The digital divide remains a pressing challenge, particularly for underprivileged communities where access to technology and skills can shape future opportunities. Committed to bridging this gap, Priyadarshini Nigam, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility at Newgen, spearheaded the ‘Newgen Digital Discovery Paathshala’ (NDDP) to empower underprivileged girls through digital education and skill development. In this exclusive conversation, she shares insights on the evolution of this flagship CSR initiative, the integration of digital and financial literacy for women, the role of technology in fostering self-reliance, and the ongoing efforts to create lasting social impact.
What inspired the launch of NDDP’s digital and skill development program, and what are its primary goals?
Newgen initiated its philanthropic activity, Sadbhavna in 2006. It was created for the community around our offices in Okhla and the children of our support staff became the first members of the program. The interactive sessions groom the personality of the students to live a confident, and happy life. Gradually, we observed positive transformation among the students.
Post the CSR mandate, Newgen decided to empower everyone digitally, especially the new generation of children. It realized that the future relies heavily on their ability to utilize the digital medium. Newgen also observed that not having access to digital platforms can limit the opportunities for advancement and growth and will enhance poverty and inequality.
After gauging the impact of the accessibility to a simple digital device on the future generation, Newgen designed the flagship CSR program, ‘Newgen Digital Discovery Paathshala’ (NDDP), that focuses on digital education for the less privileged girl child.
The program focuses on changing the learning process and instilling a habit of self-learning in the children. It aims at igniting the curiosity of young minds, so they move beyond their school syllabus and become aware of the world around them using the digital medium as a tool. The NDDP revolves around this notion.
In 2022-2023, the NDDP program branched out to initiate a program for an important stakeholder in the life of the students: their mothers. During the various interactions with the mothers of the NDDP students, we realized the importance of supporting them for their empowerment.
We became aware of their latent skills and talents after interviewing them. This led to the development of a plan to groom them to generate economic opportunities for them.
Thus, the Skill Development Centre was inaugurated in 2024. It trains the women beneficiaries in stitching, embroidery, crochet and other related techniques. Along with this, regular sessions on digital literacy, financial management and mental health are an integral part of the skill development program.
How does the program integrate technology to empower community women with digital proficiency and financial literacy?
Two of the integral parts of the NDDP’s ‘Samarth Saarthi Samuh program’ with community women are digital and financial literacy. It equips them with the skills and knowledge that they need to manage their finances effectively and smoothly access digital platforms. This initiative aims to empower women by fostering lasting positive change and contributing to their economic growth.
The program’s digital literacy sessions help women learn how to use smartphones and the Internet for communication and daily tasks such as online payments, information browsing on YouTube, and related searches.
The comprehensive module on financial literacy educates women on effective money management. This enables them to handle finances both at the household level and in professional settings.
What kind of digital tools and techniques are taught in the program to help women operate smart devices efficiently?
The women are taught to use smartphones, tablets and internet browsing for communication. This facilitates them in daily payments, browsing videos, searching for information, etc.
What specific skills are imparted through the program to help women become self-reliant?
The main skill development program includes training in stitching, embroidery, crocheting and related techniques which enhance their creative skills.
Financial literacy sessions have been helping the women to develop money management abilities. This will help them to plan the finances in personal and professional space as and when they start any income generating activity.
The sessions on mental health management mainly support the women to work on their personal self and develop adaptive skills that will help them manage their emotions and cope with various situations.
By combining skill development, entrepreneurship training, and self-confidence building, the initiative is steadily working towards empowering women by making them self-aware and self-reliant.
Technology is evolving every day. How does your team ensure that the curriculum and structure remain up to date for learners from diverse backgrounds?
Regular monitoring and feedback from the beneficiaries are integral to the program. Their response plays a significant role in the customization of the activities of the project, so that the program caters to the need of the hour.
The curriculum is updated on a regular basis to keep it in sync with the real-world scenarios. Regular evaluations of the curriculum help in tracking the relatability of the content with the contemporary scenarios.
How does the program measure its impact on participants’ lives in terms of digital empowerment and skill enhancement?
The program employs a combination of quantitative and qualitative approaches. This helps in measuring its impact on digital empowerment and skill enhancement. Also, it provides data for improvement and demonstrates its value to stakeholders.
Collecting detailed success stories or case studies from participants who have significantly benefited from the program provide specific examples of how digital empowerment and skill enhancement have transformed their lives.
Regular feedback from the beneficiaries further supports understanding the direct and indirect impact of the project.
Through initiatives like the Newgen Digital Discovery Paathshala, meaningful change is being driven by equipping underprivileged women and children with essential digital and financial skills. By fostering self-reliance and empowerment, the program is paving the way for a more inclusive and equitable future.
About the Contributor – Priyadarshini is a communications specialist with expertise in PR, events, marketing collaterals, and online marketing. She was a researcher and feature writer at PFA’s Delhi bureau, covering women, children, and economic issues. PFA, headquartered in Manila, was a third-world feature service supported by UN development agencies.
This contribution is under the International Women’s Day initiative #SheIsInfinite.
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