Girls in Dharavi — one of world’s largest slums — Learn to Code and Build Apps

Kalen
Kalen
Jul 25, 2017 · 2 min read

There’s a reason why Ranjan focuses on girls. They get a raw deal in India. Lack of girls’ toilets and menstruation woes keep them off classrooms. “Domestic duties, especially in the lower-income group households, mean that girls have to stay back and cook, run errands, or take care of younger siblings,” a 2014 report by Save the Children notes.

So, Dharavi Diary was initially open only to girls. “In lower income households, resources go to boys,” Ranjan told Quartz. “We wanted to change the narrative and (offer girls) resources and mentorship.”

In the beginning, families were hesitant. “People would always think, ‘Why is he doing this?’” Ranjan recounted. “I really wanted to challenge that and show that the possibility is immense if girls are also given the chance.” But as word-of-mouth praise spread, more girls began arriving.

Using MIT App Inventor, an open-source coding platform, Madival created Women Fight Back, which allows one to set off distress alarms and send SMS alerts. It has been downloaded 500 times, Madival said.

“There’s a happiness quotient and a sense of ownership in the girls,” Ranjan said proudly. “Over a period of three years, they have understood the value of the personal voice and acquired the skills to say no when they mean no, like in the case of domestic violence or eve teasing (roadside harassment).”

“Philanthropy is still not that open. Getting mentors is still a challenge,” says Ranjan. “People are not consistent.”

Meanwhile, the demand for Dharavi Diary’s programme has gone through the roof. To cut down on rent cost, Ranjan plans to use a van loaded with hands-on learning tools. “We can go from this kind of community to another in two hours,” he said about his door-to-door learning idea that is set for a launch in Mumbai in August.

Kalen

Written by

Kalen

Buddhism, mixed with my current interests in economics, privilege, immigration, etc. Email <my username>@gmail.com

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