Making rural children future-ready through STEM and SDGs

Warangal; Ms. V. Radha, Chief Monitoring Officer; Mr. Srinivasa Chary, District Science Officer of Hanamakonda; Dr. K. Srinivas, District Science Officer of Warangal were among the distinguished guests who judged the scientific models and sustainable ideas on display, and encouraged the participating children.

Chief Guest, Ms. Sikta Patnaik, IAS, Collector & District Magistrate, Hanamakonda said, “This is indeed a great moment to be part of this carnival, wherein girl children’s participation is higher. Smile Foundation’s initiative to reach out to the government schools is really appreciable, please continue this work and bring a change among the children.”

As many as 52 selected change projects and innovative models in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) were exhibited by 176 students from 35 schools from Warangal, Hanamakonda, Jayashankar Bhupalpalli, Jangaon, Mulugu, and Mahabubabad districts of Telangana during the carnival. The school children had come up with working models and innovative ideas related to every-day problems, sustainable agricultural practice, controlling emission, nature conservation and many areas linked with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

Smile Foundation has been implementing the NXplorers programme, a global flagship social investment STEM educational initiative from Shell, in 116 government schools in eight districts of Telangana, that include such as Warangal, Khammam, Hanamakonda, Jayashankar Bhupalpalli, Jangaon, Mulugu, Mahabubabad, and Bhadradri Kothagudem.

In addition, 77 government and affordable private schools of Thrissur district of Kerala, and 89 government schools in Tirupati and Nellore districts of Andhra Pradesh are also covered under this internationally successful programme for school children.

The NXplorers programme aims to empower school children to address the complex challenges faced by the world today and to become agents of change. It also provides the tools, methodologies and skills needed to tackle the real-world problems using collaborative, innovative and inter-disciplinary approaches, developing STEM habits of mind through critical thinking and complex problem solving skills are a few other goals. These are underlined in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In addition, the programme is aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and it envisions complementing the latter’s objectives.

Dr. K. Srinivas, District Science Officer of Warangal said, “I express my heartfelt appreciation for the outstanding efforts of Smile Foundation for its impactful community initiatives in Telangana and for organizing the science exhibition in the form of carnival successfully. I would like to encourage the teachers to motivate children to actively engage in programmes such as NXplorers, which is aiding to the Sustainable goals.”

Mr. Srinivasa Chary, District Science Officer of Hanamakonda District said, “I would encourage children to ask questions, learn how to refer to books for gaining knowledge and develop a curious mind-set which will help them pursue their dreams.”

Mr. Manohar Reddy, RCO MJPTBC schools Warangal said, "Smile Foundation has been implementing NXplorers programme in the MJP and government schools of our district for fifteen months now. We appreciate their contribution in instilling scientific acumens in our students, which will prepare the children for the futuristic world in front of them.”

Ms. V. Radha, Chief Monitoring Officer, Hanumakonda, said, “Inputs provided through the NXplorers workshops in the schools are infusing confidence in these young minds to bring a sustainable change in the society. I’m really happy that Smile Foundation is following a catch-them-young motto well.”