STFE Prog to nurture young entrepreneurs in Nagaland

Kohima, October (MExN): The two-day Seed the Future Entrepreneur (STFE) Programme training commenced in Nagaland on October 23. Organised and funded by Dassault Systèmes La Fondation, with support from the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog, the national-level initiative is being implemented in Nagaland by Lend A Hand India (LAHI), in partnership with Samagra Shiksha Nagaland, Department of School Education.The STFE Programme aims to nurture innovation and entrepreneurial thinking among young people by encouraging them to identify real-world challenges, develop practical solutions and explore opportunities to take their ideas forward, stated a press release. Dr Chumbeni Kikon, Joint Mission Director, Samagra Shiksha Nagaland, delivered the keynote address, encouraging participating schools, teachers, students and technical college interns to think beyond conventional approaches, observe their surroundings and identify practical solutions to local problems.Dr Chumbeni Kikon, JMD Samagra Shiksha delivering the keynote address during the session. Drawing on everyday examples, she highlighted how challenges faced by family members in household activities or by farmers during cultivation and harvesting could inspire innovative ideas. She also emphasised the platform's potential to support promising innovations through an ecosystem that enables young innovators to develop their ideas and explore pathways to commercialisation.The inaugural programme was chaired by Chinglensana Khangenbam, Officer, Lend A Hand India (LAHI).Ten schools from Nagaland are participating in the programme: GHSS Singrijan, GHS Toluvi, PM Shri GHS Naharbari, PM Shri GHS Kiruphema, GHSS Jotsoma, PM Shri Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Kohima, Livingstone Foundation International, St Paul School, Phesama, Nazareth School, Pfutsero, and Hollotoli School, Dimapur.Students during the session. The programme also involves interns from three institutions under the Directorate of Technical Education: Government Polytechnic Kohima, Government Polytechnic Seithekema-C, and Government Polytechnic Tsünazho. Their participation brings school and technical education sectors together, with interns supporting school students in developing innovative solutions to real-world challenges.The technical sessions are being facilitated by Arundhati Jadhav, ATL Programme Lead, Lend A Hand India. The first day covers design thinking, competition guidelines, orientation to the 3DEXPERIENCE platform and hands-on 3D design practice.The second day will focus on student project development and mentoring, hands-on practice with the XDesign platform, planning and implementation of the internship programme.