Describe the product or program that is the focus of your proposed LEAP project.
FOCUS PRODUCT: DESKIT- A SCHOOL BAG CONVERTIBLE INTO A STUDY TABLE
DESKIT is a unique combination of a lightweight school bag and an ergonomic, fold-able, portable, and detachable table.
PROBLEM STATEMENT & DESKIT AS A SOLUTION
We have specially designed DESKIT for underserved students who do not have basic infrastructure facilities like tables at school and at home. Hence, these children sit on the floor to study with a hunched back while reading or writing.
Sitting for long hours in a hunched-back position develops back and neck pain among students at an early age. It also strains their eyes. This particular sitting posture also affects their concentration in class besides resulting in poor handwriting because of the lack of a leveled support for writing.
It is easy for the students to carry DESKITs to school and also use them at home. The table is detachable and also can be used separately from the bag. It can also be adjusted at two heights.
It is presently being used by more than 4,00,000+ students across 19 states of India.
This DESKIT Video + introduction PPT will give you an overall idea about DESKIT and its impact.
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TARGET BENEFICIARY
In India, there are 20 Crore students in the age group of 6-14
Total Rural Households in India is 13.8 Crore and Average children= 1.8 per household
13.25% of India’s rural households have only kachcha rooms
Total Number of students with no access to proper infrastructural facilities at school: 13.8Crore*13.25%*1.8 =3.3 Crore students
More details can be found in the Journal Article: Sustainable product development through innovation for social impact
Target groups:
Students studying in government and low-income private schools that lack basic educational infrastructure facilities like tables.
Students who come from underserved communities where they might have infrastructure at school but do not have it at home for their homework.
Students who attend after-school evening classes run by nonprofits. These are mostly makeshift classrooms in small spaces where infrastructure is missing.
Students of schools where infrastructure is destroyed or badly damaged during natural calamities like floods and earthquakes. Often in such situations, makeshift classrooms are arranged that lack basic infrastructure including tables.