Think Local Act Global !

Indiafrica Business Venture Contest 2014 took place in Accra Ghana.This event was covered today on CNBC TV 18 on Young Turks . By watching the episode I realized how addressing local problems have a global relevance. 

Following is my take on that   

Grammangal is a NGO in India.

One of its achievements is providing quality education for the under privileged tribal and rural children of Maharashtra. Their methodology is based on joyful learning. For example while teaching Marathi Language to the students, they designed a set of books accompanied by flash cards. 

The series teaches Marathi Alphabets illustrated with objects usually found in the surrounding  of these tribal and rural children. It helps the children to place the language in context of the surrounding. The illustrations in the books highlight what the children would see in their day today life. So, after learning the alphabets, when the children need to use language they can verbally experiment using objects around them.  This instills confidence and the children embrace the language quickly. They find utility in learning a language . Language as a tool of expression is embraced more willingly when you can use the language for the environment around you. This is how Grammangal is addressing literacy problem in tribal and rural Maharashtra in a different way.

The context of this problem solution finds relevance somewhere else in the world. The Non Resident Indian Community with Marathi speaking Diaspora is spread far and wide.  This community yearns to remain connected with their roots. And one of the predominant desires of parents is that their children should know their mother tongue namely  "Marathi". They expect children to  at least converse in Marathi if not write it. In an attempt to teach the language they often use text books like Balbharati   and expect the children to pick up their mother tongue. Unfortunately these NRI kids are unable to connect with the illustrations or context in the text books. Learning alphabets would be too much to expect from them. The solution as per me is redesigning such books which illustrate what these NRI kids see around them ( like Grammangal )

So a न wont be illustrated as नमन

 but may be न  as in नट्स 

The point I wish to drive home is, problems solved in local context (Grammangal in this case) may often be a solution to problem faced somewhere else in the world ( the NRI Marathi speaking Diaspora ).
The two places may be diametrically opposite on the globe or as distant as Africa and India but the problems are common and often the solutions may be the same.
What is required is many more such events like Indiafrica initiatives where one can talk about local Problems and seek solutions through each other's learning.

"So why spend time reinventing the wheel? ". It may be wiser  to assemble one's car using a wheel invented by someone else and drive further on the path to success !