“action for impact”
…….. defying Newton’s third law Spectrum NGO believes in ‘action with synonymous reaction’ . The pandemic did not deter us from setting newer targets and fresh goals. Hence project “English Vinglish was launched.The digital globe is like Auro’s white globe in the movie’ Paa’ , that he made for his school project , merging all manmade boundaries . which made it possible for us to shape this initiative.
Whether we like it or not internet content is in english. Statistics say that only 10% of India’s population speaks this language fluently. Does this alarm you…….. for spectrum NGO it did and hence the action. We took the initiative to guide and mentor children in spoken English, from lesser privilege background .
Why …. This you may ask?
……. Cause fluency in English increases their employability skill.
Are they first generation learners? ……….. Yes
Can they read english ? ………….. yes
Can they speak ? ……………. Yes, but not fluently.
So where do we come in ……………………. At the fluency level.
The British have sowed the seeds of English language deep within our economic well being, to an extent that coaching for spoken English has become a lucrative business. Very lane, by-lane , main street , hi-street boast of a coaching centre offering this course.
Getting started
Ashray , spearheaded by Vrinda Jatiya is an NGO working at the grassroot level I the bylanes of Aundh, Pune. Her organisation runs an after school study centre . their endeavour is to ensure that these first generation of learners do not fall off the track because of lack of academic support.
For spectrum ashray seemed the perfect companion to champion this project.
Why? as our goal is the same- ‘ action for impact’.
So joined hands To employ our knowledge and experience to better their academic score and help them chase their dreams.
Making an educator out of ME!!!
When this programme was floated by the NGO to its members all we had to do was to look within , hands to volunteer for this action shot up like Meer cats peeking out of their holes.
Are all the volunteers teachers …………………………of course look over our shoulder at our children.
…….. just kidding …………….. we are all from various fields , but this didn’t deter us from taking up this task and armouring ourselves by sharing ideas, employing digital tools to our knowledge and learning from each other to impact the future of 45 children with the spoken English skill set.
Our Objective!!!
To produce efficient communicators in English and increase their employability skill for a bright future.
One way traffic
For these children life is a struggle, most being first generation learners. That being challenging enough they also have to prepare themselves for the world that will help realise their dreams. The business world largely operates on a single language……ENGLISH!
It is conversational English , whether formal or informal. Having said that fluency in a language comes from regular conversations. Unfortunately for these children conversation in English is a one way traffic, owing to their background.
How do they better their skill….. here is where the spectrum volunteers join in to sharpen their skill in spoken English and prepare them for the world beyond.
Not just another class
When this initiative was conceptualised it was unanimously decided that this would not be like the regular classes they were used to. It has to be relevant, it has to be fun and most importantly it has to squash their inhibition with the language. So the process started…..
Collaborating with the volunteers
Ideating
Brainstorming……. finally
Creating a syllabus.
How about bringing in the fun
Engaging various tools of learning through the world wide web, videos, games, throwing challenges, constantly reinventing ourselves by sharing with each other the tricks and trades that worked. Tickling their thinking mind through puzzles and riddles. Breaking their inhibitions by creating conversations with situations.
The show must go on…
Everything is a process learning a new skill or contribute towards it. We are nurturing this project and will scale it up organically, this is what we exactly do and each volunteer working on this project steer their energy towards without compromising our mission to make learning fun.
Urmi Kumar
Spectrum Member