The STREAM-D initiative, in collaboration with the IEEE EdSoc Kerala Chapter, IEEE SIGHT Kerala Chapter, and IEEE EdSoc SBC Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham embarked on a transformative journey to empower pre-university students while providing vital resources to the residents of Kottur village. Taking place at Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Kollam, this one-day event aimed to impart pragmatic knowledge and kindle an insatiable thirst for learning among students. Through interactive sessions, immersive hands-on activities, and insightful expert contributions, the event sought to bolster participants’ self-assurance, stimulate a spirit of experimentation, and nurture a steadfast aspiration to continue their educational journey, particularly within the realm of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).

The inauguration of the STREAM-D event on April 7th, 2024, at Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Kollam, began with a prayer. This was followed by a welcome address by Mr. Balu Menon, Chair of IEEE EdSoc SBC Amrita. Prof. Sunitha Beevi K., Chair of IEEE SIGHT Kerala, delivered the presidential address. The inaugural address was given by Dr. Bijuna Kunju, Vice-chair of IEEE Kerala Section. The first felicitation was by Dr S N Jyoti, Associate Dean at Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham. The second felicitation was by Dr. Ajith Gopi, Chair of IEEE PES Kerala Chapter. The third felicitation was given by Dr. Johnson Y, Mentor of IEEE SIGHT R&D. Finally, the vote of thanks was presented by Ms. Adithya P Rajeev, Lead of IEEE SIGHT R&D.

Following the inauguration, the hands-on workshop began. Students were guided through the assembly of solar-powered emergency lamps by the speakers Abhinav Rajeev and Adithya P Rajeev, along with volunteers. This session highlighted the practical aspects of renewable energy, providing students with a tangible understanding of solar technology and its applications. As part of the project, we are dedicated to providing 25 solar-powered emergency lamps featuring 5W LEDs to those in need in the village of Kottur. In line with our mission, we are engaging pre-university students in a workshop where they will assemble the lamps, gaining valuable insights into the product and its technology.

In the afternoon session, the hands-on workshop continued. Students successfully assembled the 5W LEDs, gaining experience in soldering and battery welding. Students manufactured few of the LEDs. The students were able to gather immense hands-on experience through this workshop while enabling them to contribute to providing 25 solar-powered emergency lamps featuring 5W LEDs to those in need in the village of Kottur.

Prior to the offline workshop, 2 online training sessions were taken for the students on Introduction to Electronics and Introduction to STREAM-D.