And that is the philosophy that has brought us here today. 2.5 years of the pandemic has crossed by, but our zeal to continuously reinvent ourselves and enable shared learning for Manzillions in the virtual world has only picked up more pace. 

Manzil is a space where we constantly embrace opportunities to learn and grow. Pre-pandemic, we have always worked in a physical space, so It was quite challenging to transition to online learning modes during Covid. There was limited access to digital devices in most of our students’ homes which made it even more difficult. Nevertheless, our crew and our teachers persisted. We initiated a campaign to provide students with access to digital devices while developing strategies to make our virtual classes more interactive and engaging. Consequently, we were able to connect even with students living far from Delhi while also delivering all of our ongoing lessons virtually.

This opened so many doors for us. It:

• Reshaped the way our admission processes work.
• Inspired us to initiate several new programs to enable our students learn and grow better
• Widened our reach to create a learning space for students all over the country

The best part about reshaping the admission process through the use of technology was that we were now able to enrol students from any location, as long as they had access to a smartphone and an active internet connection. Learning at Manzil is no longer restricted to the limits of nearby neighbourhoods.

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During Covid, the spirit of learning at Manzil did not fizzle, just the medium changed. We shifted all our classes to online to continue the learning for our students. Zoom or Google Meet was used to conduct lessons, and teachers started making use of PowerPoint, virtual games, and eBooks to take their classes much more effectively. Art students studying dance, theatre and kathak also started using technology to learn more effectively.

Here are some of the ways we were able to positively impact our ongoing initiatives with online learning:

Online Talent Show & Celebrations

With Covid forcing us to turn everything virtual, we began to organize our events online. The students got to learn a whole new way of managing events. But the best part was to see people from different age groups participate with enthusiasm, and have such a fun time together!

As a result of online learning modes, we saw:

• Several students from outside Delhi join Manzil classes. Our numbers increased to 400 per month. 
• New learning possibilities with outstation mentors & volunteers.
• No more constraints with respect to a specific number of students to be enlisted in a physical class. We could now conduct classes with a sizeable number of students as there was no need for waiting lists anymore.

What makes our heart flutter with pride is the glowing feedback we received from our students.

From access to digital devices, to addressing mental health concerns, making classes engaging or providing opportunities to learn by doing – the Manzil team rose up to challenges due to online learning during the pandemic and introduced new program initiatives to mitigate them.

Looking back, Manzil has come a long way ever since the pandemic first broke out. There are countless ways we have been able to impart learning and wellness for our students as well as teachers. But none of this would have been possible without first ensuring a safe and healthy environment for them. As for most of our beneficiaries, it became difficult to procure food at regular intervals during the pandemic. And as such, learning became secondary to them as well as other countless families suffering at that time.. So our first challenge during the time was to keep the community together, provide them with ration kits, offer relief, organize consultations, oxygen cylinders, hospital beds, and deliver medicines to the needy. 

Several Manzillions – students and alumni – came forward to volunteer during those times. They were leading this initiative and creating a safety net for everyone in the community. Students learnt to be sensitive to others around them, even if they themselves came from difficult economic backgrounds. Their selfless spirit to serve in times of needs, acts of kindness and compassion by being a catalyst of change, all of these demonstrates that Manzil must be doing something right.

MANZIL’S REPORT ON FIGHTING COVID TOGETHER

Here are some of our blogs that will give a detailed perspective on how we evolved together during the pandemic:

One Year of Virtual Manzil

Looking back at the past year to appreciate how far we have come as a community that we are proud of building.

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