DEF, in collaboration with the British Council, has launched the latter’s English and Digital for Girl’s Education (EDGE) programme at CIRC Halduchaur in Uttarakhand. This course is designed on the concept of peer-to-peer-learning, making use of digital and non-digital tools and gamification of teaching methods. The programme is now running at 21 centres of DEF in 12 states. Aimed at enrolling a total of 525 girls, it has successfully achieved 80 per cent of its target. Under EDGE, girls will go through a systematic and rigorous English learning phase for three to four months.
EDGE further aims to raise 21 leaders among the 525 girls, who will then be trained to facilitate the learning of many more in their communities. This way, EDGE will cause a cascading effect and create an endless chain of women leaders in rural India.
Launched in 2012 in partnership with BRAC Bangladesh, as English and ICT for Adolescent Girls, the project has now further developed into English and Digital for Girls’ Education (EDGE), which aims to improve the life prospects of adolescent girls in socio-economically marginalised communities in Bangladesh, India and Nepal. The programme focuses on enhancing participants’ English proficiency, digital skills and awareness of social issues. As a result, they will be better able to make more informed and independent life choices, as is their right, in order to contribute more fully to the family, the economy and society. In addition, the programme aims to improve the leadership skills of a smaller group of peer leaders drawn from the same communities of adolescent girls.