Case Study 1: Enter the World of Happy Schools…Meet the children of Kisholoy — where learning is all about mental enrichment to win the Exam of Life.
Panchanantala Shishu Prathamik Vidyapith started off as a small school on 23rd January, 1977 with just a handful of kids. We started working with the children and intervening in their method of studies in 2017 with 40 kids.
These kids from the urban slum had a unique set of problems. Attention deficiency, demotivation, learning disability, trust issues, inability to talk and express themselves, and were unsure of English and Maths skills.
Panchanantala Happy School was envisaged by Indira Kanjilal. She identified the issues but needed more manpower and planning for organised help. Change Initiatives helped to bring in more method in the learning system.
The classrooms are now getting a fresh coat of paint, there are new desks replacing the old worn-out ones, and more importantly we have been able to rope in a few motivated teachers for the kids.
Shrabani Palsai, a senior teacher, is already extremely popular with the small ones because of her story-telling skills, her ability to help them create joyful crafts, and poetry. Vineet and Sayari, two motivated young educators, have been working wonders with the classes II, III and IV. They are primarily working with their confidence-building and leadership training skills. The once shy children are budding talents now. They are confidently speaking of their hobbies, they are beginning to trust each other, learning simple English rules, identifying math problems and solving them with ease, enjoying Nat Geo videos on animals and the earth, questioning about animal habitats and learning of ways to protect them.
From zero exposure to knowledge, they are curious learners taking their first steps to learning about the world around them. This year there are 60 students of varied age groups and as we create health and social profiles for the kids, we are confident the Happy School project concept will transform their lives.
Case Study 2: Empowering Dreams:Government Schools Get Coding & Tinkering labs.
The Beginning: Upama Mondal is an inspiring young student currently studying in the eighth grade at Kalikapur Basantidevi Balika Vidyalaya. Her journey is not just a story of determination and resilience but also a testament to the transformative power of education and technology. .
Background: Upama's childhood was marked by adversity as she lost her father at a young age. Raised by her mother, sister, and grandmother, she faced financial constraints that could have limited her opportunities. However, Upama's thirst for knowledge and her unwavering spirit set her on a unique path of self-improvement and empowerment.
The Turning Point: Upama's life took a significant turn when she enrolled in the Change Initiatives’ Capgemini Let's Code project, a program aimed at teaching coding to students from underprivileged backgrounds. This initiative opened the doors to a world of opportunities for Upama, igniting her passion for coding and technology. Upama attended coding classes in the computer lab run by Change Initiatives regularly. Here, she was introduced to Scratch, a beginner-friendly programming language that allows users to create interactive stories, games, and animations. With dedication and enthusiasm, Upama quickly fell in love with preparing Scratch games.
Aspirations and Dreams: Upama's dreams soared beyond the confines of her circumstances. She aspired to become a pilot, a goal that many might deem unattainable. However, Upama saw the potential to merge her passion for coding with her dream of aviation. Her vision was to develop a simulation that would aid pilots in their training and decision-making processes.
The Power of Coding and Tinkering: Upama's journey reflects the power of coding education in transforming lives. By learning to code, she not only acquired a valuable skill but also developed problem-solving abilities, logical thinking, and creativity. These skills were instrumental in fueling her dreams and ambitions. She also prepared Anti Sleep Driving Glass with the help of coding and tinkering. She showcased this project which will be very helpful for the drivers in long journey.
Future Prospects: As Upama continues her education and coding journey, her dream of developing a pilot simulation may become a reality. With her dedication and the support of Capgemini Let's Code by Change Initiatives, she is well on her way to making a significant impact in the field of aviation.
Case Study 3: Basudha: Sunderban Women Join hands to Plant Mangroves and Replenish their Beautiful Land
In the heart of the Sundarbans, where once lush mangroves stood tall and proud, there lay a somber tale of degradation. Years of manmade activities and relentless cyclones had left the forest battered and scarred. The delicate balance of this unique ecosystem was at stake, and the need for restoration was dire.
In this hour of need, Change Initiatives stepped forward. With a vision to breathe life back into the Sundarbans, we embarked on an ambitious project. Thanks to the generous funding from Schneider Electric, we aimed to reclaim the vacant lands of Chhotomollakhali and Kumirmari Gram Panchayats, transforming them into thriving mangrove forests.
The project's success hinged on community involvement, and Change Initiatives knew just how to achieve it. We teamed up with local Self-Help Groups (SHGs) members, who were intimately familiar with the land and its challenges. Together, we set out to plant 300,000 mangrove saplings.
The journey was not without its trials. The teams toiled tirelessly, often in the sweltering heat, nurturing each sapling with love and care. The local SHGs members provided valuable insights into the nuances of the ecosystem, helping to ensure the mangroves' survival. They battled adversity together, learning from each setback and growing stronger as a team.
Years will pass, and as the saplings grow into resilient mangrove trees, the Sundarbans will begin to breathe again. Birdsong will fill the air, and the once-threatened wildlife will slowly return to their natural habitat. The community will have a renewed sense of pride in their land, knowing they will have played a crucial role in its restoration.
The story of Chhotomollakhali and Kumirmari Gram Panchayats will no longer be one of degradation but of hope and resilience. Thanks to the unwavering determination of the Change Initiatives and the partnership with Schneider Electric, the Sundarbans were on the path to recovery.
The restoration of the Sundarbans served as a beacon of inspiration, reminding the world that when communities and organizations come together with a shared purpose, even the most damaged ecosystems can be revived, proving that nature, with a little help, can heal itself.
Case Study 4: Nabanna…Women empowerment through livelihood generation in non-traditional areas.
This is the story of the women of Disha from the remote island of Bally in the Sunderbans. It takes about three-and-a-half hours by road to Gadkhali, which is the entry point for Sundarbans, and from there, it is another half-hour by boat. Yet distance has never deterred the Disha women, who came down to Kolkata for advanced training in ICTs from Change Initiatives and then went to set up a women’s ICT-based enterprise at Bally.
Disha started as voluntary organisation in 2011 who fought for gender rights in the island in association with Ebong Alap, a Kolkata-based organisation fighting for women’s rights. As a supplement to their activism, Disha wanted to pursue livelihood generation activities and came in contact with Change Initiatives.
Bally island in the Sunderbans, is not only remote but also has limited natural resources. Male residents are forced to leave the island for livelihood elsewhere, and the women have little cash income on their hands to take care of their themselves and children. There did exist opportunities in computer training and DTP work as the nearest training centre was in Gosaba, which is about an hour by boat and road.
Change Initiatives first trained the women in computer basics. A computer training course was organised for 60 women in over 10 days at the Bally island. The women learned the basics of computer and the Internet. They were trained in tablets and how to use the mobile to access information of use to them. At the end of the training, they were able to do MS-Word, Excel, Power Point and Paint. They learnt how to type in Bengali, send emails, write WhatApp messages as well as access Facebook.
The stage was set for the next phase, when a select group will set up an ICT-based enterprise. A group came down to Kolkata for advanced training at the Capgemini NDLM centre.
Disha, subsequently, entered into an arrangement with Change Initiatives to loan a generator from us. A generator is necessary at Bali as there are continuous power cuts in the region. It was agreed they will pay back the loan within two years.
The stage was set to open an ICT-based enterprise. Disha has started training school children.
