Agastya International Foundation
Organization background

Founded in April 1999, Agastya International Foundation (Agastya) runs education programs for economically challenged children and teachers who live in rural areas. Agastya's programs include running a school-based science center; mobile programs such as Mobile Science Lab, iMobile Lab, Lab on a Bike which take science concepts to local rural schools; science fairs; initiatives to encourage understanding and learning; Young Instructor Leader, a program to nurture problem solving and leadership skills and Innovation Bus, a program that encourages design thinking, innovation and entrepreneurship. These programs include teacher training, and are meant to spark curiosity among vulnerable children across India.

Project background

Many government schools in India lack infrastructure, the tools and resources to implement an interactive and sustainable approach to learning. In most public schools, education is largely based on rote-learning which has led to high dropout rates and, therefore, generations of youth who lack creative & problem solving skills.

Agastya's Mobile Science Lab program brings hands-on, experiential learning activities to children in rural areas who have limited access to technology and adequate learning resources. The program, aims to raise awareness of the value of learning, with a focus on science. It travels to remote schools with 100+ hands-on science models to teach science concepts to children. The models cover a wide range of topics in Physics, Chemistry and Biology for children in grades 5 to 9.

GKF contributions to Agastya