Building Hands-On STEM Learning Through a New Clean Energy & Sustainability Learning Space
DECATUR, GA, UNITED STATES, October 8, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — International Community School (ICS) in Decatur, Georgia now hosts JAS-Vibha Clean Energy & Sustainability Learning Space, set up through the collaboration between ICS, JAS Corporation and Vibha. Inaugurated on August 27, 2026, the Learning Space aims to inspire the next generation of environmental leaders. It features instructional resources including a portable greenhouse, Earth Science kits, and an outdoor weather station.
The tools will create connected indoor and outdoor learning experiences for more than 550 students to explore science concepts through real-world applications. The learning space is intended to support student interest in STEM while creating opportunities to build environmental awareness, observation, analysis, and scientific thinking.
The Learning Space project directly responds to the specific learning needs of the ICS students. ICS’s GMAS data from the 2023–24 and 2024–25 school years showed Earth Science as the school’s lowest-performing subject area, with many students in the Beginning and Developing proficiency bands.
The space will support learning across environmental science, sustainability, meteorology, and renewable energy. The teachers will access additional ways to approach these concepts and give students opportunities to engage with them through hands-on learning. Through activities involving the school garden and weather station, students can collect real-time environmental data, develop observation and analytical skills, and deepen their understanding of scientific principles.
The Learning Space came to be through an opportune conversation between Vibha volunteer Raj Vuchatu and Vishal Bedi, Chief Information Officer of JAS Corporation. During a discussion about Vibha’s mission and its efforts to create meaningful local impact through STEM education, Raj shared the success of the STEM Learning Lab already established at ICS. The vision and impact of the project resonated strongly with Vishal.
When the Bruni Foundation, the philanthropic arm of JAS Corporation, opened its proposal cycle, Vishal reached out to Vibha to explore opportunities for collaboration. Ms. Diamond Jefferies, Principal – ICS and the Vibha team worked closely together to put together the proposal for the Learning Space towards expanding hands-on STEM education opportunities for the students. The proposal was approved for funding by the Bruni Foundation.
The partnership brings together different strengths around a shared goal: the school’s understanding of student needs, the Bruni Foundation’s support, and Vibha’s role in connecting resources, expertise, and partners. Vibha has connected the school with subject matter experts to help develop programs, experiments, and exploratory activities that make effective use of the Learning Space over time.
“Vibha has been an outstanding partner for a number of years,” says Ms. Diamond Jefferies. “Now we are excited for this new partnership with JAS and the Bruni Foundation. This learning space will build a sense of environmental stewardship through meaningful, hands-on STEM learning experiences for all of our students.”
The project has also identified opportunities for the Bruni Foundation members to volunteer in school activities such as Earth Day, Career Day, and STEM Night, creating additional opportunities for students to connect classroom learning with real-world experiences.
According to Raj Vuchatu, this project represents an important milestone for the organization. “This is one of the first initiatives in the United States where Vibha has served as a bridge between a corporate foundation and a school with a clearly identified need,” says Vuchatu. “Vibha brings expertise in evaluating projects, assessing community impact, ensuring successful implementation, and connecting not only funding partners but also subject matter experts who can help measure and sustain long-term success.”
The Learning Space is envisioned as the first of many collaborative initiatives that bring together schools, nonprofits, corporations, and community experts to create meaningful educational opportunities.
“Thank you to Vibha and the leadership team at International Community School for welcoming JAS and the Bruni Foundation as partners in this impactful project,” says Vishal Bedi. “We are proud to support an initiative that will inspire students and create lasting benefits for the community.”
What began with a casual conversation has grown into a partnership supporting a space that will create engaging opportunities for students to learn by observing, experimenting, collecting data, and asking questions about the world around them.
About Vibha
Vibha believes every child deserves access to high-quality public education. Instead of helping only a few children escape the system, we strengthen the public education system itself so millions of children can succeed. We work with grassroots organizations and partner with governments to scale solutions that improve learning in government schools. Across 35 years, Vibha-supported initiatives have reached 8.8 million children in India, 2.5 million of them in the last year alone, proving that when systems improve, every child benefits.
Know more at www.vibha.org or write to us at social@vibha.org
Deepak Nanda
Vibha
social@vibha.org
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