The Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) is a flagship initiative set up by NITI Aayog to promote innovation and entrepreneurship across the length and breadth of the country. As part of these efforts, Atal Tinkering Lab (ATL) was set up and inaugurated in Amity International School, Noida in April 2019.

Since the inception of the lab, the students have worked with various kinds of sensors and kits to create Soccer Robots, Gripper Robots etc. Working with these technologies proved to be not only an incredible learning experience but provided great exposure to the students.

While working on various equipment in the ATL lab, few girls developed a mobile app connecting children at orphanages with senior citizens in nursing homes. This innovation fetched them a bronze medal at global tech competition in the US.

The app, called ‘Maitri’, is aimed at bringing together individuals suffering from loneliness and depression and those lacking the nurturing love of elderly role models, said the all-girl team “Tech Witches”. The developers include Ananya Grover, Vanshika Yadav, Vasudha Sudhinder, Anushka Sharma and Arefa, all Class 12 students of Amity International School in Noida, who said they “wish to change the stereotype of technology being a male-dominant space”.

“‘Maitri’ allows nursing homes and orphanages to sign up and organise meetings, thus facilitating children and senior citizens to spend time together. The app has seen over 1,000 downloads to date and has 13 nursing homes and seven orphanages connected through it,” said Ananya.

The students claimed that their idea originated from their shared passion for social welfare and also the increasing cases of older people and children getting abandoned.

School organized Atal Tinkering Summer Fest on Friday, 2nd August 2019 with the aim to cultivate a culture of innovation and scientific temperament among the students and to provide them with a platform to shape up their imagination.

Several schools participated in the event and utilized this exquisite opportunity to the fullest. The young innovators displayed their exclusive ideas in STEM subjects and enhanced their problem-solving and leadership skills. The students designed and developed innovative prototypes which included energy-efficient windmill, public water distribution system, multi-purpose robot car, voice assistant, smart dustbin and many more. The futuristic ideas and pioneering creations impressed the judges and the onlookers.

s Mr. Dixit Buddhabhatti from Cadence Design Systems and Mr. Madhu Sudan Chamoli, Senior Delivery Project Manager at IBM, judged the prototypes showcased by young minds and guided them to enhance their projects.

The young innovators of Amity School have truly evolved into inspirations for the rest of the children in various communities across the country.

Principal : Renu Singh

ATL Incharge :Harbinder Kaur

School :Amity International School, Noida

Facebook page :https://www.facebook.com/AISNOIDA/