Penned By Communications Manager, Ms. Aditi Mandali
In a bright, buzzing room in Pondicherry, students and women from a range of backgrounds gather with one shared goal—to build their digital skills and open new doors for themselves.
Welcome to Sharana’s Digital Lab, where each session is a step toward confidence, opportunity, and transformation. Since its launch, the Lab has become more than just a classroom—it’s a space where people learn, grow, and thrive.
At the heart of the Lab is a three-month computer course covering essential digital skills like typing, internet use, MS Office, and email. Learners include school- and college-going youth as well as women balancing household responsibilities. To accommodate their varied routines, sessions are offered in small batches at different times of day.
The program is designed with flexibility and care. When exams, internships, or family responsibilities make regular attendance difficult, instructors adapt. They offer online evening classes voluntarily, and on Saturdays, the Lab transforms into a vibrant space where current students, alumni, and volunteers explore advanced topics like Python and full-stack development.
But Sharana’s vision goes beyond digital training. The Lab responds to the real-life barriers that can hold students back. Since last year, 239 students have received bus fare support, ensuring regular attendance. Every class ends with a nutritious snack and drink—for many, a vital evening meal that sustains both body and focus. One student, Monika, even saw noticeable improvements in her health after regularly consuming the health mix.
Each batch concludes with a practical exam and oral viva, followed by a certificate ceremony that celebrates growth, effort, and achievement. These Skill India-recognised certificates not only reflect technical competence but also mark an important personal milestone. As of now, 1,530 students and 42 women have proudly completed the course, many continuing to higher education or entering the workforce with new skills and confidence.
Alongside computer classes, students attend spoken English sessions in Sharana’s Language Lab, where they practice conversation through storytelling, debates, drama, and group discussions. These sessions are lively, interactive, and confidence-building—equipping learners with the communication skills they need for both professional and everyday life.
What began as a small-scale effort has evolved into a structured and high-impact program, reaching the disserving. At its core, the Lab reflects Sharana’s belief in access, dignity, and the transformative power of education—one session, one learner, one possibility at a time.
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