IThe Commonwealth of Learning (COL), Canada is an intergovernmental body of Commonwealth countries focusing on strengthening learning. The approach towards the L3 Farmers project is to define a new pathway in project and programme management.COL supported VIDIYAL the L3F project. The vision of the project is to evolve a self-replicating and self-sustaining programme in Lifelong Long Learning among Rural community using modern ICT

When the women became confident about raising financial capital, they wanted to focus more on encouraging entrepreneurial capacity of the women. VIDIVELLI felt that ad hoc training programmes may not be sufficient for building such capacity. A regular flow of information, constant dialogues and discourses were seen as essential components of need based learning and community knowledge management. Initially VIDIYAL established a computer centre with wireless internet facilities to obtain information on market, weather, community health etc. During this period, VIDIYAL came across the Lifelong Learning for Farmers (L3F) initiative of Commonwealth of Learning in the neighboring villages and requested COL to become partner in initiating a similar initiative in VIDIYAL-VIDIVELLI.  As a part of this initiative nearly 300 members of the SHGs came together and decided to set up a goat rearing enterprise. Most of the participating women are illiterates and semi-literates belonging to landless, marginal and small farmers.

Through L3F initiative COL helped VIDIYAL to establish network with various agricultural and veterinary universities in India. VIDIYAL adopted a blended learning approach. Through a series of Participatory Rural Exercises (PRAs) VIDIYAL conducted Learner Need Analysis among the participating women. The women initially wanted to understand the business skills in goat rearing.  VIDIYAL trained 300 women in conducting value-chain analysis and developing business proposal for goat-rearing enterprises. It contacted Indian Overseas Bank, Regional Office, Madurai  and its Branch at Rasingapuram in Theni Dt. and obtained the procedures for developing credit and business proposal. It developed multimedia materials in local languages on conducting business feasibility studies, developing business proposals and trained the women. The women were also trained in negotiating skills with various stakeholders.  It took nearly a year for the women to conduct the market feasibility studies and develop the business proposals.

The women developed a business proposal whereby each member would get credit for buying ten goats and one mobile phone. The purpose of the mobile phone is to enhance lifelong learning opportunities. The bank agreed to the proposal of the SHGs and federation and sanctioned an amount of Rs. 1.2 Crores .  Then VIDIYAL entered into an agreement with IKSL-AirTel group, one of the biggest mobile service providers for sending audio messages to the three hundred women through mobile phones. It then created nearly 100 audio materials (each material with messages for 60 seconds) on buying goats, feed management, disease & health management and marketing management. Every day one message is passed on through mobile phone. Now, the voice messages are broadcasted from VIDIYAL.

VIDIYAL developed these materials in consultation with the Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (TANUVAS). The materials and suggestions given by TANUVAS were contextualized to suit the local culture and local dialects. The materials thus produced were evaluated by VIDIVELLI and then channelized through the mobile phones. The other video based multi-media materials are being telecasted through local satellite channels (which are being run by SHGs).

VIDIYAL also encouraged the women to discuss the enterprise issues with one another using mobile phones. The participating members were trained in developing multi-media materials using digital photography and PowerPoint presentations.  Once in a week the members meet in the SHG meetings and share their experiences. The horizontal and vertical transfer of knowledge has encouraged self-directed learning among the members. The learners have started producing learning materials based on the indigenous knowledge. These materials after validated by the experts from TANUVAS are shared by other members.

The learning among the members has created a positive impact in terms of productivity. Careful selection of breed, better feed and health management etc have helped the women to get better income. This attracted attention of other women members and nearly 200 more women have purchased mobile phones for learning and another 600 women have come together for developing goat rearing and dairy business proposal to the tune of Rs. 45 million  (nearly US$ 1 million).

United Nations Development Programme has supported VIDIYAL        to use the lifelong learning approach in governance issues and is supporting VIDIYAL to set up four Village Resource Canters with on line facility to have multiple accesses to address information needs and to enhance self-directed learning among the women members.