When Binita joined the GEMs club in Grade 8, she had never turned on a laptop. Though her school technically had computers, they remained locked away and socially inaccessible. "Sir never taught us."
Through the GEMS programme (part of the British Council initiative), Binita mastered Microsoft PowerPoint, Word and Excel. "This is the digital age. If you don't know how to use digital tools, how will you do anything?" she asks. Today, she not only uses these tools herself but also teaches them to others, including her parents, who are using mobile visuals, reversing traditional home dynamics.
As a Peer Group Leader (PGL), Binita discovered a nurturing peer-based learning model: "In school, teachers scold and sometimes beat us. In GEMS, our teacher is our friend. If I don't know something, I say, 'Friend, teach me,' and they do, there is no fear." This inclusive approach aligns with GEMS's design to encourage peer learning, build confidence, and foster fear-free environments.
Binita's newfound confidence hasn't gone unnoticed: at home and in her neighbourhood, women now refer to her as "our daughter, the teacher." Even though many do not fully understand what a PGL is, they recognise and respect her influence. Her peers – outside the program –ask, "How do you know this? We wish we had joined, too."
Future aspirations and advocacy: Despite family pressure to study commerce and work in a bank like her uncle, Binita dreams of working in an NGO, motivated by a local field coordinator, Nisha Thakur: "I want to work like Nisha didi, helping people and working in the community." She also reflects critically on social norms like early marriage: "A girl in our area got married at 15. But I don't want that. I want to study."
Commitment beyond the programme: Even though GEMS officially ended, Binita insists, "People might think I am being selfish saying this, but this program should continue forever."
Binita's journey, from a girl who had never used a laptop to a confident Peer Group Leader and community educator, demonstrated the transformative power of inclusive digital education and peer mentorship. She now stands as an example of change for her community, empowered, influential and hopeful for a brighter future.