I led a community outreach program for my robotics team, “Invictus,” where we taught young children from Maher Ashram about motors and other robotic components over several weekends. We worked with children aged 5-15, educating them about the various parts of a robot, demonstrating how to assemble a basic robot, and showing them how to operate drones. Since the children at Maher Ashram did not have access to the latest technology, these trainings and demonstrations aimed to teach them something new and creative to spark hope and inspiration.

Maher (Marathi: My Mother’s Home) is a UN-registered, interfaith, and caste-free Indian non-governmental organization based near Pune. Founded by Sister Lucy Kurien in 1997 in the village of Vadhu Budruk, Maher provides shelter and support to destitute, exploited, and battered women, men, and children.

In addition to my work with Maher Ashram, I visited small villages in Maharashtra to gain firsthand experience and understanding of the microfinance process. I provided advisory support to local women, enhancing their understanding and utilization of microfinance for personal and community development. I also attended weekly self-help group meetings, learning about microfinance’s challenges and successes in these communities.

Through these experiences, I learned more from the people I worked with than I could have ever taught them. The children at Maher Ashram were happy, energetic, positive, and eager to learn despite their challenging circumstances. Similarly, the women in the villages showed incredible resilience and determination as they worked to improve their lives and communities through microfinance. Their enthusiasm and strength inspired me and deepened my appreciation for the power of education and support in fostering hope and empowerment.