NGO Feminist Approach to Technology's initiative aims to empower young girls by cultivating their interest in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths
A nondescript building located in the heart of south Delhi's Lajpat Nagar area has been the sought-after destination for many curious minds since April, 2016, when a 'Jugaad Lab' was set up here to give young girls from disadvantaged background a space to innovate.
Jugaad is an initiative by NGO Feminist Approach to Technology (FAT), which aims to empower young girls by cultivating their interest in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM).
The 20 would-be innovators, all in the age group of 10-16 years, conduct experiments related to science and technology here. The students come to the lab five days a week to understand the basic concepts in STEM. These courses have been aligned to their school curriculum, but they also get a chance to apply these concepts in a practical manner, innovate and build new projects.
"During the summers, a girl came up to me and showed me a fan that she had fashioned out of plastic bottle caps and thermocol. She said she wanted to build a fan so that her grandmother could beat the heat, but electricity was an issue. So, she made a non-electrical fan," said Akriti Gupta, project manager at Jugaad.
Another product that has been much experimented with is the do-it-yourself lamps, Gupta added. "We wanted to raise the girls' interest towards STEM, build their confidence, and allow them to consider choosing a career in this field," said Gayatri Buragohain, Executive Director at Jugaad. "The girls who come here hail from impoverished families within a 5km radius. To encourage them to come and not to add to their parents' financial burden, we pay the commuting fare to all of them," Buragohain added.
Monika, who has been working with FAT for more than a year now, mentors the young girls to achieve their dreams against the odds that they have been dealt with. "We not only provide a much-needed space for the girls, but also give them the space to think. Here, their imagination can go wild. They are free to innovate, experiment and create whatever their hearts desire," she said.
The eager learners have, in fact, encouraged their friends and relatives as well to join the initiative. Teachers, families, and peers are given a blow-by-blow account of what goes on in the lab. Besides, after learning the basics of engineering, the girls have gained enough confidence to attempt small repairs at their homes.
Apart from inspiring teachers, the girls have found their counsellors as well.
"Many socio-psychological issues arise for these girls because of the environment they come from. Most girls come from poverty-stricken families. Besides the lack of privacy, there is sexual abuse, illiteracy, and various other social evils. In such a scenario, not only do we counsel the girls, but we also intervene with the parents and explain the importance of education to them, when required," Gayatri said.
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