Research evidentially proves the development of three critical 21st century skills through STEM:

Critical Thinking

Reasoning & Problem solving

Creativity

Innovating

Communication

Expressing & collaborating

Mantra4Change leverages this insight into a well-crafted curriculum that transforms the learning experience of children through STEM education.

Tinkering Laboratories are a major component of our flagship program – STEP (School Transformation and Empowerment Project) that is aimed at encouraging micro improvements at school, system and ecosystem levels. The interventions aims at restoring agency in students from underserved geographies through an activity-based STEM curriculum aligned with the directives of India’s Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (Education for All)


Mantra4Change ensures teachers’ capacity is developed in the integration/embedding of technology into STEM activities, aligned to the curriculum, that prepare children, especially girls for rigorous career opportunities. The program encourages adoption of Coding & Computational thinking in the regular curriculum and enhances project-based learning. 

Enabling Voice

The ability to share ideas, opinions and reflections

Enabling Voice

The ability to choose what, 
when and how of their learning trajectories with freedom
Increasing gaps in access to quality learning in STEM
With 250 million school going children and 1.5 million schools, the Indian Public Education system is
one of the largest in the world. What is alarming is that:
84% of these schools are in rural and tribal geographical areas with limited access to quality resources.
National Achievement Survey confirms that urban schools outperform most of the rural schools by a large margin in Science and Mathematics
Only 64% of total children enrolled in rural areas make it to secondary education in STEM subjects.
A patriarchal syndrome in STEM education
40% STEM Graduates are women, yet 14% pursuing career in STEM.
⅖ considers gender suitability while applying for jobs
44% of women believe they won’t be promoted over male colleague.
76% Indian Woman embedded bias that men are suitable for science & technology

What does this mean for the future of young girls from vulnerable communities of India?

None of the Indian states have a score above 60 on SDG-5 (Gender Equality) and stands at alarming score of 48

India is also one of the nations that have very low commitment scale to improving SDG-5

In India, the overall gender gap in literacy stands approximately at 21%

Restoring agency
in students

Accessible STEM
education

Enabling Voice

Courage and ability to share
opinions, ideas, lead and reflect.

Providing Choice

Freedom and the ability to
choose what, how and when.

Critical Thinking

Communication

Creativity

Little Scientists of Bhagalpur

Bhagalpur is a city at the bank of river Ganga in Bihar. It is also the second largest city in the state of Bihar, India. Known for its rich cultural and intellectual heritage, the city today stands deficient in access to sustainable and quality resources especially with respect to technology.

Our STEM program in Bhagalpur is little more than a year old and the journey has only been inspiring. Here is a glimpse of little scientists of Bhagalpur.

Maker’s Mela

Maker’s Mela is an annual event that focuses on developing scientific temper within the students of Bhagalpur district of Bihar. A team of active volunteers conduct the three-day engagement with children of age group 10-18. Children from several villages in and around Bhagalpur attend the mela and leverage the opportunity to showcase different projects in the science exhibition.

In 2022 alone, a total of 16 independent projects came from the students. The two most innovative projects were:

Eye Blink Sensor:

This model was developed for drivers who work round the clock and are prone to accidents due to fatigue and loss of sleep at night. The eye blink sensor illuminates the eye with infrared light and monitors the changes in the reflected light. The infrared light reflected from the eye is used to determine the results. If the eye is closed, the output is high and as a result the buzzer will ring, waking up the drowsy driver. After 1 min if the driver doesn’t open his eyes the vehicle engine will automatically shut down preventing the driver from continuing further and reducing the risk of an accident.

Farmer's Laathi (Stick)

India is a land of farmers with agriculture contributing to around 60% of the GDP. The occupation comes with many hazards like the risk of snake bite, poisoning due to scorpions and other insects etc. To reduce the risk, Manish (a student from Bhagalpur) designed a life-saving stick or laathi that emits heavy vibrations when pushed on the ground while walking. These vibrations alert the creatures like snakes and make them change their path. This cost-effective device is made from vibrators used in old cell phones. It also has an LED bulb that emits light on the path along with a cell phone charger.

