NavGurukul's - 1 Minute introduction to NavGurukul
Channel: NavGurukul
Date: 29/01/2019

1 Minute introduction to NavGurukul

Shivam was working as a helper at a local bakery earning ₹5000 before joining NavGurukul. Shivam completed his class 12th till then. He grew up in a shelter home due to a broken relationship between his parents. Even though he was earning for 5000 INR, he aspired to do better and settle with his mother after getting a respectable job. However, his options were limited to becoming a data entry operator or if luck could help him - an accountant. Our entire higher education had no place for Shivam who wasn't one amongst the lacs or had resources to fund his education in a good private college. There are students like Shivam, who sometimes, mortgage their family property to get a degree, in a system where 93% of students graduating are considered unemployable.

They end up getting a degree but sometimes losing their land without any improvements in chances of getting a job. Some of these colleges disconnected with the reality and the current needs of the industry not only rip the student apart of the money but also their confidence and an opportunity to improve their own lives and that of their community. At the same time, employers are left with little choices and end up training the recruits themselves. 

Higher education is truly seen as an instrument to help people transition into high growth careers, create jobs and a more inclusive society. We need an equitable way to promote higher education to one and all, which is impossible unless we are able to reach out to the farthest of the corner from the students of low-income communities to socially backward (students with HIV+, transgenders, differently-abled, etc.

We reimagined and deliver higher education in a format that is frugal, ensures a job and enables the student to enter on a path of deeper learning towards self-awareness and bringing further change in their own communities. We are able to train students as Software Engineers just after schools (and sometimes just after secondary school or tenth grade) with little understanding of English and Maths as Software Engineers, who can compete with students who could afford privilege and four years of college education. The student pays back once they get a job, thus ensuring that every rupee you donate is used over and over.

Started by Abhishek, an IITd Alumnus (earlier led FranklyMe which raised 2.6M$ and Zumbl which was acqui-hired) and Rishabh (self-taught Tech Entrepreneur), NavGurukul brings a fresh energy and unique approach to solving problems in the non-profit sector. NavGurukul is a unique model where there are no teachers, no exams, and students manage both the campus and their learning with very little interventions by the team.

Students learn on the go - whether it be programming or leadership skills. Other than learning coding skills students learn very important life skills and observe their own selves to understand themselves and their communities better. The program has a strong component on understanding sexual harrassment, mental health, homosexuality, and other issues which are usually ignored by our education system. The student participates in excursions in eco-construction, agriculture and teaching to connect even more strongly to their roots and take pride in using their hands.