Rural education startup reaches over 7,650 students in Uttar Pradesh

Archana Jaisal of Uttar Pradesh, India, founded Shiksha Saathi, an organisation that now operates 78 learning centres across six districts and serves more than 7,650 students with 67 teachers.

Archana grew up witnessing her father’s dedication to education while working as a rickshaw puller, a struggle that ultimately led to a job with the Indian Railways and a better life for his family.

Inspired by his example, she started Shiksha Saathi to address learning gaps in rural children and provide employment opportunities for local women. The organisation began in 2022 as “Your Coaching” and formally registered as Shiksha Saathi in 2023, offering affordable after-school tutoring from around 100 to 1,100 rupees. Recognizing that effective teaching was as important as access to it, Shiksha Saathi also established an Educator Training Programme, which has trained over 740 rural women to become teachers.

This model simultaneously supports children’s academic needs and empowers women to earn income and pursue their own education. Students like 10-year-old Riya have seen improvements in subjects they once feared, and women like Neetu are now financially independent and able to continue their own studies. Archana hopes to expand Shiksha Saathi to more districts and help more children access quality education, mirroring the transformative impact education had on her own family.