Right in the heart of Mumbai, nestled between towering structures, is the ‘Red Building’ where a quiet revolution is being powered by a little bit of tech and a lot of perseverance. At the Sitaram Mill Compound Mumbai Public School, a 30-minute drive from the Bandra Kurla Complex, a bunch of underprivileged children are rewriting their futures, armed with iPads. The bright, sunny day makes the red-painted school stand out even more, and what adds to its ambience is students having fun recording each other on iPads, creating content as part of their curriculum. “How can we combat pollution, when our surroundings are not clean?” asked Antara, a Grade 8 student, who was part of the classroom project where each group, called a station, was allowed a topic on pollution. They were required to create videos, posters, and brief presentations on the topic. But for the students it is beyond a classroom project, as this gives them an opportunity to share their perspectives on an issue that is pervasive in their everyday lives. “It took me less than 15 minutes to source images from the Internet, make a collage, and create a poster as part of my project. My team partner and I made it using the Keynote app,” explained an eager Rani, another eighth grader who believes technology has the ability to fulfil the dreams and aspirations of millions of students like her. Drishti of Grade 1 is just mirroring her project on verbs from the iPad to the bigger display in the classroom. But her glee at getting to do something like this is apparent, also to show off their prowess with their favourite app, Book Creator, which helps them learn everything from English to Maths. “When it comes to training children in Grade 1, we start with the camera, how to record a video and use the markup annotation after they click a picture. Then we move to Book Creator for their projects, design, and videos,” explained her teacher Ruchika Patel. Today, most schools in India, especially the IB Boards, have included technologies such as iPads and notebooks in their teaching methodology. While this has given students from recognised schools an edge over their peers from schools in socially backward quarters, it has also widened the gap between the educational and learning abilities among them. Akanksha Foundation, a non-profit organisation, that was set up in 1991 as an after-school centre has been working towards bridging this gap. In 2014, the organisation partnered with Apple to integrate technological support in their schools across Mumbai and Pune. At Sitaram Mill Compound School, iPads are introduced to students right from kindergarten. While they start with relatively simple applications such as the Book Creator, they move on to more applications as they progress through grades. “Each day, these students look forward to classes, especially to learn more about the apps that are making learning a fun experience,” added Patel, who highlighted the fact that they usually don’t have access to any gadgets at their homes. Principal Mandira Purohit recounted how after the partnership with Apple, a core team of teachers underwent extensive training that laid the groundwork for integrating iPads into the curriculum. The initiative was not just about providing access to technology, she asserted, but also about empowering teachers and students to use it effectively. “There were inhibitions on our part, which we had to overcome and we created structures for that. We had PD spaces and best practice sharing, where teachers were compelled to bring in best practices in technology. We also didn’t let go of the non-tech aspect of education, we balanced both conventional and new methods of teaching. Even today, along with typing, our students are also writing their notes,” explained Purohit, who admitted to having never used an iPad till they were introduced in her school. "We have a long history of working in education and we believe very strongly in how transformative our projects can be. So if we are going to be engaged in an education project, it is going to involve not only our hardware but also the tools, we develop the curricula and approach to what we call challenge-based learning,” Lisa Jackson, Apple’s vice president of Environment, Policy and Social Initiatives, told indianexpress.com in an interview. Students can learn from working on a problem as much as they can sometimes learn by being lectured to, she said, adding this is why Apple’s "educational projects are going to be centered around the way we approach education, and that's hardware and software and also teacher education.” While for students it was experiential learning, for teachers the gadgets were initially a challenge, especially because of the accountability aspect. "For us, exploring the tech and the training boosted our confidence and helped us translate the same to the students. We realised that the kids were like sponges and could absorb anything that you gave them,” said Kanisha Doshi, the vice-principal. The transformation was significant. The students learned to research, create presentations, and express creativity which also enhanced personalised learning. In school, they often work in pairs or groups, which leads to developing their skills in collaboration and