Blog
KGBV – Makers Lab
We are excited to announce that we’ve been awarded a grant by Rise Up and The Emerging Markets Foundation (Empower) in July 2022 to set up ‘Maker Spaces’ in government residential schools (KGBVs) for disadvantaged girls in Rajasthan. KGBVs are special-purpose schools explicitly designed for educationally backward blocks.
The “Maker Lab” is a space where students are encouraged to play around with the ideas of, freedom of experimentation, celebrating failure, and Desire for excellence. It helps children to learn, innovate, and solve real-life challenges through the design thinking framework, which allows students to explore their imagination in building prototypes. Once the prototypes are developed, Maker Labs helps in the R&D of the prototype until a finished product is produced.
We aim to provide a world-class (high-quality, low-budget) curriculum of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths) and entrepreneurship to empower girls with fundamental skills to increase their participation in the 21st Century workforce. The goal is to help these young girls become entrepreneurs in the future. These girls will also be trained to become advocates of the program.
The project is being spearheaded by Ashwani Tiwari, Plustrust anchor, and is in full swing. Maker Labs are currently set up in four KGBV schools in the Udaipur region, namely Residency School Madhuban, K.G.B.V. Dhol ki Pati, K.G.B.V. Sarada, and K.G.B.V. Jhadol. In these schools, the program is providing 400 girl students with opportunities to improve their understanding and academic performance in STEM, including Mechanics, Electricals and Electronics, PCB and Fab Lab, Digital Literacy of G-Suite, Coding, and Computing.
These ‘Maker labs’ are affordable as it takes a one-time investment and requires minimal recurring costs after 10 years of establishment.
Plustrust is proud to be a part of this Government initiative. In the coming years, we intend to transform the KGBVs of Rajasthan into hubs for grassroots innovation and prepare young girls as entrepreneurs in these educationally backward geographies. With the right resources and training, we can empower rural women to create jobs in their communities and make a real difference.
As we continue to live in a rapidly changing world, it has become increasingly important to equip children with the skills they need to succeed in the future. With the ever-growing use of technology, it has become crucial to provide students with a solid foundation in digital literacy skills. The good news is that Ashwin Tiwari and his team at @vidhyalayudham have taken this responsibility upon themselves, and are working tirelessly to make a difference in the lives of young girls in Udaipur.
At residency school, children are learning about the concept of paper circuit and its real-world applications. These girls are then given the opportunity to experiment with the principles of series and parallel connections, such as simple switches and general house wiring. This hands-on approach to learning not only helps students understand the concepts better, but also encourages creativity and problem-solving skills.
In addition to learning about paper circuits, students at residency school are also being taught how to use G-suite as part of their digital literacy curriculum. This provides them with a strong foundation in the tools and applications that are widely used in today’s world. Furthermore, it gives them the confidence and skills they need to succeed in the future.
In conclusion, empowering young minds through education and technology is essential in creating a better future for all. By teaching Fundamentals of technology and digital literacy, Ashwin Tiwari and his team are making a valuable contribution to the development of young girls in Udaipur. We hope that more schools and organizations will follow their example and make a difference in the lives of children everywhere.