.

As per WEF Report

• 320 million learners in India have been adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and have transitioned to e-learning.
• With huge regional and household disparities in access to the internet and technology, this transition has not been possible for all students and educators.
• The rapid shift to e-learning prompted by the pandemic has resurfaced long-standing issues of inequality and a digital divide in India that must be addressed by future economic, education, and digitization policies.

 

Introduction

We at Ladli Foundation believe in the quote by Dr. Frank Laubach “EACH ONE -TEACH ONE,” and we follow the path shown by Swami Vivekananda “IF THE POOR CANNOT COME TO EDUCATION, EDUCATION MUST GO TO HIM.” In view of the same, we have collaborated with The BYJU’s E learning App (Globally renowned and India’s leading E learning and Digital Education Provider) to provide free access for secondary education to one Lakh Marginalized Students through its Education for All Project.

Having the Special Consultative Status In United Nations ECOSOC, A Statement Submitted by the Ladli Foundation has been published in the “United Nations 2021 High-Level Political Forum on Covid Resilience and Recovery” stating that “Covid -19 Pandemic has been an instrument of change, unexpected transformations and awakening at an individual level. The idea of resilience and recovery from this pandemic is not something that can be supported with sheer thoughts and beliefs but has to do much more with the idea of real-time implementation and execution of initiatives which support holistic development through Technological Acceleration” hence we believe that Next-Gen technologies and digital learning can play a significant role in achieving all UNSDGs combined by 2030.

Education is the only way to have an equitable society. An excellent education equips children with the knowledge, skills, values, and mindsets required to be empowered individuals and responsible citizens for the country. Education plays a vital role in shaping the overall development of an individual and society. Schools are the best place where millions of children not only gain knowledge but also learn the basic fundamentals to live a quality life.

Lakhs of children do not go to schools despite having free access to government schools. Therefore, it is imperative to motivate those children and their parents by making them understand the importance of education.

Concept Note

This is an Action-Research project conceptualized to enable the access of Digital Education for marginalized students by providing them free refurbished Digital Devices with Loaded E-Learning Content, Material, and 3 Years Premium Subscription of BYJU’s APP. for completing their secondary education and preparation for the JEE/NEET entrance exam. Through the initiative, we will also target the most vulnerable groups (i.e., people residing in the slums of India and the families who have three or more than three (girls) children. As these families and girl children are the most vulnerable to social injustices, social evil practices, and discrimination, we will prioritize these families).

The concept has also added some organizations critical expertise and essential features for sensitizing the students on various sensitive issues such as Gender Sensitization, Menstrual Health & Hygiene, Wash, Sexual Abuse, Child Rights, Prevention from Drugs/Substance abuse, and Deadly Transferable Diseases / STD’s through in different community workshops, fun activities and reward-based competitions to develop an interest in completing their academic education and creating career opportunities in respective fields.

The project also focuses on motivating the parents of the students to support them in completing their education and not to involve them in child laborer work. Therefore, exclusive interactive sessions and performance incentives for parents are designed to provide a Safe Space to the student.

Plan of Action

• Desk research, random surveys, literature review, secondary data analysis, various government reports, international agency reports, and other relevant sources.
• Baseline Survey & Door to Door Registration of Beneficiaries in Slums by Cluster Coordinators and Local Volunteers.
• Distribution of Digital Devices and basic training to Identified beneficiaries
• Enabling the beneficiaries with Digital Literacy.
• Monthly workshop and proposed sensitization activities with students and their parents.
• Quarterly Reward-Based Competitions.
• Annual Performance Incentives for parents and students both.
• State and National level consultation
• Identification and challenges faced by students in accessing education and the impact of digital education.
• Analyzing the outcome of the activities and workshops during the action research study.
• Seminar with local elected public representatives, concerned government departments, and UN Agencies with other stakeholders.

