Usha Rani Deka (67) had been living with a regret almost the entire phase of her adulthood. When she had put her college dreams on hold due to various family and economic reasons, she had given up on the hope of achieving higher education. However, she’s set an inspiring benchmark for her community members by…
Forty-four-year-old Derilla R Marak is a self-employed woman now. However, there was a time when she felt as though there were no opportunities for her to grab. It wasn’t until her friends told her about computer classes at CIRC Tura that she began to see windows of opportunities for herself. At CIRC Tura, she began…
The year 2017 is an opportunity for the Integrated Approach to Technology in Education (ITE) team of DEF. Official permission has been granted to DEF to scale up ITE in 20 more government schools in Nagaon district of Assam. However, such opportunity also brings challenges which need to be dealt with sensitivity and tactically. Therefore,…
DEF, with support from the British Council in India, is glad to announce the successful introduction of the English and Digital for Girls’ Education (EDGE) programme at 23 locations of India. A ceremony to commemorate the same was held on the sidelines of Prayag at Surajkund Ground, Faridabad, on February 25, 2017. EDGE envisions empowering…
Keeping in mind the nascent startup and entrepreneurship environment in North East India as well as in consonance with the Government of India’s focus on building and creating home grown startups under the Central government’s ‘Startup India, Stand up India’ scheme, ‘UPSTART’ North East Startup Challenge Programme was organised at the Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship…
The second edition of the CIRC Awards was held at Prayag on February 25, 2017. The award, which was held among much fanfare, celebrated those centres that made impact and brought about positive transformation in their communities. Eleven centres were declared winners across five categories. CIRC Tura (Meghalaya) won the Uniqueness and Innovation Award while…
The 5th edition of the eNGO Challenge Awards took place amid varied colours, knowledge exchange and cultural essence that was all witnessed under one crown — Prayag 2017. Winners of the Challenge were declared and acknowledged at a unique space that recreated a village scene where rural women from Bihar could be seen participating in…
Sultan is tailor who lives in Chanderi. A Class V dropout, he recently joined the Chanderiyaan family. Here is what he has to say about his new experience. “I used to work as a tailor at a shop with three other artisans. I cut cloth and stitched kurtas, pyjamas, pants and shirts for men. However,…
Between November and January, Saindapur village in Barabanki district of Uttar Pradesh has witnessed a massive drop in business for handloom weavers. Once flourishing with the clitter-clatter of handlooms, Saidanpur — which is home to 200 weaver families — today complains of acute lack of work. After a number of meetings with suppliers and weavers…
Yashoda Devi is 71 years old. A resident of Parsa village in Barabanki district of Uttar Pradesh, she lost her husband at the age of 40. Since then, she has had the sole responsibility of raising her eight children. Wages in Barabanki are low, and families are big. It’s almost the same story in every…