Indian Mobile Initiative , MIT

For 25 years, the Public Service Center has helped MIT achieve its mission of working for “the betterment of humankind.” Starting in 1988 with a strong foundation of local volunteering, we have expanded our scope through innovative programs that panded our scope through innovative programs that support MIT community members as they tackle local, national, and international quality-of-life issues through public service. We look forward to continued growth in the next 25 years. We are constantly evolving to match changing opportunities, interests, and needs in order to maximize impact. Along the way, we rely on the minds, hands, and hearts of students, alumni, faculty, staff, and friends who join us in enabling MIT to serve the nation and the world. Below are just some of the opportunities offered by the PSC. In addition to supporting existing programs, the PSC helps students plan initiatives, find resources, and cultivate leadership skills. Creativity at Work The annual MIT IDEAS Global Challenge provides students with an opportunity to develop their creative ideas for positive change in the world. Students and their teammates develop feasible, innovative, and effective solutions to problems facing underserved communities. With IDEAS Global Challenge mentoring and awards, teams can take an effective step toward resolving pressing challenges that affect the quality of life of individuals and communities. Since 2001, the IDEAS Global Challenge has awarded funding to nearly 100 teams to transform their ideas into reality. Past innovations include a lever-powered all-terrain wheelchair for people in the developing world, an initiative to cultivate social entrepreneurs in India via mobile phone apps, and a portable Braille label maker that allows the visually impaired to identify anything from prescription bottles to cereal boxes with ease. These and other IDEAS Global Challenge innovations have improved the lives of hundreds of thousands of people. To learn more, visit the IDEAS Global Challenge website. ...view more