Placeholder canvas
 
Close
Igniting Ideas For impact

Embarking on a transformative journey through six chapters, we traverse India's landscape, exploring pioneering startups and their revolutionary...

8 months

IIT-M Students Upcycle Discarded Cardboard Into 400+ Desks for Govt School Kids!

This awesome initiative is improving the infrastructure in rural schools in an eco-friendly manner. How cool is that! #IIT #Innovation

IIT-M Students Upcycle Discarded Cardboard Into 400+ Desks for Govt School Kids!

In a novel initiative, students of the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras have collected discarded or used cardboard boxes from e-commerce websites, retail stores, and even households from around Chennai and created eco-friendly desks for 400 students studying in government schools.

This is a part of REACH, a student-driven social development initiative, which seeks to serve both the people as well as the environment by promoting education and reuse, attached to the varsity’s flagship annual technology festival, Shaastra.

“Social initiatives such as REACH [have] been a part of Shaastra since 2016. We think this is our way of giving back to society. During last year’s initiative when we went to government schools to provide them with liquid handwash, we saw students sitting on the floors with hunched backs and without desks. That’s how we got the idea of REACH,” says Sabyasachi Mishra, one of the heads of the REACH initiatives in a conversation with The New Indian Express (TNIE).

With assistance from Teach for India, student volunteers have distributed these desks to seven government schools in the city. Besides being eco-friendly, these desks have been designed keeping in mind the safety of young students. For example, the edges of these tables have been smoothened out with tape. “Our first pilot run was in October this year when we started distributing the desks after the idea had been finalised in August,” says Sabyasachi, speaking to TNIE.

Government school students in Chennai have enjoyed the fruits of this innovation. (Source: REACH/IIT Madras)
Government school students in Chennai have enjoyed the fruits of this innovation. (Source: REACH/IIT Madras)

The emphasis now is to further this initiative with assistance from a network of other non-profits and assist government schools that often suffer from a shortfall in basic infrastructure.

Also Read: Meghalaya IAS Officer Wins Hearts, Donates 2 Months’ Salary To Renovate School!

REACH comprises a team of about 11 students coordinate work on the ground and come up with new ideas. It was established in 2016, and the first campaign they embarked on was Pledge a Book, where they collected unused books and facilitate the construction of libraries in rural and underserved areas of cities like Chennai. In the following year, the started Synk, an initiative that recycled plastic bottles into bricks that would later be used to construct toilets in rural areas.

The students have already developed a prototype of this brick and will approach experts in the field to further this initiative.

(Edited by Gayatri Mishra)

Like this story? Or have something to share? Write to us: contact@thebetterindia.com, or connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.

This story made me

  • feel inspired icon
    97
  • more aware icon
    121
  • better informative icon
    89
  • do something icon
    167

Tell Us More


We bring stories straight from the heart of India, to inspire millions and create a wave of impact. Our positive movement is growing bigger everyday, and we would love for you to join it.

Please contribute whatever you can, every little penny helps our team in bringing you more stories that support dreams and spread hope.

Support the biggest positivity movement section image Support the biggest positivity movement section image
Shorts

Shorts

See All
 
X
 
Sign in to get free benefits
  • Get positive stories daily on email
  • Join our community of positive ambassadors
  • Become a part of the positive movement