Its a 10 for eVidyaloka! When the year 2020 impelled the world into adapting the online medium of communication, evidyaloka felt totally at home with the online medium. It was on this day, the 28th of January, 2011, that the idea of an electronic medium of imparting education to the largest population of India, which resides in rural areas, found its shape as eVidyaloka. eVidyaloka stands for that opportunity to one and all, who wants to learn but falls short of the means to do so.
Founded by two techno geeks, Venkat Sriraman and Satish Vishwanathan, eVidyaloka's genesis lies in an aspiration to transform the education landscape in the rural and remote parts of India. They believed that every child carries the same potential to learn and excel, and deserve the same opportunity to learn, irrespective of the socio-cultural settings, geographies and other demographics. eVidyaloka’s educational philosophy is to contribute towards developing this human capital by equipping the children with skills, substantive knowledge that they can apply and participate in the life of their community as full-fledged, autonomous citizens.
A journey that started from one school in Tamil Nadu has now touched close to 230 school across the length and breadth of the country. Our cause of pride comes from the feeling of being part of Ramya's journey, a little girl who was enrolled into the eVidyaloka system as a 6th grade student nine years back, and today, is able to not just pass but score well in her 12th boards. This school in Topslip is located inside the tiger reserve area with no human settlement around. The little girl would walk a kilometre to the school. With almost no exposure to the world outside. The digital setup and the TV screen in her school was her only window to see the world. The Volunteer Teacher, who would connect online through Skype was her only medium of exploring the contents in her text books. One of such teachers has narrated her side of the story in a blog (link below). She says:
"Ramya’s interest in English, Tinu’s attentiveness, Chitra’s sincerity , Archna’s enthusiasm and Guna’s sincerity and industrious nature all made me look forward for Mondays and Wednesdays. By the end of the session I learnt all about Topslip. I began to envy them when they narrated their long treks from their village to schoolt’, their experience of spotting tigers and elephants and proudly telling me about the pleasant weather that they were experiencing at a time when it was scorching hot in Hyderabad."
https://www.evidyaloka.org/blog/index.php/2016/06/15/the-joy-of-teaching/
We have had many Ramya's over the last decade. They have been our inspiration, guiding force and mentors in what we have been able to become today.
Indeed when Robert Frost wrote "The woods are lovely, dark and deep, But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep" did he at all fathom that his words would resonate with this persuasive, level headed and passionate bunch called eVeans almost a century later.
Three cheers to each eVeans for completing 10 years! Way to go!
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