While Delhi experiences high humidity levels this monsoon, six teenagers have turned clay cups and compassion into cool, breathable classrooms. Their initiative, Project Vaayu, merges traditional wisdom with modern design to create low-cost, sustainable coolers for government schools.

“Earlier, I used to feel hot. Now, after this cooler has been installed, it feels nice. I can even focus on my studies.”

These words, spoken by Harish, a Class 5 student from a government school in Delhi’s V Block, became the defining moment for six students from The Shri Ram School, Moulsari. For them, Harish’s relief was more than a comment on temperature; it reflected dignity, comfort, and the right to learn in a supportive environment.

The spark of an idea

In April 2024, North India endured a merciless heatwave, with Delhi recording temperatures close to 50°C. Even in air-conditioned classrooms, the heat was unbearable. “We were struggling to focus despite all our privileges,” recalls project leader Amaira Kapoor. “We wondered how government school students without fans or cooling systems were coping.”

The team – Amaira, Kartikeya Shastri, Zoey Singh, Shayan Sethi, Jovika Nagpal, and Nevan Roy – visited a nearby government school to find out. Students sat in cramped concrete rooms under tin roofs, sweating through lessons. “That visit changed everything,” says Amaira. It was no longer just a problem of heat; it was one of equity and empathy.

From empathy to execution

Determined to act, the students brainstormed solutions that would be eco-fr

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