Aparajita Mohanty’s Library at Bhubaneswar.
By Makena Naegele, Director of Growth at Aveti Learning
Born and raised in Bhubaneswar, Aparajita worked hard and became a software engineer. It was when she was working at a firm in West Bengal that she was first introduced to CSR or Corporate Social Responsibility, in which companies carry out social initiatives that they feel matter to them. This doing good, especially, businesses using their power for good, inspired Aparajita to dedicate her life to something larger than herself.
When she was married, she decided to take the funds from her marriage and use it as a platform for change to “make aware of what others are doing to sensitize people to do good.” Aparajita and her husband put up a wish tree, where each of the guests fulfilled a wish to build a library. So two and a half years ago, a free of cost library was built for all children in Odisha, Bhubaneswar, her hometown, open Wednesday through Sunday 4:30–8 pm.
This is not a traditional schooling system. We “don’t believe in the common system” Aparajita tells me. This library serves as an alternate education system where Aparajita explains “the kids can do whatever they want to do.” There are tons of various creative activities. Children spent the first day the library opened simply reading, books of different genres and languages. They participate in arts and crafts, storytelling sessions where they can share the stories they create, and group games that help the children bond with each other. The games are crucial in building a caring community where “children forget they are from different streets of society”.
So where does Aveti learning come into the picture? Aparajita met Biswajit, co-founder of Aveti Learning, at a leadership workshop. They discussed how technology could be integrated into the library. Six months ago, the Aveti program was integrated into the platform, as what Aparajita describes a “Very, very happy — ecstatic day for children.” What has the impact been? “It’s not a (traditional) school scenario, so children do their own work,” Aparajita says excitedly, “I am so grateful to see children have technology as part of the curriculum. ”
With the Aveti edu-tech platform, learning is not only fun, but impacting these children fundamentally. “It has changed the library a lot,” Aparajita says, “A few of the kids have advanced the current education levels they are on and are a grade ahead. They are interested, ask questions, and discuss the questions in focused groups with other children.” This open-learning environment is leaps and bounds away from the 40–50 crowded traditional schools where the child is not really cared for nor given what he/she needs. Most of the parents never experienced a love of learning and are excited to see their kids who used to just mingle aimlessly around without focus, “come into a library, draw things, and unleash the talent within themselves.” These children are dreaming to become pilots, artists, and dancers. They are figuring out what they passionate about and what they want to do, beyond traditional societal confinements.
There are now around 20–25 kids who come, 10 of the children have been coming continually in for the past few years and are now helping Aparajita in leadership roles, like managing the library. They are learning important “life skills” Aparajita highlights. While it is difficult to encourage unmotivated kids to come learn in a new setting, Aparajita is not going to give up. In fact, she is reaching out to more children and now preparing a proper curriculum for the kids to measure how much they are learning. She absolutely believes Aveti will continue to play a large impact in making sure this happens. Aparajita says Aveti is “helping children stay engrossed.” What is exceptional is that “in spite of the storms and anything else that happens” the library remains a hub, a place with lots of caring and energy, where the kids are inspired to get going. “They haven’t missed a day to get to the library” Aparajita says. She loves the children and now they have become a part of her life.
