Become a Community Problem Solver

Date11 August 2026

VenueGovernment Inter College, Paundha, Dehradun

Organised byRunway Incubator, with the Department of Social Outreach

Participants155 students, classes 9 to 12

About the event

Runway Incubator, the UPES start-up incubator, worked with the Department of Social Outreach to run a social outreach programme at Government Inter College, Paundha, under the theme "Become a Community Problem Solver". The programme set out to nurture an entrepreneurial mindset among school students, so that they see everyday community challenges not as obstacles but as opportunities for innovation.

The 155 participating students, from classes 9 to 12, were divided into teams. Each team took one real community problem, brainstormed solutions, discussed whether they would work, and chose the most practical idea to present to the group. Six students then presented their teams' solutions.

Impact

School students in a nearby village began to see water and waste as problems they can help solve.

155students from classes 9 to 12

5community challenges, including water conservation

1government school reached

Students were introduced to design thinking and entrepreneurship at a formative age.
A student team worked out practical ideas for water conservation and smart water use.
The programme strengthened the link between UPES and government schools near its campuses.

The five community challenges

No.	Challenge
1	Smart waste management
2	Safe roads and traffic around the school
3	Water conservation and smart water use
4	Better market access for farmers
5	Learning beyond the classroom

Two of the five challenges, water conservation and smart waste management, relate directly to clean water and sanitation.

Highlights

Students moved from simply naming problems to designing practical solutions for their own community.
One team worked on practical ideas for water conservation and smart water use.
Presentations built confidence in public speaking, teamwork and reasoning.
UPES mentors connected a government school with the start-up thinking taught on campus.

Photographs

Students of Government Inter College, Paundha, gather outside the school with the UPES team — Students and the UPES team at Government Inter College, Paundha.

A UPES team member speaks to students seated in the school hall — A UPES mentor introduces the community challenges.

Students present their ideas to classmates — Students present their teams' solutions.