Through the STEM Collective, we are working to expand access, aspiration, and opportunity for government school students across Punjab, with a special focus on girls. This initiative brings together non-profits, universities, industry partners, and schools to build meaningful STEM pathways that help young learners move from curiosity to careers.
Currently, the Collective supports 25 government schools across District Patiala and works closely with 100 high-potential girls from Grade 9 onwards, providing structured guidance, exposure, and mentorship as they prepare for higher education opportunities in leading institutions such as IITs, AIIMS, IISER, Delhi University, and other Tier-1 institutions.
At its core, this initiative is about building knowledge, mobility, agency, and long-term independence through education, especially for students who have historically had limited access to these pathways.
Strengthening the STEM Ecosystem Through Partnerships
The STEM Collective is built on the belief that systemic challenges require collaborative, ecosystem-based solutions.
The Collective also brings together committed partners including Avanti Fellows, Genpact, PI-RAHI, SAMA Foundation, universities, and industry collaborators, each contributing uniquely to mentoring, exposure, and academic preparation.
Creating Exposure That Builds Aspiration
A key part of the program focuses on exposure to real-world learning environments.
Recently, over 50 girls visited Plaksha University as part of an immersive campus exposure program. For many students, this was their first experience exploring a university campus of this scale, interacting with professors, visiting advanced laboratories, and learning about academic pathways and scholarships. The visit helped students better understand the possibilities available through higher education and strengthened their motivation to pursue STEM careers.
Similarly, on the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, students from School of Eminence Bhadson and GSSS Mangewal visited Kartar Agrotech Ltd., where they observed the manufacturing process of farm equipment and interacted with engineers on the shop floor. Watching the girls confidently explore tractors and heavy machinery was a powerful reminder of how exposure can challenge gender stereotypes and expand what young girls believe is possible for themselves.
Student feedback from these visits has been deeply valuable. Many girls expressed interest in visiting robotics labs and automobile manufacturing plants and asked for deeper technical explanations of industrial processes. These insights are now shaping the design of the next phase of the 100 Girls Program, ensuring the initiative remains student-informed and aspirational.
Building Data to Guide Impact
Alongside exposure and mentorship, the initiative is also building a strong evidence base to guide future programming.
A recent district-wide STEM assessment drive reached over 3,000 students across 22 schools in Patiala. This large-scale effort was made possible through the support of NSS volunteers from Punjabi University, Patiala, who helped conduct assessments, manage logistics, and support classroom engagement across schools.
The exercise has generated a rich district-wide dataset that will help identify student strengths, learning gaps, and emerging potential. These insights will inform the selection of students for the Genpact STEM Girls Program Top 100 and guide the next phase of deeper academic engagement.
Looking Ahead
By strengthening STEM access for government school students, particularly girls, the STEM Collective is addressing a multidimensional challenge that connects education, opportunity, economic participation, and systemic equity. Through partnerships, exposure, mentorship, and data-driven programming, we are steadily building pathways that help young learners move from aspiration to achievement.
Alongside our programmatic work, Sanjhi Sikhiya is also preparing for Kirrt Yatra 2026, a community-led journey that brings together supporters, volunteers, and well-wishers who believe in expanding access to quality education across Punjab. The Yatra plays an important role in strengthening the broader ecosystem that sustains and grows educational programs.
If you would like to learn more about the Yatra or explore ways to participate, please visit:
https://www.sanjhisikhiya.org/kirrt-yatra-2026/
Together, through collective effort and shared commitment, we continue working toward a future where every child has access to opportunity, confidence, and the chance to shape their own path.
