In a conversation with Women Entrepreneurs Review, Brinda Poornapragna, CEO, eVidyaloka talks to us about the various aspects of bringing education to pockets of rural India by using technology and conquering the socio- cultural divide. This is Brinda and eVidyaloka story of creating impact.
Education changes lives!
As it did for Anushka Kumari and her village, Koymara. A young student from rural Jharkhand, Anushka wanted to help her village community combat Malaria and Dengue-causing mosquitoes. Unlike many children her age, she was driven not just by a vision, but a clearcut plan of action. She wanted to build water management pits to do the same.
Anushka needed an ally in her journey. She got one in the form of Sanchit Gupta, a volunteer from eVidyaloka, an NGO that educates students in rural India. The young girl who was part of eVidyaloka’s Leadership Curriculum 2020, along with her mentor surveyed her village, raised awareness, collaborated with vendors, engaged local governance, and convinced villagers to dig the pits as a cost-effective solution.
Anushka could also launch a crowdfunding campaign to fund the project with the help of her mentor. When she fell short by ₹22,000 out of a total budget of ₹2.3 lakh, the project donor stepped in, helping Anushka fulfil her vision.
Till a few years back who could imagine that a young girl from rural Jharkhand would bring about such massive change for her community. But with the ingress of digital education and catalysts such as eVidyaloka, a lot has been made possible. By solving the challenge of access to quality education, platforms such as eVidyaloka are positively impacting the lives of scores of Indian students living in rural pockets of India.
“The true impact of our work is evident when students such as Anushka emerge from our rural government classrooms as leaders, eager to contribute to society and inspire future generations,” says Brinda Poornapragna, CEO, eVidyaloka.
Based in Bangalore, eVidyaloka is an NGO that brings education to rural India through technology and a group of motivated volunteers.
In order to bridge the educational divide, the platform focuses on foundational concepts and digital literacy. It partners with local community organizations to navigate socio-cultural challenges in the region and deliver education effectively. “Our digital platform offers curricula in local languages, making it easier for students to comprehend and engage with their lessons,” further adds Brinda.
The platform goes beyond teaching and empowers underserved children to be part of India’s socio-economic advancement and preparing them for the challenges of tomorrow.
eVidyaloka has so far reached 1.89 lakh students in some of the most remote regions. “Operating across 14 states, 734 schools, and 67 districts, we focus on 25 aspirational districts to improve employability, reduce dropout rates, and enhance the quality of education,” adds Brinda. In the last academic year alone, 6,340 volunteers contributed to learning in eight languages, facilitating 29.85 lakh child learning hours.
Brinda’s Journey to Social Development
A key pillar in eVidyaloka’s modus operandi is depending on motivated people working towards a common goal of bringing education to the rural parts of India.
The company’s CEO, Brinda is no different. A seasoned professional with 28 years of experience across Technology and Financial Services sector, Brinda has previously held leadership roles at organizations such as Capgemini, Hewlett Packard, ANZ, JP Morgan, and the Bank of Nova Scotia.
However, in 2019 Brinda decided to step away from the corporate world and immerse herself in rural education. Taking us through her transformative experience as a teacher in the Himalayas, Brinda says, “Spending several months teaching in remote Himalayan schools was life changing. It reinforced my belief that education is the foundation for inclusive growth in New India. Education is also the key to breaking the cycle of poverty and underdevelopment in rural communities.”
Brinda’s desire to give back to the community propelled her foray into the field of social development as the CEO of eVidyaloka in 2019. “Becoming a teacher enables one to shape the future generation directly, and through eVidyaloka, this impact is being scaled to reach and teach more children,” she further adds.
Overcoming Socio-Cultural & Operational Challenges
No journey is devoid of challenges, and eVidyaloka’s quest to improving education in rural India presents several significant challenges as well. Lack of adequate infrastructure in remote regions is one, which made it difficult to teach online initially. Additionally, preparing rural students to embrace technology was another challenge. “However, the eagerness of these children to learn through new methods has played a crucial role in overcoming these obstacles, as they quickly engage and adapt to the use of technology,” says Brinda.
To tackle socio-cultural and operational difficulties, eVidyaloka collaborates with local community organizations, which are integral to the successful delivery of the program.
Another pressing issue is the acute shortage of teachers in government schools, with a shortfall of 1.2 million. eVidyaloka addresses this by leveraging technology to connect global volunteers with local communities, helping to reduce the teacher gap and enhance the quality of education in rural areas.
The platform emphasizes language-specific instruction in 8 regional languages and mobilizes volunteers who teach in children’s local language.
To bridge the digital divide, eVidyaloka integrates digital literacy for students in Grades 6 to 9. The curriculum covers digital literacy, coding, and AI, starting with basic skills and advancing to coding and AI through a progressive learning model.
Volunteer Teacher Network
eVidyaloka has built a robust volunteer teacher network that currently includes over 6,000 volunteers from more than 40 countries, such as the USA, Europe, and Dubai. Through the platform’s Digital Classroom initiative, volunteers remotely engage with rural students in some of the most underserved regions of India.
Volunteers are equipped with an interactive virtual interface, teaching resources, and a dedicated class assistant who facilitates classroom activities on-site. “Many volunteers, inspired by the impact they witness, choose to stay on for years,” says Brinda.
One such volunteer, Geeta Krishnamurthy, has been teaching math digitally for the past eight years across three schools in the Hanasoge village. “Witnessing students excel, with some scoring above 95% in exams, has been deeply rewarding and has only further ignited my commitment,” she shares.
Corporate volunteers also play a vital role, with professionals from various industries contributing through corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives. These volunteers also provide students with insights into career paths, soft skills, and real-world applications of their studies.
Vision to Support 2,000+ Government Schools
With 50 crore rural learners in grades 5 to 10, eVidyaloka’s core mission is to bring digital classrooms to the most remote areas of India. Looking ahead, plans involve enhancing educational content by incorporating digital literacy and AI concepts. “Over the next five years we aim to support 2,000+ government schools through digital classrooms, fostering deeper connections with local communities and global volunteers while utilizing advanced technology to improve learning outcomes,” says Brinda.
These efforts, along with other initiatives, will cultivate the quality talent that is essential for India’s development, contributing to a self-reliant and prosperous future—the vision of a new BHARAT!