Sustainability & Monitoring Mechanism

• Cluster Team For Every 300 Beneficiaries / 100 Families in a slum, One Cluster Team of 8 members comprising the following will be formed to ensure the sustainability of the project and regular interventions for smooth operation and Monitoring of the Project.
• Cluster Coordinator - One (Paid)
  • The cluster coordinator will be a technically qualified and trained project implementer who will be deputed by the organization and responsible for the overall implementation, coordination, and configuration of the project.
  • The cluster Coordinator will also work as a bridge between the organization and beneficiaries and report the status to the State Coordinator and the National Coordinator.
• Cluster Community Leader (Local) - Two (Unpaid)
  • Cluster Community Leaders will be designated on a volunteer basis from the targeted cluster
  • Cluster Community Leaders will be provided intensive training related to project implementation and monitoring.
  • Cluster Community Leaders will play an essential role at the local level for real-time monitoring, mentoring students living in their community, and implementing the project.
  • Cluster Community Leaders will be provided performance incentives, certificates, and recognitions for their social engagements.
• Cluster Student Monitor (Local) - Five (Unpaid)
  • Cluster Student Monitor will be designated among the identified students who will play a similar role as the class monitors.
  • Cluster Student Monitor will be provided training for attendance, maintenance of class discipline, and mobilization through various activities.
  • Cluster Student Monitor will act as a role model for the rest of the students and motivate other students to work harder.

Efficiency Of The Project

With an estimated 1,027 million people, India is the world’s second most populated country. It has 17 percent of the global population and 20 percent of the world’s out-of-school children. Despite impressive gains in the last few decades, India still has more than 260 million people living in poverty.

Our project also focuses on families with three or more children (especially girl children), as it is important to pay greater attention to population dynamics for longer-range prevention. Vulnerability with which a society or group is threatened is differentiated by the population of that society, and the prejudices held against these vulnerable groups. The varying reproductive patterns among different social groups determine the relative size of their families and, to a certain extent, their levels of poverty, housing characteristics, crowding, access to services, infrastructure, and other elements. Equipping tablets to families with more children would help provide vast amounts of information and knowledge to a majority of youth with the help of fewer resources. One device will be providing maximum benefit; for example, one device/tablet in a family of four-five girl children will benefit and provide education to five girl children. This would also help the children as studying in a group makes learning much more fulfilling, enjoyable and playing interactive educational games together helps in engaging in the skills of the new digital world and reinforces learning habits and understanding.

Expected Outcome:

• Overall development of an individual and society,
• Access to education will be made easy & accessible for everyone through e-learning, and it will be accommodating to everyone’s needs,
• Restoring children’s connection with education and equitable access and distribution of digital education,
• Reduce in number of child laborers by maintaining and ensuring the continuity of students’ education,
• Make e-learning more accessible for Indian students and teachers and promote & strengthen digital education in India by also promoting the Government of India PM eVidyaProgramme and other Digital Education Initiatives,
• The beneficiaries will also be protected from sexual abuse through good touch bad touch sessions,
• Improved maternal & child health practices, safe motherhood, safe sex and spacing among children, reduced maternal and child morbidity & mortality,
• Socio-Economic Development of Beneficiaries and their families. Reducing the economic burden and contribution to GDP.

Global Context

Learning has been disrupted for more than 1.5 billion children and youth by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Most students around the world are out of school and using remote learning programs through the internet, TV, or radio, or a combination of these, if they are available. Inequity in access to the internet, data packages, and devices to support remote continuity of education for all learners has become evident, but the specific risks that this pandemic poses to Students belong to Economical Weaker Sections residing in Marginalized sections of the society.

Those who were marginalized before the pandemic are now even more at risk. Intersectionality with poverty, gender, ethnicity, age, disability, or other identities can result in multiple forms of discrimination and exclusion. That is why efforts in health, social protection, education, and other sectors must take everyone into account when tackling the pandemic to ensure continuity of safe and inclusive services to all. Acknowledging this and taking bold action now to bridge the growing inequality and the digital divide is critical for the future

School closures have led to the loss of routine and supervision. In addition, access to services like meals, the support provided by resource personnel, or assistive technologies are no longer there, and social, and child protection services have mostly closed. At the same time, domestic violence has been on the rise. In this situation, those who are most vulnerable will suffer the most. These challenges must be addressed to avoid an increase in stigma and marginalization of children, girls, and persons with disabilities- Ref. by Hanna Alsuutari, Sr. Education Specialist

The Contribution & Its Verification

Primarily we encourage you to contribute us through volunteering, rather than, Donating Money to us, But! If you are unable to join us in person, kindly support our cause to uplift the vulnerables.

We would like to invite you to experience the satisfaction of making someone smile. Someone who needs your help!

Your contribution will be utilized to directly benefit the targeted beneficiaries. We would be grateful to you for giving us this opportunity and we ensure to use your contribution transparently. We invite you to attend our field activities and see the impact your contribution is making.

Suppose you cannot join us in person. In that case, we can schedule a live Zoom Video Conference to participate with your family members. For the same, please send your interest and contribution details (Screenshot) at founder@ladlifoundation.com to join our activities virtually.