By Praveen Kumar | Project Manager
Fourteen-year-old Meena (name changed) had never held an iPad before. The first time she touched the screen in our new digital library in Forbesganj, she pulled her hand back and laughed nervously. “Will it break if I press too hard?” she asked.
Meena is the daughter of a woman who survived trafficking. For years, her access to learning was limited to outdated textbooks shared between several students. Research projects meant copying paragraphs from borrowed guides. The internet was something other children talked about—but she had never explored it herself.
Today, Meena logs into the digital learning platform at our centre, uses interactive science modules, listens to English pronunciation exercises, and watches short history documentaries. Last week, she created her first digital presentation on the solar system. “I want to become a nurse,” she says now. “I need to learn English and science properly. Now I can.”
Her confidence is growing alongside her skills.
In November 2025, Apne Aap inaugurated a Digital Learning Library at our Forbesganj centre, equipped with iPads, curated educational apps, age-appropriate e-books, and structured digital literacy sessions. The goal is simple but urgent: to ensure that girls from red-light areas are not left behind in an increasingly digital world.
For children already cut off by poverty and discrimination, digital exclusion creates yet another barrier. Without access to technology, they struggle to complete school assignments, prepare for competitive exams, or imagine careers beyond their immediate surroundings.
The digital library is helping change that.
Over the past three months, the Digital Learning Initiative has:
Provided regular digital literacy sessions to 96 girls, introducing them to safe internet use, research skills, typing, and presentation tools.
Enabled students in Classes 6–10 to access interactive learning apps for mathematics, science, and English comprehension.
Created structured study hours in the digital library, supervised by trained mentors to ensure guided and safe usage.
Supported board exam students with online mock tests and past paper practice, improving confidence and performance readiness.
Introduced career exploration modules, exposing girls to professions such as nursing, teaching, law, design, and public service.
Conducted cyber safety workshops, equipping girls with knowledge about online risks, privacy, and digital boundaries.
In total, over 140 children have accessed the digital library since its launch.
When girls who once hesitated to speak now present slides to their peers, when they search for information independently, when they type their own essays instead of copying from borrowed notes, they begin to see themselves differently.
One student recently said, “Before, I thought the world was very small. Now I can see other countries, other colleges, other jobs.” Access to technology is a bridge to knowledge, to opportunity, and to agency.
This winter in North Bihar was particularly harsh. A prolonged cold wave swept through the region, preventing many daily wage earners from going to work. Fuel costs rose sharply as families struggled to heat small rooms and cook meals. For households already living on the edge, income stopped while expenses increased.
Alongside digital learning, Apne Aap intensified its essential support systems.
Continued our daily nutrition program, extending meal provision to Sundays during peak cold weeks to ensure children did not go hungry.
Provided medicines and basic health support, particularly for respiratory illnesses that increased during the cold wave.
Distributed blankets to families and women, prioritizing households with young children and elderly members.
Conducted regular home visits and well-being checks, ensuring that children remained in school despite economic pressures.
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By Praveen Kumar | Program Manager
By Praveen Kumar | Project Manager
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