How This St. Stephen's Graduate Founded An NGO For Marginalised Women That's Partially Funded By Google

In the heart of India, a transformative initiative is reshaping the lives of young girls. SwaTaleem, a beacon of hope for historically marginalized girls aged 10 to 18, is making waves in the realm of education. Founded by the passionate Ananya Tiwari, SwaTaleem’s mission is clear: to ensure every girl, regardless of her background, has access to quality education and the tools to achieve financial independence.

What to know? The brilliance of SwaTaleem lies in its innovative approach. Recognizing that many of these girls have limited access to technology, with often just a basic mobile phone in their homes, Ananya devised a unique solution. Instead of smartphone apps, SwaTaleem delivers educational content through engaging stories via an interactive voice response system. This allows girls to connect with relatable narratives, and many even share these lessons with their families, amplifying the impact.

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However, the journey wasn’t without challenges. Catering to India’s linguistic diversity, SwaTaleem initially grappled with translating feedback from various dialects. But, with support from the Google for Startups Accelerator program, they piloted a natural language processing tool. This ingenious solution enabled automated translations from voice recordings, streamlining their process and enhancing their outreach.

Ananya’s relentless dedication hasn’t gone unnoticed. As a testament to her efforts, she was honoured as a Google.org Leader to Watch for 2022. This accolade provided her with platforms to champion SwaTaleem’s cause, advocating for the often overlooked girls in rural India at events in Washington D.C. and New York City.

With the backing of Google.org’s Impact Challenge, SwaTaleem has already transformed the lives of nearly a thousand girls.

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