Padhai Aid

In the process of registration.

A city with a population of 15.41 million and a poverty headcount ratio of 1.21% (National Multidimensional Poverty Index), Mumbai has a significant underprivileged population. Many families struggle to afford school tuition, and their children often attend government schools with limited resources. Typically, these schools focus on instruction in Hindi rather than English, which places these children at a disadvantage compared to those attending private schools with more comprehensive English and math programs.

On a global scale, the issue of educational inequity is substantial. In India, nearly a fifth of the population—266 million adults—are unable to read, and approximately 12 million children are not enrolled in school (what is your source?). English proficiency is crucial for both higher education and employment in India, where many companies prefer candidates who can communicate effectively in English to work and collaborate with international clientele. According to the Times of India, those who speak fluent English are 34% more likely to earn a higher salary.

The English language gap continues to grow for several reasons. These include a lack of emphasis on English education in schools, limited resources for language teaching, and a curriculum that focuses on theory over practical application. As a result, students are often taught grammar and vocabulary but have little practice in speaking or writing in English. The rural-urban divide in education further widens the gap, with rural areas experiencing greater challenges due to a lack of resources.

In addition, English is still viewed as the language of the elite in Mumbai, largely because it is associated with power and global influence. Introduced by the British in the late 19th century, English has since become a global language for communication across borders. This contributes to the division between those who have access to quality education and those who do not.

Ultimately, the educational gap among underprivileged children in Mumbai is a significant barrier to both educational and professional opportunities. Addressing this gap by providing these children with the skills they need to compete in a globalized world can help break the cycle of poverty and foster a more inclusive society where everyone has the appropriate tools and a chance to succeed.

I plan to develop an application designed to teach children foundational skills in reading, writing, speaking English, and understanding basic mathematics. The app will achieve this through interactive activities, with each activity focusing on a specific topic in either English or math. For example, one activity might involve teaching the alphabet; to complete it, children would need to replicate what they were shown. The app will be free to use, and if sufficient funding becomes available, I will be able to create a centre where children can access and play the game. I am keen on selecting such an approach to learning as it has proven effective in my experience, as it reflects how I learned the basics of coding during the lockdown.

The target audience is underprivileged children living in the slums of Mumbai, who lack access to quality education, and more specifically to foundational education in English and mathematics.  The poor quality of education can severely affect their future and put them at a disadvantage in their careers/jobs. This solution will allow students to opportunize on resources that will equip them with the skills required to be competitive students, members of society, and leaders.

Since the pandemic, I have led the team to actively support these children by raising funds to cover their school fees, tablets, books, and other essentials. We have built strong relationships with many of them, allowing us to understand the gaps in their current education. We are collaborating with local government schools and teachers to better understand their curriculum and to ensure the app is developed with content that is relevant to their needs.

The design of the application is carefully crafted to be user-friendly and engaging, incorporating games and other interactive elements to maintain the children's interest. This approach is based on our extensive sessions with the children, where we discussed their needs and requirements for an effective educational tool.

So far, the application is still in the planning phase as I am currently in the tenth grade and I am preparing for my IGCSE board exams. I am also trying to create a team to assist with the development of the application.

I am eager to apply to Solve because I deeply resonate with their commitment to driving social impact through innovation. My product idea, aimed at addressing the educational gap among underprivileged children, aligns perfectly with Solve’s focus on education and technology.

By partnering with Solve, I hope to not only secure the resources needed to bring this idea to fruition but also leverage their network and expertise to maximise its impact. Together, we can empower upcoming generations with the tools they need to succeed academically and beyond, ultimately breaking the vicious cycle of poverty and inequality, whilst inspiring children that they can accomplish anything with the right resources

My solution has the ability to keep the students actively engaged while improving their spoken and written English as well as their mathematical understanding. There’ll be video content as well as concept notes summarized for ease of reference during tests. 

Additionally, the students shall have access to it at any time at their convenience on their handheld device, which will greatly improve their ability to clear any doubts they may have.

This can potentially change the market/landscape as the students don’t use any such app currently and shall give the students studying in Government schools an edge.

What sets my idea apart is its focus on accessibility and inclusivity through play. The app will be free to learn from, ensuring children from all backgrounds have the opportunity to benefit from it. Furthermore, with sufficient funding, I plan to establish a physical centre where children can access the app and receive additional support and guidance.

"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." There’s enough research to prove that education is the pillar that improves the overall indicators of the standard of living and eventually economy.

The students live in very challenging circumstances in the slums of Mumbai. If we make education interesting and aid their confidence building, it’ll give them an opportunity to rise above difficult situations. This will help the whole community to raise their standard of living as these initiatives will make them employable.

The application that I plan to develop will serve as a comprehensive educational tool offering lessons in reading, writing, spoken English and basic mathematics. Through engaging activities and interactive exercises, children will be able to learn and practice these essential skills in a fun and accessible way.

The application will track progress through the number of downloads and the academic progression made by the children via quizzes and the activities they complete.

I will make use of AI and coding software

Currently, for the application, I am the only one working on it

Application - 2 months

Padhai Aid - 3 years

It is a social business model that will rely on funding from CSRs of various organizations as it will be a non-profit organization

In the past, Padhai Aid has crowd-funded fees for over 100 children and provided tablets for several of them in South Mumbai.