TARA Inaugurates a STEM Lab at TOC Saidulajab and for all TARA homes with Support from Johnson Matthey

At TARA, we believe that learning should be exciting, hands-on, and relevant to the real world. On 24 June 2025, we took a bold step in this direction by launching our very own STEM Lab at the TARA Outreach Centre in Saidulajab. This was made possible thanks to the generous support of Johnson Matthey. This milestone marks the beginning of an exciting journey for our children and educators alike!

STEM Comes to Life at TARA

To mark the occasion, Akhlesh from @ilovescience.in led an immersive training session, conducting an inspiring and highly practical workshop for our tutors, staff, and children. The session brought science to life through seven to eight key modules drawn from the Class 6–7 curriculum. The concepts of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) were transformed from textbook theory into dynamic, real-world experiments.

Using specially curated STEM kits, participants explored fundamental topics ranging from basic electronics to creative problem solving. These kits, which children can also use at home, encourage inquiry-based learning and foster vital skills such as critical thinking, collaboration, and innovation.

Empowering Educators for Lasting Change

In addition to sparking children’s curiosity, our recent STEM workshop also equipped TARA educators with the practical tools and methods needed to incorporate STEM learning into their everyday teaching. Our goal is to inspire a lasting shift in how knowledge is explored and shared across our programmes — not just to offer a one-time experience.

Introducing girls to science is crucial, not only to address the gender gap in STEM fields, but also to build their confidence and creativity as future leaders and innovators.

By making education more interactive and future-ready, we are enabling our children to imagine, explore, and create with confidence. The new STEM Lab will serve as a regular space for discovery and experimentation for children from both TARA Outreach Centres and TARA Homes.

Voices from the Classroom

Snigdha Roy, teacher at TARA Residential Programmes:
“The kit has added a spark to our classroom. Suddenly, science isn’t just theory. It’s something they can build, test, and believe in.”

Sonu, child at TARA Boys:
“Doing science activities was a really good experience. I learnt new things and I’m thankful for the opportunity to understand science in a practical way.”

Sooraj, child at TARA Boys:
“It was a great experience — I got to learn science through practical activities.”

Amrapalee, child at the TARA Outreach Centre in Saidulajab:
“I’m always excited to use the STEM Kit, which we use twice a week. It’s fun and easy to understand.”

A Future of Discovery Begins

Thanks to the unwavering support of Johnson Matthey, we are excited to offer our children the opportunity to engage with STEM in meaningful, fun, and educational ways. The launch of the STEM Lab represents more than just an infrastructure milestone — it signifies our commitment to nurturing future thinkers, innovators, and leaders.

We look forward to seeing the incredible ideas and experiments that will emerge from this space. Here’s to a future where learning knows no bounds!