In India’s rural education landscape, much of the focus often centers on the children, which it should. After all, they are the future. But sometimes, when an education program is designed thoughtfully, it empowers more than just students. It can also create dignified, fulfilling opportunities for those who make learning possible every day, like the Class Assistants. EmpowerED, eVidyaloka’s Digital Literacy Program, through its structured and community-rooted approach, is doing exactly that.

Take the story of Pammy Srivastava from Uttar Pradesh. Armed with a Master’s degree, a B.Ed., and a diploma in computer applications, Pammy had always dreamt of being a teacher. But after her marriage in 2015, societal and family responsibilities kept her from pursuing that path. Like many women in rural India, her education remained on paper, and her dreams quietly paused. Today, she supports students in navigating digital tools, coordinates with volunteer teachers, and proudly walks into the classroom as a valued guide and mentor.

In Assam’s Nagaon district, Nandita Kakoti echoes a similar experience. Her journey began with hesitation, but six months in, she's gained not only digital fluency but also a deep sense of purpose. Helping young girls operate laptops for the first time and watching their confidence grow has, in turn, strengthened her own. "It’s not just teaching—it’s transformation," she says.

And then there’s Rukshana Parbin from Bechimari, Darrang—whose curiosity for science, shaped in childhood, now fuels her mentorship in classrooms and beyond. As a Class Assistant, her passion found a platform when she led a group of students to the India International Science Festival (IISF) 2024 at IIT Guwahati. For the girls she accompanied, it was their first time stepping outside their district to witness science and innovation on a national stage. For Rukshana, it was a full-circle moment—seeing her influence extend beyond textbooks and into real, transformative exposure.

These stories are not rare exceptions. They are becoming the norm in EmpowerED classrooms—where Class Assistants are not just support staff, but facilitators, mentors, and change agents. By creating space for the women from the community to step into roles of responsibility, the program is nurturing talent that already exists in rural India—waiting to be seen and supported.

In enabling students to dream digitally, eVidyaloka’s classrooms are also turning mirrors toward the communities themselves—reflecting what’s possible when learning is inclusive, purposeful, and shared.