SSC '18
Shaikhsphere Science at
Chippa Girls Welfare Highschool
THE IDEA
Where it all started.
I always wanted to do something big for my communities.
My parents came from humble beginnings and worked there way up in the world throughout their lives. In being born more privileged, my parents made sure to emphasize giving back to my communities and helping those around me, reflecting the fruits of my parents labor back into the world. In becoming older, I support my parents with giving back to our communities. However, for my 16th birthday, I requested to give back to my communities in a way entirely self-directed and of my design.
This is where the idea for Shaikhsphere Science emerged. Shaikhsphere Science is a nonprofit aiming to improve and enhance STEM education and opportunities for underprivileged regions of the world. With a significant emphasis on the support of females in STEM and producing educational gateways to better futures. Their educations empowered my parents despite struggling throughout their student lives, allowing them to immigrate and settle in Washington DC, the United States capital. I wanted to provide similar pathways for bright students around the world who are unknown of their potentials.
The name itself is a play in the name "Shakespeare," a world renown play write. I chose to convert the name into SHAIKH-SPHERE as it emphasized my family's input into the world. We, the Shaikh family, would make our impact on the global sphere.
Preparation
The amount of planning and preparation required prior to the official program's start at the school was extensive and required two years to bring to fruition.
Preparation Timeline
October 2016 - I came up with the idea in the midst of writing one of my Model United Nations tournament papers. Initially, it was just a sticky note, and it's incredible how things progressed from there.
December 2016 - After extensive research into such a project, I announced my plans at my 16th birthday celebration in front of my friends and family, demonstrating my ambition.
April 2017 - I finalized my idea for the project through the help of some of my Mother's World Bank colleagues and scouring UN databases and websites.
July 2017 - My grandmother from India came to visit. She told us about a local all-girls welfare school who had amazingly bright students but no means of paying for facilities which can enable them more enrichment.
November 2017 - I make my first communications with the Science department's head instructor at Chippa Girls Welfare High School in Jalampur, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. I am briefed about the issues facing the school such as funding and a non-supportive community toward their female students.
February 2018 - I get verification from the school board to proceed with my project and inform Chippa HS about my plans to enrich their school community. Initially, they were reluctant but agreed upon seeing the ideas I had for the program.
April 2018 - Our organization sends the first deposits to get the construction of a new laboratory at the school underway. It is supervised by the head science instructor and my grandmother in India as I work to finish off my Junior year in high school.
July to August 2018 - I attend the Virginia Summer Residential Governors School for Math, Science, and Technology. There, I finalize lesson plans and lab procedures for the program using the college's resources and my previous experiences in my coursework. I also received word that construction of the new classroom had finished and furbishing was well underway.
Science Camp
Inspired from my experiences attending summer camps and various STEM programs, we ran a similar program at Chippa Girls Welfare High School with the purpose of running experiments and conducting classes similar to that of an American educational experience.
DAY 1: BIOLOGY
The first day was the most nerve-wracking. Alongside teaching in a language that was not native to me, I had to prove my capabilities to the school board. Safe to say, the representatives were impressed by me and allowed for the continuation of the program.
On the biology-focused day, we covered the stratification of life and genetics. In the lab segments, I gave an intro to microscopes and scientific equipment, showing the new capabilities of scientific exploration within their lab.
See lesson plan here
DAY 2: PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY
My favorite day of the entire program content-wise. I taught my students about Newton's laws and their applications in the real world. I then applied their understanding of these laws into a lecture on stellar evolution. In explaining the life cycle of a star, I also showed slideshows of the Hubble's images and stars which left the students in awe.
Watching the eyes of my students as I explained the vastness of the cosmos was among my favorite memories from this experience.
In the lab time, we explored Newton's three laws through fun partner activities underlining the social aspect of science and emphasizing group collaboration.
