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How an overseas Indian can help educate a rural Indian
eVidyaloka and 100Books Initiative are working towards transforming the educational landscape of rural India.
Digital classroom set up by eVidyaloka in a rural school in India. / Courtesy Photo
When South Asians migrate, be it by choice or circumstance, they move homes but often leave their hearts behind in their motherlands. Despite establishing a long-standing life overseas, they constantly look for ways to support and help mitigate problems their home countries may be facing.
Lack of access to a proper education is one such problem. While making monetary contributions towards nonprofit organizations that support important causes is convenient, donors may not always gain insight into exactly where their funds are going and how they are being utilized. Fortunately, there exists the opportunity to volunteer virtually. We explore this concept by examining two organizations that aspire to transform the educational landscape of rural India - eVidyaloka and 100Books Initiative.
eVidyaloka, an organization that sets up digital classrooms in government schools, was founded in January 2011 by co-founders Satish and Venkat, colleagues at Microsoft India. Its vision of creating a knowledgeable and empowered India through quality education is realized via a collaborative model that engages the government, local communities, NGO partners, volunteers and technology.
The organization focuses on strengthening conceptual learning in science, mathematics and english in students attending grades 5-10. Virtual classes are conducted in regional languages by volunteer teachers who reside all over the world.
A key criterion, among others, is that only schools that are government/government-aided and have teacher shortages qualify as eligible for digital classrooms. eVidyaloka identifies such schools by partnering with local NGOs that are experienced in implementing social impact interventions, with preference for educational programs.
This co-ownership helps in navigating the socio-cultural context of the community and adds credibility and visibility to the local partner, thus contributing to the sustainability of the intervention. Monetary donations from companies and individuals support the infrastructure and operational expenses needed to run the program.
In addition to offering virtual classes, eVidyaloka envisions holistic learning for children by conducting competitions and programs such as the National Student Innovation Challenge - an opportunity for students to address real-world challenges and craft solutions tailored to their communities’ needs under the guidance of global volunteer mentors. More recently, it introduced the Build Rural Artificial Intelligence Network program - where basics of AI are taught to rural children, to create an appreciation and understanding of AI.
The program has impacted 189,000 children across 734 schools in 14 states, with the help of 6340 volunteers and 70 NGO partners. In the upcoming year, by scaling operations and forging new partnerships and collaborations, it aims to reach over 950 schools and an additional 150,000 students.
100Books Initiative was established in 2017 by Vijay Mehra, a Silicon Valley executive and entrepreneur, to empower primary school children in government and rural private schools to read their first hundred books in english.
The program utilizes a collection of a hundred leveled books, each tailored to a child's reading skill. Starting from the first book as a beginner reader, the child progresses towards the hundredth book as an advanced reader. Readings are shared as recordings with volunteers via WhatsApp, who in turn correct mistakes and track the child’s progress throughout their reading journey.
The program provides schools with a box containing a set of a hundred carefully selected books which are designed to resonate with the child’s everyday surroundings, a smartphone, and an adult coordinator to conduct the program at school daily for two hours. It incorporates the use of bilingual flashcards via the Quizlet app, thus facilitating the development of vocabulary and comprehension skills. Additionally, the books contain a series of comprehension questions to assess students’ understanding of the material. Upon reaching significant milestones in book reading, they receive a certificate of achievement.
100Books Initiative, funded by individuals, communities and corporates, is operating in 15 schools. It has impacted over 500 children, who have collectively read more than 21,000 books. It plans to expand organically with the help of motivated individuals who want to bring change to their communities and villages.
Residing in California and having volunteered with both programs remotely for a rural school in Karnataka for over three years, I can vouch for the tremendous benefit provided by them. I have witnessed my students progress from barely knowing their alphabets to wanting to read short chapter books. Their motivation, the reliable technological setup of the classroom and the unwavering support from assisting staff makes for a seamless teaching experience for all volunteers.
eVidyaloka and 100Books Initiative have truly opened up boundless possibilities for students of rural India, with graduates of both programs having made great strides in competitive exams. I strongly encourage everyone in the community to utilize this opportunity to make a difference in a student’s life - by giving just two hours a week of time.
The author is an educator, author and social advocate.
(The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of New India Abroad)
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