communication. Former students like Sneha Chandolkar and Rutuja Nandgaonkar are convinced their early exposure to iPads gave them a significant advantage in higher education. Their proficiency in creating presentations and their comfort with technology have set them apart from their peers in college. “Recently, in college, we did a presentation, and none of our teammates were able to create one. They did not know how to compose it, what to include, or how to use their creativity to put forward their ideas,” said Chandolkar, an alumna, adding that the exposure also taught them how to present confidently. Meanwhile, to ensure safety, the school authorities follow a booking system, like in libraries, to see which student has a device and to keep track of their activities. “In terms of safety, these devices have adequate measures, and certain apps such as YouTube are locked. From our central office, we have taken care of the cyber safety aspect. Children can go and search on Google but only have access to limited websites. Besides, we have installed the Web Nanny cams in classrooms too,” said Purohit. For Purohit, seeing students develop qualities such as accountability in handling the devices and collaborating as a team far outweighs the risks. “Tech is something that we have been using right from kindergarten,” lead teacher Mamta Sangani reminded us, adding that the children have nurtured qualities like sharing and belonging now. The Akanksha schools have metrics in place to monitor the progress of each student and their curriculum focuses on social, emotional and ethical learning. “Our main metric is the state board exam results. We also conduct internal assessments and reviews. Our schools have shown remarkable success, with many students achieving first-class or distinction over the years. The success has also enabled us to add more schools,” said Chitra Pandit, from Akanksha Foundation. Nearly 1,000 km away, in the dusty landscape of Rajasthan, a similar story is unfolding, this time with children of migrant labourers who toil in the marble quarries of Kishangarh. Under the blazing hot sun, past marble factories and small huts, is a dilapidated old house that serves as a makeshift school for nearly 100 children. There are no walls, just a blackboard in the open. But a little further away is an extension, partially enclosed with cloth on two sides. This is where the students watch educational videos at the digital community school organised by Bindi International, a non-profit organisation. "Digital community schools are bridge schools for students whose access to education has been limited. This region, primarily inhabited by migrant communities, has been overlooked by society. The children, often left to fend for themselves, miss out on education due to household responsibilities,” explained Monalisa Padhee, the Programme Head at Bindi International. "Our goal is to build aspirations. We have established these schools right in the community to demonstrate the impact of education. In just a year, we are seeing parents inquiring about open exams for their children." The curriculum at these centres focuses on functional literacy, numeracy, and Hindi, but they also address issues such as gender equity, health, nutrition, and climate change. When it comes to technology, they use digital tools like solar projectors for experiential learning, encouraging students to express their traditional knowledge and engage with pressing issues. Interestingly, students at this ramshackle school watched India create history with the launch of Chandrayaan 3 on their solar projector, powered by an Apple TV. The students are also using iPads for various class projects that go beyond conventional subjects. Padhee explained what she called was a holistic approach: "We follow a 'Think, Speak & Act' format, encouraging students to articulate their challenges. We aim to empower them to eventually act on these concerns.” Her NGO, another beneficiary of Apple, has a vision that extends beyond the communities. They have been working towards collaborating with the government schools to ensure that the children receive continued education. “Our teachers, often the first generation of learners from their community, are not just educators but leaders, shaping a new narrative for 'Banjaron ki Basti',” added Padhee. “Tim (Cook), the CEO, challenges us to do things we are good at. And so we have a long history of working in education and we believe very strongly in how transformative our projects can be,” Jackson reasoned on why education tends to be a natural fit for Apple, even though its CSR work extends to the environment and other spheres. “It is because we started as a company with people using the first computers for education. Here, you are talking about kids who wouldn't have a chance to go to college but for the work our partners are doing. They are first generation learners in many cases, and then hopefully first generation college students and when you think about what that impact will be, it doesn't take a PhD in mathematics to realise that you're having a huge impact on those lives that you're able to touch that right.” "We hold monthly parent-teacher meetings, often visiting homes due to the parents’ work schedules. We