The global repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic led to a prolonged halt in the normal functioning of the world. In India, an unprecedented nationwide lockdown had sweeping consequences on the lives of people. Drawing on our extensive ten-year engagement with youth from across the country, we foresaw the implications of the closure of schools due to the pandemic on the education of adolescent girls. Acknowledging the social, cultural, and economic context of our nation, we’ve noted that the education of young girls often takes a back seat for many. The lockdown necessitated the closure of schools and the shift to online learning. As a result, the educational needs of adolescent girls were further marginalized, resulting in significant loss of their foundational literacy, numeracy skills and severe mental health concerns. At the same time, the livelihood sector in India has been struggling, leaving many young people without opportunities.
To address these challenges, the "Jabardast Jagrik Peer Tutor Initiative" was created as a peer-led intervention, to bridge the learning loss and support adolescent girls to re-align and claim their rightful space within the mainstream educational system. While also providing young people with a means to earn stipends by contributing their time, energy, skills and capacities to nurture these adolescent girls.
*Jagrik is a self-aware, proactive citizen who is not just being the change, but also inspiring others to do the same.
The journey begins with passionate mentors guiding youth with care and encouragement. Inspired by the vision of the initiative, committed youth step into the role of Peer Tutors.
Over six months, Peer Tutors build confidence, discover strengths, and take charge of change in their communities. They build skills in teaching, communication, engagement, and leadership. This helps them create safe, friendly, and engaging spaces for adolescent girls, where foundational literacy and numeracy (FLN) skills are nurtured with patience and empathy.
They craft engaging lesson plans and facilitate regular classes for girls at learning centers, dedicating at least 10 hours weekly. They include activities like meditation, sports, and drawing to help girls express themselves freely. This transforms learning centers into living spaces for exploring and learning together, fostering strong bonds of friendship and support.
With mentor support, Peer Tutors engage in empathetic dialogue with school authorities, community leaders, parents of adolescent girls, inviting them to the learning centre and discussing girls academic progress with their parents.
Cross-learning sessions allow Peer Tutors to share experiences, challenges, and learn from each other.
They receive fixed remuneration to ensure economic stability and sustained participation. This builds entrepreneurial skills, employability, and supports youth in pursuing socially relevant livelihood opportunities.
Since 2022, the initiative has empowered 236 youth leaders (18-22 years) to mentor 5800+ adolescent girls from 7 states with in Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN), building leadership in tutors while boosting academic confidence in girls.
Shifa, an adolescent girl, shared: "Earlier, no one in our family cared about girls’ education. Now, my mother is invested in my growth."
Madhuri, a Peer Tutor, reflects: "I didn’t just learn how to teach — I learned how to bring change in a community. Now I feel I’m not just a tutor, but a social reformer too."
On average, girls showed over 30% increase in their FLN skills. Parents shared a positive shift towards girls’ education, and stakeholders like teachers and local officials celebrated youth leadership in rekindling the interest of these girls in education.
Many civil society organisations of the vartaLeap Coalition have collaborated for this initiative and shown great interest in taking it forward due to the simplicity of the process and the effectiveness in improving the foundational education of girls.
Peer Tutor Ramsha Shafiq's learning centre was a safe space for 50 girls to interact with each other and have fun. Today, Ramsha is working towards shifting gender norms in her community. There are many more youth leaders like Ramsha who inspired by their experience of driving social change through the "Jabardast Jagrik Peer Tutor Initiative" are choosing to walk the path of life-long learning and changemaking.
You can replicate this by first believing in young people as leaders. Start by identifying mentors who can guide this process. Select motivated youth as Peer Tutors and build their leadership through a practical workshop. Support them to lead FLN sessions with adolescent girls, interacting with community stakeholders and creating spaces for reflection, collaboration, and shared growth.
