Sat Apr 26 06:44:06 UTC 2025: ## Chennai Library’s Innovative Project Turns Waste into Learning Tools
**CHENNAI, INDIA – April 26, 2025** – Prakrith Arivagam, a Chennai-based library, is making headlines for its unique initiative to repurpose unused notebooks and provide stationery to underprivileged children. In its second year, the project, which runs through May, has already collected over 1000 half-used notebooks.
Volunteers are diligently separating used pages from blank ones, then categorizing the clean sheets by size and ruling. These are then sent to a local binder who provides services at cost. The initiative, funded by small community fundraisers, aims to bridge the gap in access to basic stationery for students in government and rural schools.
Last year, the project distributed 800 refurbished notebooks to a Panchayat Union school. This year, the goal is significantly higher, with participation expanding beyond Chennai to include volunteers from Mumbai and Mylapore. The project leverages social media and community networks to collect notebooks and recruit volunteers. The involvement of college and school students is also anticipated as summer vacation begins.
Sriram Gopalan, the founder of Prakrith Arivagam, highlighted the project’s impact, stating that many students waste notebooks provided by schools while many others lack essential stationery. He emphasized the initiative’s goal of addressing this disparity. The library, initially focused on children, has expanded to include all age groups, promoting holistic child development through activities like memory training and robotics. The project even received praise from Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his Mann Ki Baat address in November 2024.
First Piper 