Edoovillage #1113 - India, Dantu: Bridging the Digital empowerment gap between haves and have nots in Dantu, Jarkhand, India

This programme is consists of several smaller projects. First, I would like to provide computer literacy to all people from all age groups in my village in Jharkhand, India. In the computer literacy program, they will learn some useful computer skills and internet based applications ranging from booking train tickets to filling up online application forms. In order to pay electricity bills, villagers have to travel to the nearest city (Bokaro, which is around 30 km away) and wait in a long line to pay the utility bill. Intermittent bus services to and fro to the nearest city adds another layer of complexity and inconvenience for the villagers. Although electricity bills can be paid online, lack of information (due to low literacy rate) and limited internet connectivity create major barriers for villagers and restrict them from using online services. In this case, it is very important we train them how to use computer and the internet based applications as it is becoming a basic human right in this digital era.
Another project is providing leadership training to students and teachers of existing two schools of the village: Governmental High School and the Middle School. Quality of education in both schools are very low and both students are teachers are not very motivated towards education. As a result, dropout rate is very high particularly for class 8th and 9th students. Moreover, students who can finish till class 10th struggle to get admission in class 11th and 12th grades. Unsurprisingly, lower socio-economy condition and prevalent child-marriage play important roles in keeping students away from getting higher education. I truly believe we can use education as the most powerful tool to enhance the socio-economic conditions and empower villagers. In order to sensitize teachers and ignite passion for education among children, I would like to conduct a SPIRIT WEEK, a week long intensive leadership and mentorng programme, in both school during upcoming summer vacation in April-May, 2018. The syllabus covers a range of topics from goal setting to public engagement. Debates, essay-writing and role playing will be key part of the spirit week. After the seminar, 20 students from each school will be selected according to their overall performance for a year-long mentoring programme. All selected students will be given a mentor who will talk to them twice a month and provide individual training and guidance. In total, there will be 10 highly accomplished mentors from leading institutions including the University of Oxford (5 of them have been already selected). Format of this mentoring sessions will be adapted from existing format of the WEDU rising star programme. We are planning to take 10 volunteers as mentors to guide all 40 students: four students each mentor. They will be given training in the beginning. There will be a meeting every three months for all 50 mentors and mentees (40 students and 10 mentors) to discuss and assess the progress of the program. This will work as a pilot project, and each step of the project will be closely assessed and feedbacks will be effectively integrated.