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In Chennai, March 2026 proved to be a dynamic period for both Asha and the state of Tamil Nadu. Amidst the election frenzy, Asha prepared to host two major events—Asha Impressions and ACE Impressions. Both were scheduled to take place before the state election date of 23 April 2026.

To secure venues and finalize dates, we reached out to Amazon and IIT Madras. Confirmation soon followed:

• Asha Impressions to be held at Amazon Chennai office on 18 April 2026.

• ACE Impressions to take place at IIT Madras on 20 April 2026.

About Asha Impressions

Under Asha’s SPRINT program for primary and middle schools, we support about 200 schools across Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh. Trained computer teachers are placed in these schools to teach computer science and integrate other subjects using innovative digital content.

At 100 schools in Tamil Nadu, the Amazon Future Engineer program, provides this support. Our eight year curriculum emphasizes both digital literacy (basic computer use) and computational thinking (programming and problem-solving).

A hallmark of our pedagogy is hands-on application. Each year, students create and submit projects that showcase their learning:

• graders 4th and 5th prepare presentations using OpenOffice.
• graders  design programs in Scratch and Physical Computing

These projects are team-based, with Asha teachers mentoring students throughout. Outstanding work is presented at Asha Impressions, a platform where children proudly showcase their creativity and skills to external judges. This year the students competed under three categories-

1. Digital Literacy

2. Scratch Programming

3. Physical Computing

The table presents a summary of the number of projects submitted from each Asha geography-

This year, students submitted 1,352 projects from 179 schools!!

Out of this, 38 projects were selected by Lead teachers and Volunteers to be showcased at the Asha Impressions competition.

Organizing the event

With both competitions scheduled so close together, the backend teams had to work swiftly to arrange banners, medals, certificates, gifts for students, and handmade gifts for the judges etc. For Asha Impressions, we initiated discussions with Amazon’s management and their GREF team, providing essential details such as the number of students, accompanying adults, volunteers, Asha staff, competition information, and the day’s agenda. This enabled Amazon to plan effectively- booking rooms, organizing meals and snacks, arranging judges, and

preparing gifts for the participants. Over the course of two weeks, both teams collaborated seamlessly to ensure every aspect of the event was well organized.

Day of the Event

Since most of the students were not from Chennai, they had to make a considerably long trip. Students from Thoothukudi and Thiruvarur started by bus overnight, reaching Chennai early in the morning. Students from Thiruvallur and Thiruvanamalai started from their respective locations as early as 3:00 am! Asha had organized buses for the transportation. The students were accompanied by Asha teachers, HMs and Asha coordinators from each project.

Amazon volunteers and the GREF staff greeted the children and helped them complete the formalities at the reception. Each student and accompanying adult was provided with an Amazon ID. The volunteers escorted the students in lifts to the 18th floor where breakfast was kept ready. Breakfast consisted of podi idly, dosa, vada, pongal with chutneys.

After breakfast, the students were escorted to the briefing area, where the team provided guidance on fire safety and explained the steps to follow in case of an emergency. After the briefing, students were escorted by the Amazon volunteers to their respect

ive floors.

The Competition

Following the prize distribution, students, staff, and volunteers were given snack and goodie boxes. Adults received Amazon keychains, while the children were gifted keychains along with a one‑liter steel water bottle featuring a marble design. Handmade gifts were presented to all Amazon volunteers, after which the children were escorted in batches. The volunteers remained with them until all formalities were completed. Finally, the students boarded their buses and set off to visit the Chennai beaches and finally head back to their homes.

Testimonials

Mr. Dilip, Asha Impressions Judge at Amazon – It was a privilege to be a judge for this wonderful event organized by ASHA in collaboration with Amazon. Watching the children confidently present their projects using Office software was truly inspiring. Their energy, clarity of understanding, and fearless public speaking skills were remarkable. Every participant demonstrated strong creativity and effort, making it a tough and highly competitive event. Overall, it was an enriching experience and a great reminder of the impact such initiatives create in shaping young minds.

Ms. Rekha V, Asha Impressions Judge at Amazon – It was truly a pleasure to be part of the Asha Impressions event. I really enjoyed seeing the enthusiasm and talent of all the school kids, their creativity and confidence were wonderful to witness. The projects were very impressive. The students explained their ideas clearly and showed good understanding. Their PPT presentations were very well done, and they used props effectively. I was especially impressed by their confidence. None of them got stuck during the presentations, which is uncommon at this age. It was clear that the students were guided very well. Their clarity and presentation skills reflected the support they received. I also liked the originality in their ideas and how confidently they answered questions. The event was well-organized, and it was a great experience overall. Looking forward to being part of more such initiatives in the future!