Basiwada’s dream: digital learning takes flight with the Tablet for Kids program
Basiwada is a small village in Udaipur District of Rajasthan state (India), surrounded by rivers and forests. It is home to about 350 families, where most people depend on farming for their livelihood. Around 270 children between the ages of 9 and 14 live here and attend government and private schools.
For many of these children, digital technology was something they had only heard about but never experienced. They had seen mobile phones in their homes, but they only used them to watch videos or play games. Learning through digital tools was an unfamiliar concept to most of them.
Everything changed when, together with our local partner Seva Mandir, we introduced the Tablet for Kids program in the village, enabling the exploration of digital learning for the very first time. A total of 61 children—11 from their Shiksha Kendra Education center and 50 from the community—joined the program.
Prabhu Singh is one of the teachers involved in the program. “At first, the children were unsure about how tablets could be used for studying. They had never used such a device for learning. But as they attended the sessions, they started discovering a whole new world. Now they are full of dreams, and so am I”, he commented.
The program consisted of eleven modules, each designed to teach a new skill. As the children progressed through these lessons, they discovered the practical applications of digital tools in their daily lives. One of the most significant lessons was booking tickets online. Prior to the program, they had no idea how to book railway, bus, or hotel tickets, but now they confidently navigate these processes on their own.
Another important skill they acquired was using a dedicated Office App, to work with Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Creating and editing documents was entirely new to them, but the program taught them how to design and fill spreadsheets, a skill that could be valuable in future jobs. In addition to practical skills, the program introduced a fun and engaging way of learning. Through interactive games, the children found studying more enjoyable, making the learning experience both effective and entertaining.
“Before the program, the children had never considered careers in journalism, medicine, or translation. These professions felt completely out of reach for them. the tablet sessions introduced them to different fields, broadening their understanding of future possibilities”, Prabhu says. The “Reporter” module, for example, taught them about journalism, explaining the importance of gathering and verifying facts. Some students became fascinated by this profession and started expressing an interest in becoming journalists.
Similarly, the “Doctor” module gave them insight into human anatomy, helping the children understand internal organs and medical concepts. This exposure sparked curiosity in science and medicine, encouraging some children to consider careers in healthcare. The program also introduced them to language learning tools, teaching them how to translate difficult words and sentences into different languages. This newfound knowledge made their studies easier and helped them navigate complex texts with confidence.
The impact of the program was not just limited to the children as they were eager to share the new learnings with their family members. In addition, instead of spending hours watching videos or browsing social media on their parents’ phones, they started using their devices for learning. They downloaded educational apps and explored ways to improve their studies.
Parents were happy to see their children using technology in a meaningful way and proud to see many dreams growing.
Basiwada is now a village with a dream, and we are grateful to Seva Mandir and teachers like Prabhu for making all of this possible!
A parent’s perspective
“I always worried that my son was wasting too much time on the phone, watching random videos. But after this program, he started using the tablet to learn new things. He even showed me how to book a train ticket online! This program has truly changed the way children see technology. Now, they are using it to learn, not just for entertainment.”
Viram Singh, Parent from Basiwada