Inputs on digital literacy

The adolescent programme equips youngsters with experiential, activity-based life skills education, aligning with the focus of the National Education Policy 2020. In response to emerging needs, life skills education is complemented with inputs on Foundational Literacy & Numeracy (FLN), where learning gaps are identified as a concern.

Magic Bus also provides inputs on digital literacy, work readiness and employability as part of the programme, enabling the journey from childhood to livelihood. SEL is crucial for nurturing rational, compassionate and empathetic individuals, essential for a harmonious global society. The recent G20 Summit highlighted the significance of FLN and life skills like problem-solving, critical thinking, communication, creativity and digital literacy.

To achieve this goal, Magic Bus has implemented two approaches:  direct staff-led programme and indirect government partnerships and teacher-led life skills programme. The direct staff-led programme is led by Magic Bus through a trained and experienced team of life skills educators, who work in co-ordination with officers and managers to deliver life skill sessions in schools and communities.

Each cohort will complete three years of life skills, which are delivered through defined curriculum-based sessions, games and activities. Experiential learning is woven through the curriculum with activity touch points and magic sheets through which adolescents are encouraged to apply their learnings about life skills in their daily lives. 

“Additionally, a cadre of volunteers are also activated and supported at the community level called Community Youth Leaders (CYLs),” explains Rastogi. “They engage parents and community members in the programme to enable them to understand the importance of life skills and solicit the latter’s co-operation to implement the programme activities”.

Under Rastogi's leadership, MBIF has experienced growth, expanding across 23 states and 74 districts in India. Rastogi's thought-leadership and policy advocacy have solidified the organisation's position. He has been recognised in various media and led MBIF to prestigious accolades, including the ASSOCHAM awards for Best Not-For-Profit Organisation and Best NGO for Covid-19 Response in 2022. Under him, Magic Bus has been acknowledged as one of the 'Great Place to Work' for four consecutive years.

Rastogi attributes MBIF's growth to its 3,000+ dedicated professionals and deep management bench. Their commitment to impactful programmes is enriching the lives of Indian youth, propelling the organisation's success. In less than a decade, MBIF has risen to become the nation's leading direct implementation NGO.  His dedication to innovation has elevated MBIF's reputation, making it renowned for its robust automation, strong financial health, cutting-edge technology and successful acquisition of a Development Impact Bond, while upholding ethical standards.

Under the indirect government partnerships & teacher-led life skills programme, Magic Bus has partnered with various state governments, to expand the reach of life skills education, building upon the proven curriculum, training pedagogy and expertise in life skills education, honed over the past two decades.   Aligned with the objectives of the National Education Policy (NEP), MBIF has aimed to bolster the government's efforts in delivering holistic education, empowering adolescents with higher-order thinking, analytical skills and socio-emotional learning essential for success in the 21st century.

MBIF’s adolescent programme outreach has grown 10x over the last three years, leading it to establish strong partnerships with state governments for scale-up. Through its government partnership programme, it has signed MoUs with eight state governments (six state-wide and two district-level) – Assam, Rajasthan, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Mizoram and Maharashtra – to successfully introduce life skills education to thousands of schools, making a meaningful impact on millions of adolescents. This initiative is a transformative force in the education landscape. 

The Livelihood Programme by Magic Bus introduces an alternative approach to skills development, focussing on transferable life and employability skills to help young individuals aged 18-25 years secure sustainable grey-collared jobs in the service sector. Magic Bus targets young people from marginalised communities, providing them with the necessary 21st-century skills to obtain dignified and long-lasting jobs in the formal sector. It prepares these first-time job seekers for the job market by developing their skills tailored to specific job segments, placing them in customer-centric job roles in the service sector, and offering continuous support and post-placement guidance to ensure their retention in their jobs. 

This support helps them succeed in their careers and build their individual agency, leading to doubling the family's annual income with their economic contribution. The programme, which has placed over 290,000 youth in jobs, not only empowers the youth by enabling them to make informed decisions about their careers and lives but also encourages them to support their families in leading dignified lives and to become role models and change agents within their communities. In an effort to contribute to national economic growth by boosting women's participation in the labour force, MBIF has placed special emphasis on female involvement in all its programmes. This effort has resulted in achieving a participation rate of 60 per cent among girls.