In Delhi’s sweltering heat, six students from The Shri Ram School, Moulsari Amaira, Kartikeya, Zoey, Shayan, Jovika, and Nevan launched Project Vaayu, an eco-cooler initiative blending tradition and innovation to aid government schools. They repurposed discarded kulhads (clay tea cups) within wooden frames to harness evaporative cooling an age-old concept now reimagined for classrooms.

Water flows through porous kulhads, evaporates, and cools the air by 6–10°C. Small pumps circulate water; silica gel seals handled structural leakage. Built at home using scrap wood, kabadiwala finds, and volunteer help, the coolers began rolling out in September 2024. By May 2025, five units were cooling four schools, benefiting over 400 students Harish, a Class 5 pupil, shared how the cooler transformed his focus and comfort.

The project earned them a ‘Youth for Earth’ prize, with emotional support from mentors and families. Their legacy extends beyond cooling sparking a culture shift in their school, where younger students now lead sustainability efforts. Project Vaayu shows how empathy, low-cost innovation, and hands-on effort can solve modern climate and learning challenges one clay cup at a time.