What began as a deeply personal tragedy became the driving force behind a movement to transform fear into curiosity.

When I was in 11th standard, I lost my close friend Maruti—he took his own life due to his overwhelming fear of science and mathematics. That moment changed me forever. I realized then that no child should ever feel that kind of pressure or fear from education, especially not from subjects that are meant to spark curiosity, wonder, and innovation.

This pain gave birth to purpose. I founded Vidyoday Muktangan Parivar Foundation in Abdullat village, Kolhapur, to ensure that rural children approach STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) with confidence, creativity, and joy. Our mission is simple yet powerful:

• To build low-cost, hands-on learning models that transform classrooms into playgrounds of exploration

• To help children apply their knowledge to real-life problems around them

• To cultivate a scientific mindset and nurture innovation through experiential learning

Over the years, this journey has revealed to us the true resilience of rural students and the silent struggles of teachers and families. I’ve seen how a disengaged child like Ishan—once considered a slow learner—can become a young innovator when given the right tools and encouragement. From a simple science project, he created a Flood Indicator to address a real issue in his village, and presented it proudly at the block level. These are the moments that remind us why we do what we do.

We faced many challenges. In the early days, gaining the trust of families and even my own was tough. But over time, with steady engagement and commitment, the community stood by us. Today, their support powers every science fair, every student project, and every step forward.

Since our formal registration in 2019, we’ve grown from working with 2 schools to 30 in just a few years. Students from our programs have gone on to prestigious institutions like IISER Bhopal. We’ve been recognized with awards like the Sheth Chimanlal Seva Gaurav Award and Rotary Youth Pride Award, but our greatest reward remains the excitement in a child’s eyes when they discover how a magnet works, or build their first model.

We are not just teaching science. We are building confidence, curiosity, and community. Our next goal? Reach 60 schools by 2026, deepen our curriculum, digitize our learning resources, and build a STEM ecosystem that empowers rural students to shape their own futures.

To all our supporters, donors, and volunteers—thank you. You are part of this growing family. If you believe in what we do, we invite you to visit, experience our work firsthand, and help us expand this vision. Together, we can turn every child’s fear into fearless learning.

Vinayak Mali,

Co-Founder and CEO,

Vidyoday Muktangan Parivar Foundation, Abdullat, Kolhapur.