UNNATVA | Education

What is EduSkilling?

EduSkilling is a groundbreaking initiative that creates equitable opportunities for growth for students from low-income families, particularly those from rural and tribal communities. It is a school-based intervention that integrates 21st-century skills with soft skills to boost students’ confidence and self-belief, enabling them to aspire to bigger and brighter futures.

The divide in opportunities after school is stark between rural and urban youth. While 44% of urban youth go on to enrol in higher education, the figure drops to just 27% for rural students. Even in this, unlike their urban peers who pursue professional courses such as medicine, management, or engineering, rural students are more likely to enrol in arts or science streams, which are often associated with lower-paying jobs.

Why is EduSkilling and STEM education important?

The gap between rural and urban students is not just about education, but about future livelihoods. Rural students, with limited exposure to technology, career avenues, or structured skill development, often end up in low-paying jobs or agricultural work. Early interventions in STEM, digital literacy, and life skills give students the tools to dream beyond these boundaries and imagine themselves in careers that once felt out of reach.
STEM education, when paired with confidence-building and communication skills, becomes a powerful equalizer. It helps rural and tribal students see themselves as problem-solvers and innovators, not just passive learners. By teaching them how to think critically, adapt to new technologies, and express themselves, EduSkilling creates a foundation that can change the trajectory of entire communities.

What does our intervention look like?

EduSkilling works directly with schools to provide practical, experiential learning opportunities. Sessions are designed to be hands-on, play-based, and interactive, helping students build problem-solving skills and confidence in real-world scenarios. This approach makes learning less about rote memorization and more about curiosity, creativity, and application.
The curriculum goes beyond academics to focus on identity-building, empathy, respect, and communication. Students are encouraged to set personal and career goals, explore career pathways, and build the confidence to pursue them. By rooting these lessons in values as well as skills, we ensure that students are not only employable in the future but also resilient, empathetic, and socially responsible individuals.

Create Change

What have we achieved so far?

Over the course of the intervention, EduSkilling empowered more than 1,000 students from grades 9 to 11 across six schools in tribal areas of Nashik district. These students gained exposure to practical, play-based learning methods that made complex concepts simpler and more engaging. More importantly, they built confidence, problem-solving abilities, and critical thinking skills that continued to serve them beyond the classroom.
Through our value-driven curriculum, students developed self-esteem, empathy, and respect for others, while also strengthening foundational language and communication. With a structured focus on goal-setting and career growth, EduSkilling helped widen the horizons of what young people from underserved communities believed they could achieve, moving them closer to brighter, more sustainable futures.