Young Tinker Aims To Train 1 Mn Rural Students In STEM By 2026

India has the world’s largest population of young people. As per estimates, more than 65 per cent of the total population falls below the age bracket of 35. Such demographic profile makes the country suitable for driving global growth. However, without quality of education and gainful employment opportunities, this demographic dividend can’t be reaped. Especially, young mass in the rural region of the country needs to be upskilled in contemporary and relevant skillsets. Young Tinker Foundation is an organisation that works in rural regions of the country for skilling students in STEM education. In a conversation with the Bizz Buzz, Anil Pradhan, CEO & MD of Young Tinker said that it has impacted around 2.5 lakh students across Odisha, Telangana, and Tamil Nadu through its STEM education training. It has a goal of reaching 1 million students by 2026. The foundation also operates various hands-on learning labs and works with corporate partners to scale their reach. Apart from working with various state government agencies, it has also partnered with corporate entities like Intellect Design Arena and Nucleus Software Engineers. Other organisations like the US Consulate in Hyderabad, IIT UK Association, India Development Service, Mission Samriddhi, and NMDC among others have also collaborated with Young Tinker to educate rural students in key STEM skills.

Can you provide a brief overview about the operation of Young Tinker Foundation?

Young Tinker operates with a mission to democratize access to quality STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education for underserved communities in rural India. The foundation runs the Tinker on Wheels (TOW) programme, a mobile makerspace equipped with advanced technology, which transforms outdoor spaces like playgrounds into interactive learning environments. Since its inception in 2019, Young Tinker has impacted around 2.5 lakh students across Odisha, Telangana, and Tamil Nadu, with a goal to reach 1 million students by 2026. The foundation also operates various hands-on learning labs and works with corporate partners to scale their reach.

What is the motivation behind starting Young Tinker? Why did you decide to operate in the education space?

The motivation for starting Young Tinker came from the personal experiences of co-founders Anil Pradhan and Vaishali Sharma, who grew up in rural areas of Odisha with limited access to STEM education. They understood the transformative power of STEM education in shaping young minds and wanted to ensure that students in under-resourced schools are not left behind. The foundation was created to provide students, especially from tribal and rural communities, with hands-on learning experiences, bridging the gap in access to STEM labs and quality education.

Kindly give us some glimpses of success stories that Young Tinker has achieved since its inception?

One of the most inspiring success stories involves a team of students from rural India who participated in the 2021 NASA Rover Challenge. These students, including children of cycle mechanics and welders, designed, manufactured, and tested a human-powered rover, earning them World Rank 3. This achievement highlighted the potential of students from underserved communities when given access to the right tools and platform. Young Tinker has many such stories, where students have applied their STEM knowledge to create practical solutions for their local communities.

NASA Rover project has got much accolades in India. Can you give us some idea about the project and your experience on the project?

The NASA Rover Challenge is an international competition where teams are tasked with designing, manufacturing, and testing a human-powered rover. In 2021, a team of students from rural India, trained through the Young Tinker Foundation, participated in the challenge and achieved world rank 3. This success was a significant milestone, as it showcased the ability of students from underserved backgrounds to excel on a global platform when given access to quality education and hands-on learning opportunities.

What are the initiatives that the foundation is working on currently? Can you provide a brief overview on those initiatives?

The foundation is currently focused on expanding the reach of the Tinker on Wheels (TOW) programme, aiming to reach 1 million students by 2026. It continues to develop Young Tinker spaces in schools and communities, bringing mobile STEM labs to underserved areas. Additionally, Young Tinker is working on skilling students in emerging technologies like AI (artificial intelligence), IoT (Internet of Things), robotics, and more, with a strong focus on empowering girls in STEM.

Young Tinker has a mission of skilling young students in emerging technology areas. Can you give us some idea of what are the technology areas that you are concentrating on? How many students have been trained so far?

Young Tinker focuses on training students in emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), robotics, 3D printing, and advanced prototyping. These skills are taught through hands-on learning experiences in rural and underserved schools via the TOW programme. So far, the foundation has reached around 2.5 lakh students, with plans to train 1 million by 2026.

IT industry body, NASSCOM says that the skill gap in India is acute among engineers. Are you working in bridging this gap in any form?

Yes, Young Tinker is actively working to bridge the skill gap in India by providing practical, hands-on learning experiences to students in rural areas, where access to quality STEM education is limited. By focusing on emerging technologies and encouraging innovation through projects like TOW, Young Tinker is helping to equip students with the skills needed to succeed in the 21st-century workforce. The foundation also focuses on training students in problem-solving and critical thinking, key skills required in the engineering and technology fields.

What is your current engagement with various state govts, central govt, and other public agencies? Can you give some perspective in this matter?

Young Tinker collaborates with local governments and public agencies to bring its TOW programme to more schools in rural areas. These partnerships are crucial for scaling the programme and reaching a broader audience. The foundation is also engaged in discussions with policymakers to explore ways to integrate STEM learning into the broader education system, making it more accessible to students across India.

What is your current engagement with corporates in India? Do you also collaborate with corporate entities globally?

Young Tinker has established partnerships with corporate entities such as Intellect Design Arena and Nucleus Software Engineers. These collaborations have been instrumental in scaling the TOW programme and bringing STEM education to underserved communities. The support from these corporate partners has helped in expanding the foundation’s reach and ensuring more students have access to hands-on STEM learning. Other organisations include the US Consulate in Hyderabad, IIT UK Association, India Development Service, Mission Samriddhi, and NMDC among others.

Do you want to share any interesting anecdote during several years of operation?

An important insight from Young Tinker’s journey is the power of adaptability and innovation in overcoming challenges. The foundation started with a large vehicle for the TOW program but quickly realized that it wasn’t practical for rural areas with narrow roads. By redesigning the concept and using smaller, more adaptable vehicles, Young Tinker was able to make STEM education more accessible and interactive, furthering its mission of democratizing learning for all students.