The stark disparities in the level of educational opportunities available to children depending on socio-economic factors outside their control have been laid bare through the impact of the Covid pandemic these past couple of years. In countries like India, where access to education has already been a problem for decades, the pandemic has worsened the problem and left millions of children outside of school. However, it has also highlighted the potential of online education to be a great leveler. My experience with conducting online classes for the children of I Light has been tremendously rewarding and educational as to the strengths and areas of improvement for the online education ecosystem. 

Through the free online education model, I Light has been able to reach children all across India, from kids living in the slums of Delhi to kids in the rural foothills of Himachal Pradesh. In the process, both the children and teachers benefit. For teachers, the experience lets us learn about the lives of children in these communities that we may never have interacted with otherwise, and about the areas in which they need support. On the flipside, the children are able to meet new people from across the globe that want to share their knowledge and different perspectives.

BLOG BY VIGHNESH NAGPAL