Students from K J Somaiya IT College teach students from rural schools Robotics. Girl from rural Nareshwadi, bags the first prize in the Robotic competition.

K. J. Somaiya Institute of Engineering and Information Technology, Ayurvihar, Everard Nagar, Sion, Mumbai trained the students from rural schools of Somaiya Vidyavihar.

As part of encouraging holistic growth and experiential learning, K. J. Somaiya Institute of Engineering and Information Technology college students visited K.J. Somaiya English Medium School & S.K. Somaiya Vinay Mandir Kannada School in Samirwadi, Sharda English Medium School in Kopargaon, Somaiya Vidya Mandir in Lakshmiwadi, Somaiya Vidyamandir in Sakarwadi, S.K. Somaiya Secondary School in Nareshwadi, The Somaiya School and S.K. Somaiya Vinaymandir in Vidyavihar to train these school students in the most exciting field of Robotics. Over the past year students and professors from the college visited the schools, and held workshops on robotics. The impact of such initiatives can be seen by the fact that the schools in rural areas have achieved over 90% results in the recent SSC exams.

In an interesting event, students from these schools competed in a robotic competition.  The winners of the competition were 4 students from K J Somaiya Secondary School, Nareshwadi, Dahanu. Of this two were girls and two are boys.  Children admitted to Nareshwadi are from underprivileged families, aged 5 to 17 years and study from 1^st to 10^th grade. Ninety-five per cent are from the local Warli tribal community with a few Kokanas, Katkari and Dodhi.

Says, Dr. S.K.Ukarande, Director of K. J. Somaiya Institute of Engineering and Information Technology (KJSEIT), “Robotics which is part of the education system in high schools globally and in the inter schools in Indian cities is not available for the children in the rural areas. Working with robots is a great way for encouraging interest in science and Math’s .it also inspires innovation encourages creativity and analytical ability.  At Somaiya Vidyavihar, we have a culture of sharing knowledge amongst all our institutions.  We were thus very keen to ensure that the students of Somaiya Vidyavihar in the rural area also get the opportunity to learn robotics. We have been amazed at the level of interest, and talent that the children have shown”.

Amkita Nareh Raut, a class 9 student from K J Somaiya Secondary School in Nareshwadi said, “I am very happy that we have won. We also like to come here and meet the other students and spend time with them. The students from the college came and taught us how to create a robot. I won the competition in my school and I got to come here. I have now become very interested in making Robots"

Sachin  Dolhare, a class 9 student said, K J Somaiya Secondary School in Nareshwadi said “Robotics is fun. We have to coordinate many things at the same time, like the timing & speed of the robotic car, going over the obstructions, tracking the penalties and operating it. It is an amazing experience. The college students taught us everything in a simple manner and made us understand the basics very clearly. "

To ensure that the children in the Somaiya Vidyavihar schools in rural areas get the opportunities of holistic education as much as the students of Mumbai, Somaiya Vidyavihar takes various initiatives.

Somaiya Vidyavihar has over 34 institutions across Maharashtra and Karnataka. The ethos of the college is to provide holistic education to the students, be it in Mumbai or in the rural regions. This belief is imbibed across the institutions, also among the teachers and the students.

About Somaiya Vidyavihar: (www.somaiya.edu)

Somaiya Vidyavihar encompasses 34 institutions, with more than 35,000 students and 1,400 faculty. Its main campus is in Mumbai, but Somaiya Vidyavihar also operates six schools in rural India. It was founded by the Shri Karamshi Jethabhai Somaiya in 1959, to provide quality holistic education.

Somaiya Vidyavihar has always been a place with a purpose - making a positive difference in quality of life of its students and the community. It is known as much for its science, technology, engineering, management, social sciences and commerce programs, as for its programs for academic studies in various faiths and cultures of India.

The Nareshwadi Learning Centre is run by Girivanvasi Educational Trust, founded by Padmabhushan Pujya Karamshibhai Jethabhai Somaiya in 1991. NLC comprises the Leelaben Kotak Primary School, the K J Somaiya Secondary School, the Vocational Education and Training Centre, hostels for girls and boys, the Children’s Home approved by Women & Child Welfare Department of the Government of Maharashtra, the School Health Centre and the School Farm and Nursery. Children admitted to NLC are from underprivileged families, aged 5 to 17 years and study from 1st to 10th grade. Ninety-five per cent are from the local Warli tribal community with a few Kokanas, Katkari and Dodhi. About ten per cent are children of single parents or no parents, HIV infected and affected families. The NLC, in partnership with its sister institution Girivanvasi Pragati Mandal, conducts training workshops for the children’s families and communities to start agriculture-based livelihood activities in their own villages, thus curbing migration and getting more children into school.