New Delhi: eVidyaloka, a pioneering not-for-profit organization committed to transforming education for underprivileged kids, has launched a state-of-the-art STEAM Lab in Anekal Taluk, Bengaluru Urban District with support from Brillio, Snowflake and Smrti Academy as the key partners. This initiative aims to bridge the educational divide by equipping over 2,000+ students exclusively from government schools with Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) skills, fostering curiosity, innovation, and scientific temper. Students in local government schools lack exposure to hands-on STEAM learning. eVidyaloka’s new STEAM Lab seeks to address this gap through a collaborative, multi-stakeholder approach.
The center will operate under a hub-and-spoke model, catering to 20 government schools for students in grades 7-9 within a 12 km radius. eVidyaloka, in collaboration with the Block Education Officer, Donors, and Smrti Academy, will ensure transport facilities for students to visit the center. Structured learning sessions of 1-2 hours will provide hands-on experience, and continuous monitoring and annual assessments will measure the impact and learning outcomes.
During the inauguration, Ms. Brinda Poornapragna, CEO of eVidyaloka, shared that the lab will bridge the hands-on STEAM learning gap by providing children with access to real-world experiments. Mr. Nethrapal, Chief Commissioner of Income Tax, Karnataka, joined as the Chief Guest. The other key guests were Mr. Ravichandran V, Founder and Mr. Ravi Ramachandra, the Co-founder of Smrti Academy, Mr. Venkatesh N, the Block Education Officer Anekal Taluk, Ms. Kathleen Ulrich and Mr. Abhishek Ranjan from Brillio and Ms. Dharithri Krishnamurthy from Snowflake.
Mr. Venkatesh N, the Block Education Officer, Anekal Taluk, shared, “ STEAM lab plays a critical role in creating scientific curiosity among children and I am thankful on behalf of our department for all the organisations that have come together to establish this lab for the children of the government schools in Anekal.”
Ms. Kathleen Ulrich, Managing Director, Marketing at Brillio shared “Complementing classroom education with experiential learning, will ignite curiosity, build confidence, and open new opportunities in science and technology for these students.”
Mr. Vijayant Rai, Managing Director, India, Snowflake, shared, “STEAM Lab will open up new learning avenues for young minds, helping them cultivate interest in the latest technology and scientific advances. We are happy to join hands with eVidyaloka, to transform the lives of these students with future-ready skills.”
The STEAM Lab nurtures problem-solving, creativity, and confidence, empowering students for future opportunities in science and technology. eVidyaloka has impacted over 189,000 underprivileged students across more than 920 schools in 17 states and 90 districts, providing them with quality education.
About eVdiyaloka
eVidyaloka is a pioneering non-profit organization dedicated to transforming the educational landscape of rural India. Founded by former Microsoft India colleagues Satish and Venkat, the organization began its mission in January 2011. Leveraging technology and volunteerism, eVidyaloka addresses the critical challenges of teacher shortages and teaching quality in remote villages.
eVidyaloka operates through innovative programs such as Teach through Television (TTT) and Digital Classrooms, delivering education in native languages to children aged 10-15. The TTT program broadcasts educational content via local cable channels, reaching 3 crore views across 10 states. The Digital Classroom model connects global volunteer teachers with rural students, using technology to provide interactive and enriching learning experiences.
With the support of over 6,000 volunteers from 40+ countries and esteemed partners like Microsoft and Infosys, eVidyaloka has impacted over 2.5 million students, contributing significantly to rural education. The organization’s mission extends beyond education, aiming to empower rural communities and bridge the educational divide, shaping a self-reliant and prosperous future for India.
