When you educate a girl, you don't just educate an individual; you empower a nation. This powerful thought resonates deeply within SwaTaleem Foundation, an initiative that has embarked on a transformative journey to empower underprivileged adolescent girls in India with quality education. Founded in 2015 by Ananya Tiwari and Vaibhav Kumar, SwaTaleem, meaning "self-education" in Sanskrit and Arabic, embodies the essence of taking charge of one's own learning journey.
Nuh, Haryana, serves as the epicenter of SwaTaleem's impactful work. Recognizing the inherent challenges girls face in accessing education, particularly in rural communities, SwaTaleem fosters supportive communities by engaging government stakeholders, teachers, principals, girls themselves, and local women leaders. This collaborative approach creates a nurturing environment where girls can thrive and flourish in their academic pursuits.
Vaibhav Kumar, co-founder of SwaTaleem, aptly captures the organization's unwavering commitment: "Empowering adolescent girls to own their education." This unwavering dedication shone brightly during the COVID-induced school closures, when girls faced a disproportionate digital divide. Digital resources were scarce amongst rural families, and where they existed, young girls were the last in line to access them. Recognizing the lack of readily available resources and limited access to smartphones, SwaTaleem ingeniously adopted an interactive voice response system (IVR) as their primary tool.
Imagine this: compelling stories and educational content accessible through a simple call. No smartphone required! This accessibility became game-changing for over 5,000 girls across 10 districts in Haryana. Schools were also equipped with 14-15 tablets, allowing girls to delve into captivating stories curated just for them, fostering learning at their own pace even beyond school hours. This innovative approach ensured that education transcended the confines of classrooms, igniting a passion for knowledge within each girl.
SwaTaleem's vision extends far beyond academic empowerment. Their dream is to weave a tapestry of a gender-equal world, where girls are not just educated but equipped with the tools and confidence to become changemakers themselves. This unwavering commitment is reflected in their holistic approach, which incorporates life skills training, financial awareness, and even guidance on opening bank accounts, paving the path for financial independence.
Today, SwaTaleem stands tall as a testament to the power of collective action. With a team of over 30 dedicated members and 160 passionate volunteers, they have touched the lives of more than 40,000 families. Girls engaged by SwaTaleem aren't just taught to read and write; they are empowered with the values of self-reliance, financial literacy, and the ability to specialize in their chosen fields. The medium of audio transcends individual learning, permeating the minds of not just the girls but also their families, creating a ripple effect of positive change that transcends generations.
This grassroots approach is what makes SwaTaleem's story truly remarkable. Making them incredible educators and architects of hope for marginalised girls who can now dream and achieve big.
To honour stories like SwaTaleem, AU Small Finance Bank presents Badlaav Humse Hai Season 2, in association with Network18. Just like the first season, Season 2 celebrates 25 stories that showcase changemakers whose unsung work has helped carve out cultural identities for communities, lifted them out of poverty; created access where only barriers existed; shown communities how to work with nature to create true sustainability; changed hearts and minds about othered communities; changed the lives of many through economic, social or educational empowerment, and much, much more.
Watch Season 2 of Badlaav Humse Hai for more stories like this one. You may also catch up on all the wonderful stories from Season 1.
Moneycontrol Journalists were not involved in the creation of the article.
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