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Door Step School:
An Ink Pad that converted the symbol of illiteracy into a tool to write.

Background: 

In India, if you can write your name, you are literate. Even with such a simple definition, 40% of the country is illiterate. Largely, the reason behind such low literacy rate is the lack of will in adults to learn.

Objective: 

Door Step School is an NGO that sets up camps in and around the residence of the underprivileged section of the society and runs literacy programs. They regularly face a lack of enthusiasm in adults to join their program. The objective of this campaign was to initiate a desire for education amongst this group using a warm personal approach and relevant insight.

Insight: 

In India, when it comes to signing on official documents (marriage certificate, property deals, couriers) thumb impression is a common alternative that illiterate adults exercise. Thus, over a period of time, the thumb impression has become a symbol of illiteracy.

Idea: 

We used the most identifiable symbol of illiteracy –the thumb impression and turned it to deliver the joy of writing. We designed an ink pad that allowed illiterate individuals to print their name. Using this, our volunteers went from door-to-door in the underprivileged section of our society and guided illiterate adults to write their names. They saw the same thumb impression that marked their illiteracy, turn into a tool to write. The joy of being able to write evoked a spirit to join our program and learn.

Results: 

We used the most identifiable symbol of illiteracy –the thumb impression and turned it to deliver the joy of writing. We designed an ink pad that allowed illiterate individuals to print their name. Using this, our volunteers went from door-to-door in the underprivileged section of our society and guided illiterate adults to write their names. They saw the same thumb impression that marked their illiteracy, turn into a tool to write. The joy of being able to write evoked a spirit to join our program and learn.

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