Lubrizol, in partnership with The Apprentice Project (TAP), a non-profit
working to build 21st century skills among students in government schools,
recently conducted a hands-on learning event at Navi Mumbai Municipal
Corporation School No. 46, Gothivali, Ghansoli. The event brought together 8
Lubrizol employees and 50 students for a day of collaborative, activity-based
learning focused on problem solving and creativity.
A Partnership
Built on Shared Purpose
The Apprentice
Project (TAP), an initiative of MentorMe Foundation, works with students in
grades 4-12 in government and low income schools, building 21st century skills
like problem solving, critical thinking, and financial literacy. At the heart
of TAP's model is TAP Buddy, a WhatsApp-based learning platform, which is
integrated into school systems. By combining technology and a project-based
approach to learning, TAP enables 21st century skill development across
classrooms and school systems.
Lubrizol is a
science-based company leveraging specialty chemistry to provide sustainable
solutions that advance mobility, promote well-being, and enrich modern living.
Lubrizol has always firmly believed in creating meaningful impact through its
community investments (partnerships with non-profits and volunteering
activities) conducted across the globe. In India, this conviction is reflected
in the company's CSR commitment largely towards education-prioritising STEM
learning, foundational literacy, and vocational skilling for the communities.
Together, the
Lubrizol-TAP partnership supports students across government schools in Navi
Mumbai and Pune, united by a shared belief in the power of education to
transform lives.
The Partnership
in Action
The employee
engagement event at NMMC School No. 46 was structured around the same learning
approach that students experience every week through TAP Buddy. The students
and the volunteers worked through two activities in small groups, one rooted in
science and the other in art.
The science
activity challenged students to build a functional pedal bin, a model that
works on the same lever mechanism as a standard dustbin. The activity opened up
questions between children and volunteers about how everyday objects are
engineered, why certain materials work and others don’t, and how to
troubleshoot when a design does not work as expected. Lubrizol volunteers
worked through these questions with the students, guiding the students to think
critically and arrive at the solution.
The arts activity
focused on traditional Gond art, a folk artform that originates from the tribal
communities of Central India. Students designed and painted their own coasters,
learning about one of India's most distinctive cultural traditions while
practising focus, composition, and creative decision-making. The coasters, like
the pedal bins, were immediately useful, allowing students to see the value in
what they created.
This reflects
TAP’s approach to learning, where students build conceptual understanding by
creating and applying ideas. Skills such as problem solving, critical thinking
and creativity emerge naturally through this process.
Where Learning
Meets Impact
As their projects
came to life, students and volunteers gathered to present what they had built.
They spoke about the choices behind their projects; some shared how they wanted
to recreate the pedal bin at home, while others held up their coasters proudly.
For Lubrizol
volunteers, the experience offered something that reports and presentations
cannot capture: a firsthand understanding of how students learn through
TAP's model.
"When we
were in school, we weren't this active and confident. I see these
students now and it feels so good to see that they are so confident and smart.
I am happy to see the government schools landscape is changing," said a
Lubrizol volunteer.
For the school,
the event was equally significant. Anuja Mirkute, Headmistress of
NMMC School No. 46, said, "A big thank you to TAP and Lubrizol for
bringing this opportunity to us. We don't have a playground, so we try to keep
the students engaged in such activities, and they are performing really well. I
hope that our students get many more opportunities like this."
Looking Ahead
As TAP continues
to impact more children and more schools each year, partnerships with funders
play a critical role in strengthening both access and quality. Lubrizol’s
support, as both a funder and an active participant, enables students to not
only build skills, but also gain exposure to real world interactions that shape
confidence and aspiration.
Sustainable
impact in education is built through consistent presence, programming that is
rooted in the realities of the system, and holistic partnerships. The
collaboration between Lubrizol and TAP is built on this ethos.
About The
Apprentice Project: The Apprentice Project
(TAP), a program of MentorMe Foundation, headquartered in Pune, Maharashtra, is
a nonprofit organisation working to equip students in Grades 4-12 in government
and low-income schools with 21st-century skills. TAP partners with government
school systems, including SCERT and DIET, to deliver experiential and
AI-enabled learning programs at scale, combining hands-on activities with
accessible technology to build problem solving, critical thinking, creativity,
and applied learning skills. At present, TAP reaches over 150,000 students
across India through partnerships with government school systems.
For more information, visit https://theapprenticeproject.org
About Lubrizol: Lubrizol, a
Berkshire Hathaway company, is a science-based company whose specialty
chemistry delivers sustainable solutions to advance mobility, improve
well-being and enhance modern life. Every day, the innovators of Lubrizol
strive to create extraordinary value for customers at the intersection of
science, market needs and business success, driving discovery and creating
breakthrough solutions that enhance life and make the world work better.
Founded in 1928, Lubrizol has global reach and local presence, with more than
100 manufacturing facilities, sales and technical offices and 7,000 employees
around the world.
For more information, visit https://lubrizol.com