At the heart of FSL – India and its work is intercultural learning through a spirit of voluntarism. Our activities, therefore, bring together various cultures and interests for a common purpose that benefits the communities we aim to impact as much as the people who volunteer their services. Partnerships with corporate sector entities and their social responsibility (CSR) initiatives support our efforts. They harness the potential of the private sector to bring about social change.

The HYSCO – Science Project was one such initiative. It was designed for the prize-winners of ‘The 2nd Global Kind Technology & Design Contest’, hosted by HYUNDAI HYSCO and through it, 15 Korean and 3 Indian participants of the contest came together for an experiential understanding of the factors involved in developing appropriate technology for local communities. The aim was to help young participants with interest in engineering and product design to gain a nuanced understanding of the Indian cultural context and its influence on technology. It was an opportunity for them to apply their theories and project models to actual practice and assess their feasibility.

Two villages in Kancheepuram District of the state of Tamil Nadu were chosen for the program, namely Kattrambakkam and Pudhuperu. All the participants were consequently divided into the two groups for the duration of the program. Team building exercises and a small orientation session prepared participants for the duration of their visit.

Science product experiments were then conducted by the participants in the two village communities. With the help of FSL staff for translation, locally available and waste materials were converted into useful products through the guidance of the participants.

Close to 420 school children and 150 villagers were involved in making these products, which included everything from making shoes using waste cloth to eco-friendly electricity source constructed from a solar cell and a mobile phone battery.