See lesson plans here
DAY 3: CHEMISTRY
I was the most stressed out over this day just because it was the first time we'd be using Bunsen burners and such in the new lab. The children at the school had never been able to study in a lab before therefore they had no idea about lab etiquette and the dangers.
That day I lectured on Organic chemistry and the various functional groups and its application to saponification. I also lectured on lab procedure and provided two-classes worth of slippers for the students using the remaining funds we had left. Many students didn't own closed-toed shoes and the purchase was made for their safety in future labs.
Following up on the lecture, our lab was applying the concepts of saponification to make bars of soap. I divided the girls into 6 groups and each made their own bars of soap under my close supervision.
In the end, we made numerous rose and citrus scented soaps and many girls enjoyed this day the most. This was also the day I introduced them to their new safety goggles.
See lesson plans here
DAY 4: GEOLOGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE
This was the last day and honestly, I got a bit emotional at the end of it.
I taught about various types of rocks and plate tectonics. Additionally, I lectured about the effects of climate change on our world and how we could reduce our impact on it at the grassroots level. To connect the two, I opened up about tsunamis: how they form from shifting geologic plates and their increasing threat as a result of rising sea levels due to climate change.
Our lab time got us super wet this day but everyone had a great time using the tsunami model I had used as my project to win the overall and senior division first prizes for the ABBEA Science fair in 2015.
Overall, a relaxing and fun day to end a week of learning with each batch of students.
See lesson plans here
We repeated this course schedule 2 times over the course of three weeks to allow teachers to still continue their instruction while making room for our program. Every day was divided into 2 2-hour lab times in which I taught 35 students per class. In a single day, I would teach 70 students. For the students who were not with me in the lab, they were in the adjacent classroom getting instruction from their teachers on their curriculum, receiving leadership training from my Mother, or learning English from a correspondent for Teach for India. We had more girls in the second week of instruction since students who typically didn't show up to school heard from their friends in the first sessions and showed up for the following week. I nearly had 50 girls in my lab the next week and things were a little more cramped. However, we made it work and were extra cautious with any labs we did the second week. By the end of the program, I had enriched the lives of 178 girls.
Indian Independence Day Celebration
August 15, 2018 - Chippa Girls Welfare High School
CHIEF GUEST
Closing Ceremonies and Honors
We had our closing ceremony on August 15th at the Indian Independence Celebration ceremony in Chippa Girls Welfare High School. There, I gave a speech thanking the teachers and staff of the school for allowing me to take time out of their schedules for this program. Additionally, I thanked the students for their cooperation and promised to come to visit again. I was honored as the Chief Guest, being the only female guest of this ceremony in the last decade.
In my speech, I made references to inside jokes between my students and me causing for giggles throughout the audience at times. I reminded me of making silly jokes with my friends at home.
In addition to the ceremony, I also was tasked with showing the entire school board the fruits of my labor. I walked them up the eight flights of stairs into my laboratory where they saw the new projector, microscope, chemistry, and physical science setups. Impressed, they wrote a check right there in order to add more funding into their STEM programs at their all-girls schools. In addition, I got invited to come to see their adjacent hospital in need of extra help as well. As my trip was running short on time, I told them I would be sure to visit next time( for possibly a new project! The idea isn't off the ground yet).
WINTER 2018: UPDATE
My family and I made another visit to India this past December. It was for the last major wedding in the family between my uncle and his new wife. I addition to finalizing and submitting my remaining college applications and attending to the festivities, I made time to go visit my girls again.
I had been in constant contact with my assistant teacher since I left in August and she wanted me to surprise the students the day I came to visit.
When the day arrived, I hopped on a car and took my usual route to the school. I was overcome with nostalgia the entire time and I could remember every day of the program as if it were a couple of days before. The experience truly changed my world and I am sure my feelings for the small school in Ahmedabad that I taught at will fail to diminish for many years to come.
On my way there and at the school, I filmed short clips. To see more watch the video below! *COMING SOON*