Real change rarely happens overnight. It grows step by step, idea by idea, and sometimes, student by student. What begins as a simple thought in a classroom can evolve into something far larger when the right platform, guidance, and belief come together.

At vivo India, that belief took shape through the vivo Ignite: Technology & Innovation Initiative, a nationwide CSR program designed to nurture young innovators and give them the tools to turn ideas into meaningful solutions.

Over the years, vivo Ignite has grown into more than a competition. With participation from students across the country, structured mentorship from leading academic institutions, and a strong focus on real-world problem solving, the initiative has become a credible platform for young minds to explore science, technology, engineering, and mathematics beyond textbooks. For many students, it is the first step in seeing their ideascome to life beyond the classroom at a national level.

From One Idea to a National Stage

Among the many participants who have walked this path, the journey of Shreeja Mahadik and Harshita Taral stands out – not only because of their innovation, but because of the impact their experience continues to create long after the competition ended, even for the aspiring girls.

Nearly a year ago, the two students from Maharashtra emerged as Top 10 finalists in vivo Ignite with their project Fab-Brick, a sustainable construction material created by binding fabric waste using a specially formulated adhesive, turning textile scraps into durable bricks for non-load-bearing structures.

Early stages of Fab-Brick, a sustainable construction adhesive, created by Shreeja and Harshita.

At the time, they were unsure of what to expect but confident enough to try. What followed was an experience that changed the way they approached learning itself.

Learning to Think Beyond the Prototype

Through structured mentorship sessions with experts from IIT Pravartak, participants were guided through every stage of innovation, from refining ideas to understanding scalability, feasibility, and real-world application. For Harshita, this was the moment when the project evolved from a school assignment into something she was genuinely passionate about.

“Earlier, we focused on building a prototype,” she says. “But during the mentorship sessions, we learned to think about whether the idea could actually work on a larger scale, whether it could reach people, and whether it could become something practical. That changed our entire approach.”

Shreeja remembers the same turning point.

“We had created something, but the mentors kept asking us what comes next. That made us realize innovation doesn’t stop with one idea. The sessions gave us confidence to think bigger and believe that even at our age, we can build something meaningful.”

Impact That Continues Beyond the Competition

The credibility of the initiative lies not only in the national platform it provides, but in the way it continues to influence students even after the competition ends. A year later, Shreeja and Harshita are still applying the learnings they gained, participating in new competitions, guiding their peers, and encouraging younger students in their school and nearby community, especially girls to step forward with their own ideas.

“Now junior students come to us asking how to participate, how to start a project, how to think of ideas,” Shreeja says. “It feels good to know that our experience is helping others move in the right direction.”

Their school, which once had only one entry, now sees growing interest from students who want to be part of vivo Ignite. What started with two participants has turned into steady movement – exactly the kind of ripple effect the initiative aims to create across the country.

Building Confidence, Curiosity, and Collaboration

For Harshita, the biggest learning has been understanding that innovation is never a one-person effort.

“There isn’t just one problem to solve, and there isn’t just one way to solve it. When different people share ideas, the solution becomes stronger. That’s something we learned during the initiative and still follow today.”

Beyond projects and recognition, vivo Ignite is building something far more lasting – confidence, curiosity, and the courage to experiment. It is encouraging students to see challenges as opportunities and giving young girls the assurance that they have an equal place in the world of STEM.

Unlocking What’s Next

Despite being admist exam season, these young girls are buzzing with ideas. What remains unanswered is, ‘what is it going to be?’

However, as they look at newer problems to turn into opportunities, their team spirit continues to grow. They now look forward to being a part of the T&I initiative once again, as alumni of the programme, guiding new students, and perhaps this time alongside other young girls who are just as innovative and inspired.