Young Tinker Foundation

Young Tinker Foundation
Founded2015 (2015)
FoundersAnil Pradhan
Vaishali Sharma[1][2]
TypeNon-profit organisation
FocusSTEM education, rural education, hands-on learning
Locations
Region served
India
Websiteyoungtinker.org
Formerly called
Navonmesh Prasar Foundation

Young Tinker Foundation (also known as the Young Tinker Educational Foundation) is a non-profit organisation based in India.[3] Through practical, hands-on learning, it aims to expand access to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education in underprivileged, rural, and tribal communities across India.[4][5][6][7]

History

Young Tinker Foundation was founded in 2015 by Anil Pradhan, then a Civil Engineering undergraduate at Veer Surendra Sai University of Technology (VSSUT), Burla, after he returned to his home village, Baral, on the river island of 42 Mouza in Cuttack district, Odisha.[8][9] Finding that the educational conditions in the village have changed little over the preceding decade, Pradhan established the International Public School for Rural Innovation (IPSRI), initially operating under a tin shed with three students and offering free instruction in science, technology, and innovation.[10][11]

IPSRI and its programmes were organised under the Navonmesh Prasar Foundation (NPF),[12][13] the name Navonmesh comes from Sanskrit, roughly meaning new beginnings or new light. Vaishali Sharma, a fellow VSSUT student, co-founded the organisation and helped develop its early curriculum.[14]

Pradhan and Sharma turned down traditional engineering jobs after graduating in 2017 in order to devote all of their attention to the project. The Young Tinker Foundation (YTF) was later created by expanding and rebranding the Navonmesh Prasar Foundation. Before joining full-time in 2022, Sharma temporarily supported the campaign financially by working as a software engineer.[5]

Programs & Activities

Young Tinker Spaces (YTS)

Young Tinker Spaces are innovation hubs run in partnership with schools & colleges. The foundation runs these spaces to equip the students with the necessary tools & provide hands-on experience for project-based learning.[15][16] As of 2025, more than 200 Young Tinker Spaces had been established across India.

Tinker-on-Wheels (ToW)

Tinker-on-Wheels (ToW) is a mobile makerspace programme that uses an autorickshaw to transport a fully equipped science and innovation laboratory to schools, particularly in areas lacking permanent laboratory infrastructure. The mobile unit provides instruction in robotics, 3D printing, artificial intelligence, machine learning, IoT, coding, and design thinking, delivered through the foundation's FATAC framework (Feel, Align, Think, Act, Check).[2] Each ToW unit is designed to reach more than 10,000 students annually.[2][17] The programme was expanded to Uttar Pradesh in April 2025.[18]

The foundation also runs the Young Tinker Fellowship[19] and IDEAS Programme.[2]

Awards & Recognition

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia 2025: Odisha's Anil Pradhan & Vaishali Recognized For Social Impact". Omm Com News. 2025-05-15. Retrieved 2025-06-01.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Young Tinker Foundation". Young Tinker Foundation. Retrieved 2025-06-01.
  3. ↑ "When a smart 'Young Tinker' comes to the IIC". Civil Society Online. 2024-11-07. Retrieved 2025-06-01. The foundation is a Section 8 company.
  4. ↑ "How Anil Pradhan is transforming STEM education in India's villages". The Week. 2024-11-16. Retrieved 2025-06-01.
  5. 1 2 "Modern tinkers: engaging young Indians in robotics, engineering and AI". The Brilliant. 2023-06-26. Retrieved 2025-06-01.
  6. ↑ "Young Tinker Foundation recognised for spreading STEM education in rural areas". The Hindu BusinessLine. 2025-09-26. Retrieved 2025-10-01.
  7. ↑ "Young Tinker Foundation Partners with OSEPA to Expand STEM Education Across Odisha". Business News This Week. 2026-06-01. Retrieved 2026-06-15.
  8. ↑ "Revolutionary life, revolutionary ideas: Navonmesh Prasar – Teacher Plus". Retrieved 2026-06-30.
  9. ↑ Network, Post News (2018-06-18). "Ideas Man - OrissaPOST". Odisha News, Odisha Latest news, Odisha Daily - OrissaPOST. Retrieved 2026-06-30.
  10. ↑ "Real-Life Rancho Returns to Odisha Village, Sets Up Innovation School for Rural Kids!". The Better India. 2018-10-30. Retrieved 2025-06-01.
  11. ↑ "Odisha's 'Innovation Mentor' Anil Pradhan Conferred National Youth Award 2021". Odisha Bytes. 2021-08-12. Retrieved 2025-06-01.
  12. ↑ "Navonmesh Prasar Foundation". Navonmesh Prasar Foundation. Retrieved 2025-06-01.
  13. ↑ qureshi_yasser (2021-09-10). "Rural India's rurban saviours". EducationWorld. Archived from the original on 2025-11-13. Retrieved 2026-06-30.
  14. ↑ "This Innovation School Teaches Kids in Villages to Solve Real-Life Issues, Minus Exams". The Better India. 2022-10-31. Retrieved 2025-06-01.
  15. ↑ "The Young Tinker Academy & Foundation". One Young World. Retrieved 2025-06-01.
  16. ↑ "VSSUT, Burla Introduces Cutting-Edge Tinkerspace to Inspire Student Innovation". Young Tinker Foundation. 2023-07-31. Retrieved 2025-06-01.
  17. ↑ "STEM On Wheels: Tinkering Young Minds". The Times of India. 2024-11-04. Retrieved 2025-06-01.
  18. ↑ "Innovative Tinker on Wheels programme launched to enhance STEM education in Uttar Pradesh". Live Hindustan. 2025-04-17. Retrieved 2025-06-01.
  19. ↑ "Applications Invited for Young Tinker Fellowship". NGOBox. Retrieved 2025-06-01.
  20. ↑ "2013 Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna and Arjuna Awards". Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports. 22 August 2013. Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 2014-08-04.
  21. ↑ "Indian students script history! Bag 3rd position in NASA Rover Challenge". science.newsbharati.com. Retrieved 2026-06-30.
  22. ↑ "Prize Winner – Rohini Nayyar Prize". Retrieved 2026-06-30.
  23. ↑ "Anil Pradhan wins Rohini Nayyar Prize". The Indian Express. 2024-11-07. Retrieved 2026-06-30.
  24. ↑ "Rohini Nayyar Prize". Drishti CUET. Retrieved 2026-06-30.
  25. ↑ "28-year-old Odisha engineer Anil Pradhan bags third Rohini Nayyar Prize". www.newsdrum.in. Retrieved 2026-06-30.
  26. ↑ "Young Tinker Foundation". Forbes. Retrieved 2026-06-30.
  27. ↑ Swain, Priya Ranjan (2025-05-22). "5 entrepreneurs from Odisha in Forbes Asia 30 Under 30 list". Sambad English. Retrieved 2026-06-30.
  28. ↑ "Five Odisha young entrepreneurs named in Forbes Asia 30 Under 30 list 2025 - Prameya News". prameyanews.com. Retrieved 2026-06-30.
  29. ↑ NEWS, OMMCOM (2025-05-22). "CM Majhi Hails Five Odia Youths Featured In Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia | Odisha". Odisha News, Odisha Breaking News, Odisha Latest News || Ommcom News. Retrieved 2026-06-30.
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