eCow Summer Program: Bringing Tech Training to the Villages of Chennai
More about the East West Foundation of India:
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The East West Foundation of India is a charitable and educational foundation committed to working towards the development and empowerment of the socially and economically marginalised communities in rural India, through a range of initiatives in Health Care, Education, Child Rights and Relief, Community Development, and Environmental Sustainability.
May 2013​
Using a state-of-the-art classroom on wheels to provide computer courses to the rural areas of Tamil Nadu​
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KarmaCompany is pleased to work with its longstanding partner, the East West Foundation of India, on another education project. This time, we've utilized a bus loaded with laptops and computer programs to promote computer literacy and training to the villagers of Marakkanodai Nallur and Kappivakkam.
The Team
Sriram Guddireddigari
Founder
Location: Marakkanodai Nallur and Kappivakkam
The Program by Numbers
56:
Number of students taught
45: Hours of courses per student.​
6: weeks, duration of course​
5:
Computer programs taught
2: Villages served​
Introduction:
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The Summer Technology Program was organized for local villagers with no access to the computer lab located roughly 13 km away. This distance inhibited many residents from tapping into valuable tech skills offered by the center. Instead of expecting residents to come to the computer center, this program allowed the classroom to come to their doorstep.

Program Recipients:

We tapped into 56 students; some in 10th year, others 12th year. These are crucial times for the students: They've recently completed exams, and are often looking for essential on-the-job skills such as computer program knowledge. These students come from homes whose families specialize in agriculture and have little income. Consequently, this group has very little exposure to computers and other tech devices.



Plan of Action:
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The course lasts 6 weeks, with sessions lasting for 1 1/2 hours, Monday through Friday. The 10th year students were trained in computer fundamentals, while 12th year students learned Tally (India's common bookkeeping and accounting program). One batch of students attends courses from 10:00 am to 11:30, while the second group attends from 11:30 to 1:00pm. After these morning courses, the bus drives to the second village to offer courses from 1:15pm to 2:30pm.

At the end of the training program, students get a certificate of completion. This too may be added to the resumes of the students for job consideration purposes.

Benefits:
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Knowledge of these basic programs is essential for job placement in India's tech-focused, talented economy. Receiving such training also exposes students to options existing outside of their village. It's extremely common for children in villages to take on the profession of their parents, which is either agriculture or that of a migrant worker. Gaining ancillary skills in computer literacy introduces options withheld from their parents' generation.