The Young Tinker Foundation had the privilege of welcoming a distinguished delegation to the Young Tinker Academy in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, 9 July, 2026. The visiting leaders included Mr. Ram Pappu, Executive Director, Mission Samriddhi; Mr. Sridhar Santhanam, Capital Markets & Social Impact Leader; and Mr. G. Ramasubramaniam, Founder & Chief Listening Officer, Talent Quest for India.
The day involved a meaningful interaction with Mr. Kali Prasanna Mohapatra, IAS, Director, Higher Education Department, Government of Odisha. The meeting focused on exploring the possibility of engaging college students through structured volunteering opportunities, creating a platform for shared learning, practical experience, and meaningful contributions.
The visit also offered an immersive experience into the foundation’s mission of nurturing problem-solvers through hands-on STEM education. The delegation was introduced to the vision, structure, and impact of Young Tinker Foundation, gaining a comprehensive understanding of its flagship initiatives, including Tinker on Wheels and Young Tinker Space. They witnessed how these programs empower children to learn through innovation, creativity, design thinking, robotics, electronics, and entrepreneurship.
The guests also explored the journey and scale of TinkerFest, learning how it provides young innovators with a platform to showcase their ideas and solutions. Through interactive demonstrations and discussions with the team, they gained valuable insights into the learning ecosystem that enables children to transform ideas into real-world innovations.
The visit concluded with a guided tour of the Young Tinker Academy, where the delegation explored the foundation’s achievements, awards, and milestones. They observed a range of student-built mechanical models, 3D-printed prototypes, and engineering solutions before experiencing a live walkthrough of the Tinker on Wheels mobile innovation lab, presented by the team.
The visit was an opportunity to exchange ideas, celebrate innovation, and reaffirm the shared vision of creating an ecosystem where every child has the opportunity to become a creator, innovator, and problem solver.