Asha Chennai

23/10/2026

From 30 Sept to 2 Oct 2025, another group of 46 participants, including 27 teachers and 19 children set off on a joyful excursion to the hills of Munnar, Kerala from Thiruvanamalai.

The Thulasi project group explored the Botanical Garden, Tea Factory, Flower Garden, Echo Point, Madupatty Dam, Hydel Park, and many stunning viewpoints. Though the Asha group from Thiruvallur and Chennai also overlapped for 2 of the 3 days,, the sightseeing schedules were planned separately, so each team enjoyed their own separate journey.

The excursion provides an opportunity to the students to connect with colleagues within their own projects. Asha’s annual staff vacation is more than just travel; it’s about bonding, joy, and creating memories together.

22/10/2026

At the close of the first term, when students take a short vacation break, Asha organizes its annual staff trip. This year, staff from Thiruvallur and Chennai projects, visited the scenic hill station of Munnar, Kerala. From 29 September to 1 October 2025, a group comprising 75 teachers, 90 kids, Asha volunteer Mr. Rajaraman Krishnan, and staff members embarked on a three‑day excursion.

The journey began in Chennai, continued through Dindigul, and culminated in Munnar. Eight buses were arranged to transport the group, and accommodation was provided at the Skylark Hotel. Over the course of the trip, participants explored the Botanical Garden, Tea Factory, Flower Garden, Echo Point, Madupatty Dam, Hydel Park, and several picturesque viewpoints.

The excursion provided the staff an opportunity to get to connect with colleagues within their own projects and across other projects. The excursion was filled with singing, dancing, making reels, and sharing meals, creating a lively and joyful atmosphere. For many teachers, such outings are rare opportunities to visit new places, offering a much‑needed break from their demanding work and family schedules. The inclusion of children added to the energy and cheer, making the trip even more vibrant and memorable.

22/10/2026

25 Students from Olcott School participated in a hands‑on automata activity organized by Amazon at their World Trade Center office in Perungudi. Using construction kits, they assembled mechanical models step by step, exploring how cams, followers, and rotating parts work together to create movement. The activity encouraged creativity, problem‑solving, and a deeper understanding of basic mechanical concepts.

Their enthusiasm was evident as they eagerly followed instructions, assembled components, and celebrated when their automata models came to life. The joy of seeing their finished creations working made the experience both memorable and meaningful.

Amazon volunteers actively supported the children throughout, guiding them, encouraging their efforts, and making the learning process engaging and enjoyable. Overall, it was a wonderful hands‑on program that gave students practical knowledge while sparking curiosity and excitement for STEM learning.

25/09/2026

In August 2026, Mr. Yuta Tonegawa, Chairperson of the International Computer Science Education Consortium, visited Asha Chennai during his trip to India for the AVPN Conference. Accompanied by volunteers Mr. Rajaraman and Mr. Venkat, he toured schools in Thiruvallur - PUMS Ramanjeri and PUMS Veeraragavapuram - and RTCs in Thomur and Kanakamachatiram

At PUMS Ramajeri, he spoke to students of Class 7 who were learning Scratch Programming. The students explained the features like block, variables, animations, clones, broadcast etc. that they had been learning and using. The students then showed the various projects they had created for Asha Impressions last year, like Pen ball game in scratch, Digital farmer, Smart school and Water tank in physical computing. They also explained in detail about the projects. Mr. Yuta asked them questions and they confidently answered them with the help of volunteers and teachers as translators.

Mr. Yuta visited the Thomur RTC where student projects in AI and Web 2.0 were showcased. He was impressed by projects created by the students. “AI in Smart House” and “AI in Smart Bank,” both were made using image, audio, and hand‑pose models. He also appreciated the Web 2.0 projects built with HTML, CSS, JS, and databases. Engaging directly with the apps, he praised the students’ creativity, confident presentations, and hard work, leaving highly pleased with their progress.

In his LinkedIn post, he wrote- I flew to Chennai and visited Asha Chennai. I was so impressed to see students learning coding while there was no electricity that day. And I heard great presentations of their work, which included AI and physical computing. Compared with Japan, the difference in infrastructure is huge, while the gap in students’ output is tiny.

Asha is due to attend the APCSE conference at Seoul, Republic of Korea in October 2026. We look forward to this opportunity to interact with the team.

24/09/2026

Asha's ACE program has been funded by Amazon under the Amazon Future Engineer Program. The prize money won by students at ACE Impressions on 20 April 2026 was reinvested into improving infrastructure at their respective schools.

Work began in July and was successfully completed by late August. In total, ₹9,00,000 was utilized across schools for meaningful upgrades:

PUMS Janapanchathiram- ₹1,30,000 - A laptop and speaker were provided to the school.
PUMS Kolathur- ₹90,000 - Classroom tiling and flooring work was completed, and PVC chairs were provided.
MHS, Gandhinagar- ₹50,000- Smart boards and headsets were provided.
GHS Murukkampattu- ₹30,000- Smart boards were provided and installed.
PUMS 43 Panapakkam- ₹1,60,000- Renovated the girls’ toilet
GHS Konalur- ₹1,00,000- 16 metal tables and benches were provided
M.B.C.M GGHSS Ettayapuram- ₹40,000- A projector and screen were provided
GHS Murukkampattu- ₹1,60,000- Water line plumbing, electrical work, and RO wastewater drainage installation were done
PUMS Periyar Nagar- ₹1,00,000- The hi tech lab was equipped with an air conditioner.
GGHS Athimanjeripet - ₹40,000- Civil work was carried out in the girls’ toilet, and flooring was fixed near the school gate.

These projects not only rewarded the students’ achievements but also created lasting improvements in their schools. By channeling prize money into infrastructure, ACE Impressions ensured that student success translated into better learning environments, empowering future generations with stronger facilities and opportunities.

02/09/2026

At Asha Chennai, we believe every child deserves the opportunity to learn with confidence. True remedial education focuses on celebrating strengths rather than applying labels. By meeting diverse learning needs, schools can foster supportive environments where every child thrives.

Below is an insightful blog post by Asha Volunteer, Mr. Rajaram Krishnan. We would love to hear your thoughts and views on it!

https://schools92665243.wordpress.com/2026/08/14/remedial-education-2/

Taking off from the “Factors that Affect Education” article that I wrote, one of the points mentioned there was against gifted child programs which are based on assumptions of natural a…

31/08/2026

At Asha, we generally take up blackboard painting work at schools we work with. Since blackboards undergo regular wear and tear, we step in to give them a fresh coat of paint helping make learning more engaging. This year, in August, we completed blackboard painting work at 75 government schools in Thiruvallur. Over the coming months, we will extend this effort to government schools supported by Asha in Thoothukudi, Thiruvannamalai and other districts as well.

31/08/2026

Asha Chennai’s RTC Impressions Featured in The Hindu Downtown!!

We are thrilled to see our work recognized in such a prominent publication. This spotlight celebrates not only Asha Chennai’s mission but also the incredible efforts of our students.

Asha runs 14 Rural Technology Centers (RTCs) across Tamil Nadu, providing free computer education to students from underprivileged backgrounds. At our centers in Thiruvallur, Thoothukudi, Thiruvanamalai, and Thiruvarur, more than 1,000 students are learning basic and advanced computer courses.

This recognition is a proud moment for us, and a powerful reminder of how access to technology can transform lives.