update them on their children's progress and inform them about relevant government schemes,” Padhee said. The impact of these schools is profound. "Parents are proud to see their children learning with iPads, breaking the cycle of poverty. We are not just a parallel system, but a bridge to a better future." Making the community custodians of mangrove preservation The cracks and fissures of climate change are glaringly evident now more than ever. "The turning point was the Nisarga cyclone, which had led to a landfall in Raigad," said Jayant Sarnaik, the joint-director of Applied Environmental Research Foundation (AERF), and the 2020 cyclone prompted him to look at mangrove conservation as a potential way to mitigate the perils of climate change. AERF is a conservation nonprofit based in Pune and it has been working toward saving biodiversity in the global biodiversity hotspots. “One is the Western Ghats mountain range, and the second is the Eastern Himalaya. For the last 20 years, our focus has been to save threatened biodiversity from the hotspot in the Western Ghats. We work with the local communities to make conservation economically viable and attractive to them, as we primarily work on forest and the threatened ecosystems on private land,” added Sarnaik. More recently, AERF shifted its focus to protecting mangrove forests along Maharashtra's coastline that act as a vital buffer against intensifying storms. "In 2019, Apple approached us about submitting a proposal. They were impressed by our forest conservation work and wanted to explore collaboration,” he said. This led AERF to consider mangrove conservation, especially after seeing the devastating impacts of cyclones on coastal communities lacking sufficient mangrove buffers. Jackson, who was Administrator of the US Environmental Protection Agency under President Barack Obama from 2009 to 2013, explained Apple’s approach to picking partners for its many environment conservation projects across the world. “There are people who already know what's best in terms of environment and education and accessibility and inclusion in India…so we want to support groups that are working in those areas, not necessarily create something new. But we know technology, added to incredible work, can drive progress really quickly.” With support from Apple, AERF launched an initiative to conserve mangroves in Raigad district. One of the biggest challenges during the conservation effort was that the mangroves were on private lands. “Through signed agreements with landowners, education, and livelihood support, AERF is bringing communities onboard to value mangroves,” said Sarnaik. Jackson added that they have to work hand in hand with that community and find ways they can continue to feed their families and live there. “If we have fisherfolk signing conservation agreements, then it is a win for the community. If they're not doing that work, then that innovation is lost. So it's really about looking for community-led projects in many ways that meet our values.” According to Sarnaik, AERF has protected over 9,000 acres of privately-owned forest and mapped over 30,000 giant mangrove trees. "One such tree stores about seven tons of carbon," said Sarnaik while highlighting its potential to mitigate climate change. The NGO is also incentivising the conservation of 5,000 trees. Sarnaik said that their initiative also aims to tackle the plastic problem that has been threatening marine life and also provides cleaner cookstoves to reduce the harvesting of mangrove wood. “Conserving mangroves is just not incentivising standing mangroves, but understanding the real threats and providing workable solutions," asserted Sarnaik. According to him, by addressing community needs holistically, AERF is working towards sustaining mangroves and local livelihoods for future generations. Summing up Apple’s efforts across the country, Jackson said: "We have been growing for more than 25 years in India. And so we are really proud of this deep connection that we have. And part of that is being a good neighbour and employer, having a positive impact on the communities where we operate and where our teams now live and work. All of our work is always driven by our values – environment, education, accessibility and inclusion. We try to show up as Apple the same way everywhere in the world, and we do that by sticking to our essential values.” As a company of scientists and technologists, she said, the impact data and the feel good factor were both important. “Sometimes it's easy to put a metric on it to be very quantitative. For instance, with the mangrove project, we can count the number of conservation agreements… we have 80, but those touch hundreds of communities and fishing villages and 450 acres of mangrove.” But there is the other side too. "Oftentimes with education, the numbers can get lost because one teacher can touch so many students’ lives and a student might pass through for a year or they may be with a school for several years. And so we try not to let the numbers be the only part of the tale. We are looking for partnerships where we can see we are growing together where there's real impact, we do want impact, not just activity, but what is actually happening as a result.”
