Kochi: Smile Foundation with the support from Shell India and in association with Govt. of Kerala organised NXplorers Carnival in Thrissur. The day-long carnival was organised with the aim of providing rural school children a platform to display their scientific prowess. District Education Officer Dr. A. Ansar was the chief guest, while Mr. Saseedaran E., Project Coordinator, Sarva Shiksha Kerala, and Dr. Daison Panengaden, Asst. Professor, Department of Physics, St. Thomas College, were the guests of honour.
As many as 40 selected change projects and innovative ideas from 19 schools in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) were exhibited by 116 students at 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)
Dr. A. Ansar KAS, DEO, Thrissur said, “I extend my sincere appreciation to Smile Foundation for the exemplary work undertaken in Thrissur district. Through the NXplorers programme, students’ abilities and perspectives are undergoing positive transformation. I congratulate the students for their exceptional scientific creativity in generating solutions to real-world problems We will remain committed to join hands with the organisation for larger endeavours in future too.”
Smile Foundation has been implementing the NXplorers Junior programme, a global flagship social investment STEM educational initiative from Shell, in 77 schools, including 53 government schools and 24 affordable private schools, in Thrissur district of Kerala. The programme aims to benefit school children by enabling them to understand, navigate and address local and global challenges, as underlined in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The programme is also aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and it envisions complementing the latter’s objectives.
Mr. Saseedaran E, Project Coordinator, Sarva Shiksha Kerala said, “I express my gratitude to Smile Foundation for providing invaluable opportunities to our students. I would like to commend the dedication and initiative demonstrated by both students and the schools in embracing these opportunities wholeheartedly.”
Dr. Jaison Panengaden, Asst Prof Dept. of Physics, St. Thomas College Thrissur said “I am glad to see these young minds identifying solutions for real world problems.”
Apart from 77 schools in Thrissur district in Kerala, Smile Foundation has also been implementing the programme in 89 government schools of Tirupati and Nellore districts of Andhra Pradesh, and 116 schools in Warangal, Khammam, Hanumakonda, Jayashankar Bhupalpalli, Jangaon, Mulugu, Mahabubabad, and Bhadradri Kothagudem districts of Telangana.