Kiara Jacob – Fall 2021 Award Recipient
Our next award recipient is Kiara Jacob, a senior at Inventure Academy in Bangalore! Read her personal statement below.
Being born and raised in India, I have witnessed inequalities all around me; especially within the education system. Every day, on the way to my modern, international school, my bus drove by a series of run-down government schools. The buildings had paint peeling off the walls, and the students were crowded into small classrooms. I wondered at those children’s different school experience from mine.
At 13, I began volunteering for community outreach programs. I learned that the education being provided at government and low-income private schools was far from adequate to prepare children for the world ahead of them. If, in the words of Nelson Mandela, “education is the most powerful weapon with which you can change the world”, then why did my government not provide for the 35 million children that cannot access this weapon?
When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, underprivileged children’s learning worsened. Some did not have access to the necessary technology and resources - such as devices and stable internet - required to pursue online education. When speaking to teachers at public schools associated with Teach For India (TFI), I learned that students were also struggling with a loss of enthusiasm for learning. With these problems in mind, I started Project Avesta; the initial aim of the organization was to enable the continuity of education for these children through (1) audiobooks that could be easily accessed on mobile devices without the need for stable wifi, data or storage (2) a fundraising campaign to provide affordable tablets and smartphones for students who did not have access to any technological devices.
Through online fundraisers and partnerships with corporations such as Lenovo, Project Avesta provided tablets to Teach for India and distributed devices across underprivileged schools. Moreover, the audiobooks curated by Project Avesta were used by students at 18+ schools!
Next, since English is considered a “global language” but is not a primary language in India, we started a program to support students in learning English. For my work with Project Avesta, I was awarded the ‘Indian Achievers’Award’ (national level) by the Indian Achievers’ Forum.
These initial successes made me want to expand the Project Avesta mission. Reflecting on my experience working on the Draft National Education Policy (NEP 2019) Recommendation Charter, I realized that a major deficiency in the Indian public education system is the emphasis on ‘core’ subjects and minimal exposure of students to important global issues such as mental health, climate change, and poverty. Unlike private schools, most public schools do not provide personal attention to students, and there is a severe lack of focus on individuality and holistic development.
I came up with the Avesta Mentorship Program, which aims to help mentees recognize and further their passions, and give them opportunities to explore the world beyond textbooks. This program consists of the following:
Workshops to shape students’ worldview; topics ranging from ‘goal setting’ to a series on the UN Development Goals
One-on-one sessions centered around self-reflection, exploration of interests, and personal growth. During these sessions, mentors also connect their students to resources and opportunities aligned with their interests.
The Mentorship Program quickly gained popularity, spreading across the country to benefit hundreds of students! I was invited to be a keynote speaker at the TFI International Panel discussion on ‘Reimagining Education’, where I had the opportunity to interact with leaders in the education community from all parts of the world!
In 2021, Project Avesta went international, expanding to Thailand and the USA. The Mentorship Program is conducted across all chapters and is tailored to the requirements of students in each region. For example, the Project Avesta USA chapter includes a segment on the college application process and profile building for students from less wealthy backgrounds.
It has now been over a year and a half since I started Project Avesta; I set out to shape the lives of other children, and that experience has shaped me into an entrepreneur, changemaker, and most importantly, an empathetic, sensitive person. I have learned more than I could have ever imagined, and have developed skills such as leadership, communication, and resilience.
The intricacies of running an NGO - drafting proposals, setting up meetings, coming up with fresh ideas, and managing volunteers - are not easy, but I am lucky to have found a team that shares my vision and is dedicated to furthering the mission of equal education for all.
Difficult days are worth it when I see students gain newfound confidence, speak with passion, and show excitement towards their education. Each of the volunteers and mentors recruited at Project Avesta develop a friendly relationship with the students; many students have expressed that the Project Avesta programs are the highlight of their week!