#Unlock with NIIT Foundation

March 8th, 2023

Every year in March, the world celebrates the achievements of women and their contributions to society throughout history. Here in India, we are also celebrating the festival of colors – Holi. Holi is the festival of eternal and divine love and also signifies the triumph of good over evil. Women’s Day is a significant occasion for all involved in the fight for gender equity and equality and the worldwide struggle for better living and working conditions for women which is also our continuous effort to bring the triumph of good over evil.

Empowerment of women through Education and Skilling is essential for their better living, making them financially stable and helping them continue the learning journey in their families.

Women's and girls' education has always been a priority for NIIT Foundation. The ability that a woman has to shape future generations is unparalleled. It is precisely for this reason that we have programs for females from ages 6-60 years. Around 40-45% of our students consist of women. The programs and initiatives are specifically tailored keeping in mind certain cultural aspects, the comfort of girls & women, and skills that they can successfully implement in their lives.

NIIT Foundation has various programs and initiatives especially curated for women and girls which is helping them to become knowledgeable, skilled, and empowered in their fields of interest.

Some of our programs and initiatives for women and girls are:

STEM for Girls:?The STEM for Girls Project initiated by Quest Alliance is being implemented by NIIT Foundation in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Telangana and has impacted 54700 students in its third year of implementation. The project is aimed at working with adolescent girls to build a vital agency in them while equipping them with 21st-century?skills. It helps students to think with a critical and analytical perspective and promotes an educational atmosphere that is beyond the course, curriculum, and books. It encourages learning based on real-life experience.

Employability for Women in the STEM sector:?NIIT Foundation and JP Morgan have collaborated to further women’s skilling and provide them with the opportunity to succeed professionally in IT and ITES domains. The association has been in place since 2017. Over 3755 women enrolled in the courses and in 2013 were assisted in a placement to find gainful employment. The program is still in place and currently, 657 women are undergoing training. The program, ‘Employability for Women in STEM,’ aims to provide career courses related to the IT/ ITES field to girls, from across 6 cities, from non-STEM backgrounds to enable them to take up jobs in the IT/ ITES sector.

Financial Literacy for Women Drivers:?NF, along with their partners, has an exclusive initiative for women drivers to educate them on the basics of managing finances, budgeting, using banking applications as well as payment applications, and availing of Government schemes. The project has been rolled out in 6 states and has had a far-reaching impact. So far 373 women drivers got trained in the Financial Literacy program to do better money management in their day-to-day life. The Financial Literacy program is also getting implemented for the SHG Women across India and impacted over 2000 women from SHGs. NIIT Foundation also organizes women-specific training sessions on Financial and Digital Awareness programs to educate them. These camps have so far impacted over 6000 women.

Digital Literacy through Digital Bus:?Through our Digital Literacy programs, we empower women to take charge of their own learning and become independent. They are taught to operate emails, use a computer, browse the internet, use various applications, use MS Office etc. The digital literacy courses are rolled out in multiple ways including through our Digital Transformation Vans to reach women and girls in remote or isolated locations. Digital Literacy courses have proved to be a boon in the Covid and post-Covid-era. Many women learned how to help their children join their online classes and assist them with finding information online. For others, the course has been a stepping stone toward further professional training and skilling. Over 2250 women were impacted through digital literacy programs delivered through the Digital Buses.

Cybersecurity Workshops:?Cybersecurity is an upcoming, and very much in-demand, career opportunity available. There is a huge scope in the field and at NIIT Foundation, we have been associated with industry leaders to design and deliver cybersecurity programs. We have held exclusive workshops to teach the basics of Cybersecurity to 3500 girl students belonging to technical as well as non-technical backgrounds.

Learning through Hole-in-the-Wall:?A pilot project revealed that children, irrespective of their social and economic situation if given regular access and opportunity can benefit from simple technology and self-learning. Such interventions would also go a long way in bridging the digital divide as well as contribute towards imparting key life skills to children living in urban slums and rural communities.

Hole-in-the-Wall methodology primarily focuses on diluting any mental barriers associated with using computers, especially for young girls. By placing the Hole-in-the-Wall kiosks in the middle of slums, playgrounds, boundary walls, or in the corridors of schools or in a community buildings, its outreach and impact can be experienced and witnessed by all.

Currently, we have 250 Hole-in-the-Wall kiosks installed across India and impacting the lives of young boys and girls.

Digital Lab in Schools Program:?Young girls are inducted early on into the world of technology and digital information through our various school programs. One of our bigger school projects includes the digitalization of classrooms where we provide the necessary infrastructure, e-learning content, software, and teacher training to Government or Government-aided schools in underserved areas. Access to technology and content ensures girls can operate computers and navigate applications easily, which is useful as they continue to study. This program is supported by HP and is getting implemented in 2017 schools in the first phase.

Along with educating and skilling women, NIIT Foundation is actively involved in helping them find a placement to ensure they are financially sustainable and self-sufficient. We are very grateful to our team, partners, and funders who support our goal wholeheartedly and support us to continue working towards attaining our goal.

Women-Specific Skill Centers:?In the most recent initiative, NIIT Foundation in partnership with our esteemed partner IFF has also set up 4 women-specific centers at Nagpur, Salem, Tumkur, and Mehbubnagar to enable and empower women to lead their most productive life.?

About NIIT Foundation:

NIIT Foundation (NF) is a not-for-profit education society set up by the promoters of NIIT in 2004. Its mission is to positively impact the underprivileged of the country through educational initiatives and employability skill development programs.?

To achieve this, NF runs various grassroots initiatives in partnership with other corporates. We set up skill development centers in urban and rural areas that offer placement support to all eligible students. We provide digital and financial literacy programs. We also install Hole-in-the-Wall Learning Stations to bridge the digital divide. In addition, NF supports other NGOs to build their capacity.?

?NF has been delivering projects ranging from customized CSR solutions as per partner requirements, school programs, college collaborations, community initiatives, and digital empowerment, which are mandated as per Section 135 of the companies act 2013. The projects reach out to a wide range of beneficiaries from the age group of 6 to 60 years old.

Interested to know more about NIIT Foundation and its initiatives, please visit?www.niitfoundation.org??