Little Scientists of Bhagalpur

Bhagalpur is a city at the bank of river Ganga in Bihar. It is also the second largest city in the state of Bihar, India. Known for its rich cultural and intellectual heritage, the city today stands deficient in access to sustainable and quality resources especially with respect to technology.

Our STEM program in Bhagalpur is little more than a year old and the journey has only been inspiring. Here is a glimpse of little scientists of Bhagalpur.

Maker’s Mela

Maker’s Mela is an annual event that focuses on developing scientific temper within the students of Bhagalpur district of Bihar. A team of active volunteers conduct the three-day engagement with children of age group 10-18. Children from several villages in and around Bhagalpur attend the mela and leverage the opportunity to showcase different projects in the science exhibition.

In 2022 alone, a total of 16 independent projects came from the students. The two most innovative projects were:

Eye Blink Sensor:

This model was developed for drivers who work round the clock and are prone to accidents due to fatigue and loss of sleep at night. The eye blink sensor illuminates the eye with infrared light and monitors the changes in the reflected light. The infrared light reflected from the eye is used to determine the results. If the eye is closed, the output is high and as a result the buzzer will ring, waking up the drowsy driver. After 1 min if the driver doesn’t open his eyes the vehicle engine will automatically shut down preventing the driver from continuing further and reducing the risk of an accident.

Farmer's Laathi (Stick)

India is a land of farmers with agriculture contributing to around 60% of the GDP. The occupation comes with many hazards like the risk of snake bite, poisoning due to scorpions and other insects etc. To reduce the risk, Manish (a student from Bhagalpur) designed a life-saving stick or laathi that emits heavy vibrations when pushed on the ground while walking. These vibrations alert the creatures like snakes and make them change their path. This cost-effective device is made from vibrators used in old cell phones. It also has an LED bulb that emits light on the path along with a cell phone charger.

What does it take to build a movement of
Makers in Rural and Tribal India?

Building a Makerspace Movement in India – #OneSTEPatatime

FAQ's

What is the STEM Education program by Mantra4Change?
Mantra4Change’s STEM Education program enhances learning in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics for students in rural and underserved areas. It combines activity-based learning, tinkering labs, coding, and project-based approaches to build critical 21st-century skills like creativity, problem-solving, and communication.
STEM education bridges gaps in rural and tribal schools where resources are limited. It empowers students, particularly girls, to pursue future careers in science and technology, addresses urban-rural educational disparities, and equips students with skills essential for the 21st-century workforce.
Students in rural and tribal areas, especially girls, gain access to quality STEM education. Teachers also benefit from capacity-building programs, improving their ability to integrate technology and STEM teaching into classrooms effectively.
STEP (School Transformation and Empowerment Program) is Mantra4Change’s flagship initiative. STEM Education is a core component, introducing students to hands-on projects, coding, tinkering labs, and experiential learning to encourage innovation and problem-solving skills.

The program offers:

Tinkering Laboratories – hands-on spaces for experimentation and creative projects.
Coding & Computational Thinking – introduces programming and logical reasoning.
Project-Based Learning – students solve real-world problems.
Maker’s Mela – showcases student innovations like Eye Blink Sensors and Farmer’s Laathi.

The program actively encourages girls in STEM, addressing societal and cultural barriers. Through teacher training and targeted interventions, girls gain confidence to explore careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
Mantra4Change’s STEM curriculum aligns with Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan and National Education Policy (NEP 2020). It integrates activity-based and project-based learning to complement the standard school curriculum while enhancing critical thinking and innovation skills.
Tinkering labs are dedicated spaces where students experiment, prototype, and explore STEM concepts through hands-on activities. These labs nurture creativity, problem-solving, and practical application of scientific principles.
Teachers receive training workshops on coding, computational thinking, and project-based learning. Continuous guidance ensures they can effectively implement STEM activities, integrate technology, and inspire students to engage in innovative learning.
Schools and teachers interested in participating can contact Mantra4Change via the website. The organization collaborates with state and district education authorities to implement programs in government schools, strengthen teaching practices, and build education leaders.