Seva-Bharati – India
Founded in 1953, Seva-Bharati has been providing education and acting as a catalyst for sustainable development and social change for over 75 years. With a staff of more than 100 teachers and over 3,000 students, it offers a comprehensive educational program ranging from pre-school through Master’s degree programs in 12 majors in several STEM disciplines as well as business management, economics, and linguistics.
More than 80% of the community relies on agriculture. However, the area is drought-prone and farming depends on a three- month rainy season and shallow wells for dry season farming. The Seva Bharati Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) operates five farms and provides agricultural training throughout the entire West Bengal district of 9 million people. The KVK extension’s scientific staff in horticulture, agronomy, soil science, engineering, fishery and animal husbandry work closely with farmers promoting “lab-to-land” initiatives in the region.
In 2018, the ISV Education Committee awarded Seva Bharati $50,000 USD with the support of IEEE Power & Energy Society to deliver computer based educational activities, knowledge sharing, and digital literacy training. Additional computer facilities are under construction for multiple classroom clusters and workshops/demonstration centers for modern educational resource management and instructions.
Three types of education programs will be established focusing on improving the quality of ESL and STEM training in schools, providing vocational training in solar and sustainable agriculture technologies, and establishing additional community centers for grassroots promotion of sustainable development practices.
Community Impact Data
| Population to be reached | 12,000 people in 14 villages with projected expansion to 300,000 people across West Bengal |
| Desires expressed by local community | Quality education, IT training, reliable electricity, vocational training, improved healthcare and transportation, increased agricultural productivity through technology |
| Number of schools | 14 pre-school, 14 elementary, 3 primary, 2 secondary, 2 IT-focused |
| Numbers of students per school | 50 per elementary school, 150 per primary, 500 per secondary |
| Percent of educated youth who return to their home village | Less than 10% |
| Immediate needs of schools | ICT classes, textbooks, water, sanitation, internet access, after-school programs, vocational training |
| Adult literacy rate | Men: 45% | Women: 32% |
| Jobs to be created | Solar installation, ICT applications, agricultural machinery operation/maintenance, water purification, sanitation maintenance |
| Technologies provided | IT training hub, online academy for computer-based education, digital skills acquisition, and vocational training for schools and community centers |