DANVILLE, CA — A Danville student is aiming to tackle educational inequity through his nonprofit Igniting Dreams, a student-led nonprofit focused on expanding access to STEAM education for underserved students. Along with his sister and a team of about 20 volunteers, 16-year-old Akshaj Seetharaman has distributed STEAM kits and led a number of charity drives and educational workshops.
Seetharaman, who spent his first two years of high school at Monte Vista and now attends the Tilden Preparatory School, started the program with his sister after they participated in a Destination Imagination tournament and noticed the difference in access to STEAM educational opportunities.
"We believed that STEAM would play an increasingly important role in the future and that every child should have the opportunity to explore science, technology, engineering, arts, and math, regardless of their background or the resources available at their school," he said.
Seetharaman started as a co-founder of Igniting Dreams, and took over day-to-day operations in 2023. It now includes roughly 20 student volunteers from schools all over the Tri-Valley. Together, the group has coordinated a number of different initiatives to support STEAM education.
They've created several STEAM kits specialized for different projects and age groups. Each kit features materials, project instructions, and demonstration kits for educators. "Projects have ranged from building model cells to engineering popsicle-stick bridges, and kits can include materials such as clay, string, toothpicks, popsicle sticks, basic electronics components, and other reusable supplies," Seetharaman said.
The kits are distributed to schools and after-school enrichment programs in underserved communities throughout the Bay Area. Volunteers personally load and distribute the kits.
In addition to the kits, the group has also led a free community self-defense seminar, a yoga-meditation workshop, and collected more than 500 coats and 1,347 books. They are currently planning a new initiative called the Teacher Cart program, where educators will send them a wish list of classroom materials instead of paying for them with their own money, which is often the case. Igniting Dreams will work with local companies, sponsors, donors, and community partners to fulfill the requests.
They also hope to expand their STEAM enrichment programs and kits to additional schools and enrichment programs, and Seetharaman said the group is actively looking to partner with new elementary schools, teachers, and after-school programs.
"Maybe a student builds a circuit, engineers a bridge, creates a model, solves a problem, or simply makes something work for the first time," Seetharaman said when asked why he feels the work is important. "Not every student who participates in one of our programs needs to become an engineer or scientist. What matters is that they are given the opportunity to discover for themselves what they enjoy and what they are capable of."
For more information, visit ignitingdreams.org, follow them on Instagram at @ignitingdreamsnorcal, or email the.ignitingdreams@gmail.com.
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