Skilled Volunteers Transform Learner Career Pathways in Rural Indian Communities

Connecting Learners to Career Opportunities

While 97% of students are enrolled in primary schools in India, only 27% ultimately enroll in higher education, and of that percentage, just 50% of graduates are considered employable*. Learning Links Foundation (LLF), an India-based nonprofit, addresses this issue by working with students in grades 9-12 from under-resourced government schools through their Road to Livelihood Program. The program’s objective is to ensure that students have the skills and guidance to feel confident and prepared for their future. 

Over the past 3 months, a team of 10 skilled volunteers from Logitech leveraged human-centered design to develop a mobile application supporting LLF’s Road to Livelihood program. The application provides a repository of career pathway resources for students to identify their career interests and ultimately make informed decisions that lead toward long-term employability.

The presence of a well-designed career exploration application in rural areas can address the knowledge gap regarding career options. It can empower individuals, especially students, to make informed choices about their future, connect with mentors, and contribute to the overall development of their communities. Such applications play a crucial role in leveling the playing field and ensuring that career opportunities are accessible to all, regardless of their geographic location.”

— Aarthi Kasirajan, Team4Tech Volunteer and Logitech Data Scientist

Building User Voice Into Tech Solutions with Human-Centered Design

The volunteer team integrated user voice and user feedback into the application design. While on the ground in Chennai, Team4Tech volunteers had the opportunity to test and receive feedback from students and teachers to further inform the research and development of this career-focused mobile application. The application has the potential to impact more than 40,000 students and 200 teachers.

With the career guidance app in the works, we are not only changing lives but also shaping the future.”

— Learning Links Foundation

LLF has been a Team4Tech portfolio partner since 2020. This is their sixth project with Team4Tech—work that has included scaling literacy and STEM learning for girls and empowering teachers with professional development. Like those before it, this recent project supports our ongoing partnership goals to improve learner outcomes in government schools. This work is just one example of Team4Tech’s global contributions to education. Our organization continues to accelerate the impact of nonprofit organizations globally.

*Arun C. Mehta, “GER at Higher Education Level in India, Brief Analysis 2023.” Education for All India. September 10, 2023. https://educationforallinindia.com/ger-at-higher-education-level-in-india-2023.