With schools shut due to the fear of COVID19 Virus, the morning bell is now the caller tune of a zoom call. The Classroom is the Laptop, Desktop, tablet! or mobile phone. Somewhere along the line the TV too, butts in.
The pandemic has had a deleterious effect on many aspects of ‘normal’ life. Business, Social events, Employment, Income, and even governance, and the grass is not that green on the other side! Children too finding it difficult to stay in the education zone without an electronic device, and their parents are in a worse situation because of the guilt.
But amid the gloom there is hope. Cahsify, established in 2013, on 4th August 2020, launched and is leading a campaign to support and enable the students, especially that of government schools to facilitate their continuing education via the virtual route.. Established in 2013, Cashify is India’s leading re-commerce industry that enables a customer to sell his own phones or gadgets to buy new ones in return. According to the Press Release, “to democratize technology by making it accessible to all”.
Education for all….But how does it work?
Driven by technology, and learning systems being the priority, the company has unveiled an initiative for its consumers to support the ones who are in need. The company is currently partnered by Delhi- NCR based NGOs such as Mera Parivar, Avanti Fellows, SSMI, Saarthi, Saajha, Charter for Compassion, Freepathshala, Kilkari, CBN, Khushii, Noor Girl Up.
Here’s how it works: Consumers donate unused workable smartphones. The Company refurbishes them and provides them to the kids associated with the partnered NGOs. If any consumer has a used/unused smartphone, they can directly select the brand and model on the website, indicating their contact/identity details or address. Later, an executive will pick up the mobile phone after the order gets confirmed. Then it is refurbished handing it out to the children who are in need. Tasks such as delivery, communicating to the households etc, are carried out by the Cashify team, including customer support, pick up execs, and the warehouse QC team. The team is able to pick up in all locations in India that are not under any city-wide lockdown. The headquarters of the company is located in Gurugram.
The campaign is currently being headed by Ratnika Misra, who leads Brand Marketing for Cashify. “This campaign is very close to the founders of Cashify, also, everyone in the team takes special pride in being associated with a project like this where your every step is helping bring education to less privileged kids. Cashify has till now given out 100+ phones to students associated with Avanti Fellows Meraparivar.”
Tiny Steps for a big leap
The initiative was already a cashify model that had started around April-May during the strict lockdown, along with NGOs like Saajha & Charter of Compassion. Ratnika says, “When NGOs first approached us, we suddenly felt it was impossible. But when I thought about how education has been so disrupted, especially for kids that are unable to get these needs, let’s give it a try. NGOs are doing their bit to provide the students with education. But, with lockdown, it’s hard as no schools are operating. So initially, when two NGOs approached us, we helped them with a few phones from our own inventory. As we moved on, we thought of building a model with that as there are people out there to whom we could go ahead and donate. With that model, we have been partnering with NGOs.”
As far as the revenue goes, Cashfiy had enabled consumers to sell their phones, and get money in return. This enables the company to sell to direct customers or sell to the market with partnership either that almost 15% take, that the gadgets can refurbish and sell it directly to customers. She emphasized the fact that as there are many people who fall into the underprivileged category, various NGOs and Govt. are taking initiative to provide them with basic necessities to the kids in these households who are suffering due to the non-availability of regular school. The main objective for the team is to help many kids so that they can continue their education and not let the COVID lockdown stop them from it.
When asked about the schools and institutions covered so far, she said, “We are still in the process of making a huge impact, but having said that we aim to wish to enable as many students as we can. We do not have an account in mind right now. But, helping NGOs meet their goals will really help in creating a larger impact.”
But phones are not enough. There is the issue of networks too. So NGOs have also come up with initiatives like providing data packs etc. The Cashify team works with these NGOs, enabling them to fulfill their logistic needs. Several NGOs from Mumbai are also interested and want to team up on a larger level in the country.
“It’s still work in progress. It takes a lot of time and effort, and while we are receiving the phones, they are either really old and many of them are of no value whatsoever. Hardly material for refurbishment. Still, we are trying to build, process them, and move them forward.”
She highlights the need for small NGOs that work at the ground level to meet such needs of the society. She adds ….“If you have a strong network, go ahead and do it. We can support the logistics part. This initiative is for those who really work hard for a cause.”
Ratnika says, “Every step of this initiative is exciting and fulfilling. There are many challenges that the team faces; there are situations that weren’t anticipated but everyone is working towards fulfilling the bigger picture: to enable a child to learn and fulfill his potential. At the end of the day, even one small change can do wonders! Pass on your old phones immediately! And help the children who are in need to build the future of our country.
