Bhagyashree hails from the outskirts of Cuttack City. She became a part of the EmpowerEducator Program in 2021, nearly three years ago. Following the program, she established her own learning center and swiftly gained popularity as a teacher within her community. Actively engaged in the program, Bhagyashree took the initiative to assist other teachers in her community post-program completion.
Her proactive attitude and eagerness to learn were noticed by our Senior Coordinator, Manoj. She understood the longer vision of the program and started helping Manoj in implementing programs and reaching out to educators, promoting ThinkZone’s vision within communities and among youth. Besides being a renowned teacher, she earned a reputation for her commitment to enhancing the education ecosystem in her community. When ThinkZone had a vacancy for a Educator Facilitator, responsible for providing training and support to educators, Bhagyashree applied. Despite her diverse background, her hands-on experience proved invaluable, helping her successfully navigate the rigorous interview process. Consequently, she joined the team as a Educator Facilitator in 2022. In her role, Bhagyashree independently managed various camps and capacity-building sessions for youths, not only in her community but also in neighboring areas.
Since 2022, she has officially trained over 1000 youths, impacted 3000 parents, and provided continuous support through ThinkZone’s digital solutions. Equipped with online tools and training, Bhagyashree efficiently uses ThinkZone’s dashboard analytics tools to analyze educators’ performance and provide support. She dispelled the perception that social sector organizations and NGOs only engage in one-time initiatives. Utilizing tech, she provided continuous online support, making the program scalable and earning the trust of the community. Her efforts changed people’s perceptions, challenging biases against young girls pursuing education and careers. Bhagyashree’s success as a Teacher and Educator Facilitator made her a respected figure in her community, challenging stereotypes about marriage and achieving professional success. She emphasized the importance of technology in sustaining community programs and acknowledged the trust and dignity she earned through her work. Bhagyashree expressed her happiness in witnessing changed expectations from her community and the pride her parents felt when she was recognized as a guest speaker & judge in large community programs.
When conducting camps, I’m asked about post-training support. I reply, ‘While I demonstrate solutions physically, all support is digital, ensuring learning and teaching regardless of my presence.’ In a lighthearted touch, I call our program ‘Physital— blending both the physical and digital realms.
-Bhagyashree
She says, undoubtedly, I put in a lot of effort to achieve this, but I don’t believe I could have accomplished it on my own. I want to express my thanks to ThinkZone for giving me this chance. I’m convinced that there are numerous girls out there who, like me, aspire to achieve something meaningful, and all they require is a ThinkZone in their lives.
