“..I saw first-hand the tremendous power of the Internet to transform human behavior and unlock new opportunities. I knew then that my mission in life was to leverage this technology for good.” – Bratati Ghosh, Chairman & CEO at Turn the Bus The transformative power of Internet in education forms the central ideology rotating the wheels of Turn the Bus. Over a period 5 years (2018-2023), what initially began as a WhatsApp Group consisting of 1000 students in 2020 is now a community of 300,000+ students enrolled on Turn the Bus app, enabling them to access high-quality educational content using their smartphones.
Turn the Bus is a tech-driven non-profit startup to address educational disparities, particularly focusing on reducing income inequality in rural Bihar. Our story started with a conversation with the “Didis” of JEEViKA back in 2018, where they expressed the need for quality education and diversification of livelihood options for their next generation. In collaboration with JEEViKA, that conversation has now evolved into creation of Turn the Bus app, which includes:
Further, we recognize the importance of vocational education and career-ready skills for students and developed our Livelihood Training courses in collaboration with UdayanCare. These contain modules like Solar Enterprise, Entrepreneurship aimed at enhancing the students’ skills and practical knowledge. As a partial tech startup, our core philosophy revolves around leveraging tech-based innovations for imparting education. In line with it, we collaborated with a team of students from Carnegie Mellon University to deploy a prototype AR/VR solution for Class 12 Physics lab experiments. Upon completion, this pioneering project will allow students to engage in practical experiments within a virtual environment and visualize theoretical concepts such as Ohm’s Law, electromagnetism, etc. On a ground level, we are very hands-on in interacting with our students and understanding how we can enhance learning for them. Our team holds frequent visits to immerse ourselves in the community we serve, gaining valuable insights into their needs and preferences. Our app contains feedback loops and student engagement database, which enables us to keep track of our students’ efficient learning. To further ensure sustainable pedagogy, we are constantly evolving our technology and educational policies. Our story of turning the educational bus of students in rural Bihar towards improving their career trajectory stands as a testament to the constant dedication of our team, our collaborative partners, and our supporters. It encapsulates a tale of weaving a new narrative—one where smartphones are used to break the generational cycle of poverty and reshape learning for children in rural Bihar. Here are some recounts of our students on how our app has helped them: “लाभदायक है, मन तो करता है एप्प खोलकर वीडियो देखते रहूँ, जो सब्जेक्ट मुझे पसन्द है, उसके वीडियो देखने में बहुत मजा आता है और उसपे ही ज्यादा फोकस करती हूँ।“ (Translation: The app is very useful. I feel like opening the app and keep watching the videos. I enjoy watching video of the subjects I like and I focus more on those subjects.) “मुझे बहुत अच्छा लगता है कि घर बैठकर ही पढ़ा ई कर सकते हैं बिना कहीं गए ही ।“ (Translation: I really like the fact that I can study at home without going anywhere.)
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