Project Description: Integrated Digital and Financial Literacy (ID-FIL)
Campus: Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, India
Submitted by: Mohd Rehmatullah Ansari and Mohd Tamim
Collaborators:
• TPR India Foundation: A non-profit organization committed to improving the lives of underprivileged children through education and training.
• Project Saraswati (Ruby Foundation): A non-profit initiative focused on empowering girls and women in India with education and skill development, especially financial literacy.
Overview of Project ID-FIL
Project ID-FIL aims to empower marginalized communities, particularly children, with digital and financial literacy skills. Focusing on students from the slums of Kalindi Kunj—children of garbage pickers—the project seeks to bridge the digital divide and instill financial confidence among young learners and their families.
The project embodies the belief that education is more than learning—it is the key to unlocking potential, fostering dreams, and building better futures.
Digital Literacy for Social Change
Working closely with students who had never interacted with a computer before, the project has transformed their hesitation into confidence in just two months.
• Initial Challenges: Students were unfamiliar with basic computer concepts like using a mouse or identifying icons.
• Progress Achieved: Today, these students can navigate computers, complete basic tasks, and even type their names. The journey has inspired both students and their parents, opening doors to new aspirations.
Stories of Change:
1. Meera – The Budding Artist
• A student passionate about drawing on paper, Meera quickly adapted to digital art tools, creating colorful designs on the computer. She dreams of becoming a digital artist and inspiring others in her community.
2. Ayaan – The Future Teacher
• Ayaan eagerly shares his new skills with his family and community. He dreams of establishing a small learning center in his slum to teach others how to use computers.
3. Rani – The Financial Planner
• A 13-year-old fascinated by spreadsheets, Rani uses her skills to track her family’s expenses, helping them save money. Her efforts are transforming her family’s financial awareness, paving the way for her dream of a career in finance.
Empowering Young Minds with Financial Literacy
Through Project Saraswati, the initiative has guided students in grades 9–12 at Jamia Senior Secondary School on the essentials of managing money and planning for the future.
Practical Lessons:
• Writing checks, budgeting, and saving.
• Investing small amounts like pocket money in shares or mutual funds to understand the concept of growth over time.
Impactful Stories:
1. The Aspiring Entrepreneur:
• A young girl is saving money to buy a sewing machine and start her boutique. Her journey reflects the transformative power of financial education in fostering independence and entrepreneurship.
2. The Future Engineer:
• A grade 11 student uses lessons on compound interest to save for college, demonstrating how financial literacy inspires long-term goal-setting.
3. The Family Financier:
• A grade 12 student helped her family cut expenses and set savings goals, bringing financial stability and pride to her household.
4. The Socially Responsible Investor:
• A student inspired by ethical investing now researches environmentally responsible companies to align her financial choices with her values.
Broader Impact:
Although the project engages a small group of 5–6 students, their influence extends to over 250 people in their slum through family and community interactions. Teachers and parents have also recognized the transformative impact on these children, fostering pride and hope.
Future Goals:
• Introduce advanced tools and applications to deepen digital skills.
• Expand financial literacy to include more complex topics.
• Empower students to become changemakers who can bridge the digital and financial gaps in their communities.
Conclusion
Project ID-FIL is more than a learning initiative; it is a movement to uplift marginalized communities through education. By equipping children with digital and financial literacy, the project gives them the tools to dream big, achieve their aspirations, and inspire others.
This initiative stands as a testament to the power of education to ignite hope, transform lives, and create a ripple effect of positive change in society.