Young innovators from Vadodara have brought immense pride to the city by achieving remarkable success on a national platform. Two distinct student projects—an inclusive financial literacy board game and a screen-free interactive learning tool—have been selected among the top 100 entries at the prestigious School Youth Ideathon.
Inclusive Financial Literacy Game Wins Hearts
The event, organized by the Things Startup Foundation in collaboration with IIT Delhi, saw brilliant ideas from across the country. Among the standout winners were Mysha Kunal Desai and Arayana Gaurav Sharma from Anand Vidya Vihar (AVV). Their project, developed under their startup The Playful Monks, is called Money Managers.
This is not just any board game. It is an educational tool specifically designed to promote financial literacy among visually impaired students. The game introduces complex financial concepts like mutual funds, systematic investment plans (SIPs), and lump-sum investments in an engaging and accessible manner.
Ensuring full accessibility, the game is played on an octagonal board featuring 40 learning squares. Every component, including the board, cards, and the rulebook, has been produced in Braille. This thoughtful design has earned the team a coveted opportunity to showcase their innovation at IIT Delhi on January 18.
A Screen-Free Learning Companion for Autistic Children
Another Vadodara student making waves is Daivik Belligundu from New Era Senior Secondary School (NESSS). His project, named Knowledge Bot, also secured a place in the top 100. This innovation addresses the learning needs of autistic children by providing a screen-free interactive experience.
The device offers instant spoken responses and supports patient, repetitive learning, which is crucial for many children on the autism spectrum. By eliminating screen time, it provides a healthier and more focused educational tool.
Educational Leaders Hail the Achievements
The accomplishments of these students have drawn praise from senior figures in the education sector. Geetika Madan Patel, Vice President of Parul University and a trustee of both schools, commended the young minds. She stated that these achievements reflect a strong and commendable focus on innovation, empathy, and critical thinking within school education today.
The success of these projects from Vadodara highlights a growing trend of student-led innovation that seeks to solve real-world problems with empathy and technical skill. It sets a powerful example for educational institutions across India.
