Amazon today announced the launch of its first Amazon Future Engineer (AFE) Makerspace in India, to be set up in Bengaluru, to empower over 4,000 young minds by 2025. Partnering with The Innovation Story, this initiative will provide under-served students in grades 5th to 12th with immersive, hands-on learning experiences, nurturing their curiosity and equipping them with innovative technological skills to become future change-makers.
What Makerspace offers
The AFE Makerspace, spread across 3,000 square feet, offers different programs for students of all levels. For beginners, there are short, 3-4 hour programs to learn basic robotics and coding. For those who want to learn more, there are longer 6-hour programs to explore advanced topics that will dive deeper into advanced robotics, programming, prototyping, and design over the course of two days. For the most advanced students, there are multi-month programs to help them become experts. These programs will bring collaborative learning for these students to design robots, and compete with students from other schools. The makerspace includes special areas where students can build and test their robots.
Akshay Kashyap, India Lead, Amazon Future Engineer Program, says, “Makerspaces have become the new exciting STEM learning spaces for young minds and we are thrilled to open our first Amazon Future Engineer Makerspace in Bengaluru. This 3,000 square feet state-of-the-art facility will bring access to the underserved communities with tools, knowledge and mentorship in some of the emerging technology areas such as robotics, AI and 3D-printing. Our program is committed to fostering digital equity that opens up new opportunities, inspires scientific curiosity and builds future innovators that will become the next generation of tech leaders”.
Featuring top-of-the-line equipment
The AFE Makerspace is equipped with state-of-the-art 3D printers, lathes, power tools, electronics equipment, and kits for international competitions. Students can conveniently pre-book online sessions, accommodating groups of up to 40 participants. To further enhance the learning experience, expert mentors and Amazon volunteers provide guidance, helping students develop crucial skills like coding, problem-solving, and design thinking. This unique blend of technology, mentorship, and hands-on experience empowers students to become future-ready innovators.
Meenal Majumder, Founder, The Innovation Story, says, "Our mission is to empower students to become change-makers and innovators through expert-curated, cohort-based, hands-on programs in computer science and robotics. As the knowledge partner for the Amazon Future Engineer program, we've designed specialised experiential sessions aligning with the program's objective to uplift students from underserved communities. We aim to equip young minds with the skills to excel in tech and AI careers."
Moulding future innovators
Amazon Future Engineer is a major philanthropic initiative dedicated to providing equal opportunities in computer science education to underprivileged students. This comprehensive program starts by sparking interest in technology during primary school and continues through high school, ultimately guiding students towards successful careers in the tech industry.
In India, Amazon has partnered with 11 non-profit organisations to introduce computer science education to over 17,000 schools. In the past three years, this program has impacted over 2.9 million students and trained more than 16,000 teachers across the country. The Studio is part of Amazon’s commitment to fostering inclusion and empowering underserved communities through education and inspiring the next generation of tech leaders under the Amazon Future Engineer Program.
Participate in the AFE makerspace by clicking here.
