At AT&T, innovation is not just about cutting-edge technology — it’s about empowering communities and transforming lives. This vision is vividly brought to life through the passionate leadership of Ramesh Muthusamy, a dedicated leader from Service Assurance under AT&T Business Operations. Over the past year, Ramesh has been a driving force behind AT&T’s Believes India initiatives, championing both digital inclusion and environmental sustainability to create meaningful, lasting change in underserved communities across India.
Under Ramesh’s guidance, the Digital Divide projects have empowered under-resourced children by equipping them with essential digital literacy skills. For three consecutive years, outreach programs at the Agastya Foundation’s rural campus have benefited over 800 students and educators annually. These programs cover critical topics such as online safety, the educational potential of generative AI, and health-focused eye screening camps. Partnering with the LV Prasad Eye Institute, these initiatives provide eye care services, including the distribution of spectacles and lifestyle counseling, improving health outcomes for many children who would otherwise lack access to such care.
Building on these efforts, the PULSE Employee group spearheaded the Laptop Repurpose project, distributing 228 refurbished laptops to 13 schools and 3 NGOs. This initiative has transformed classrooms and science labs, creating modern, tech-enabled learning environments where students can thrive. Additionally, Ramesh leads the Career Readiness Program at AT&T’s Bangalore office, mentoring 100 underserved children and equipping them with vital skills and guidance to prepare for successful professional lives.
Ramesh’s commitment to environmental sustainability is equally inspiring. Through the Miyawaki afforestation program, over 1,200 saplings have been planted across Hyderabad and Bangalore, enhancing local biodiversity, improving soil health, conserving water, and mitigating urban heat. His leadership extended to supporting rural livelihoods through the cowherd project, which provided fodder for 8 farmers and 1,100 livestock. Furthermore, a clean energy initiative in five cities saw AT&T volunteers assemble and distribute solar lights to children in villages with limited electricity access, bringing light and hope to many homes.
Central to AT&T’s educational outreach is the innovative partnership with the Agastya International Foundation to power the Mobile Science Labs (MSL) and Integrated Mobile Science Labs (IMSL). These brightly colored, fully equipped vans bring hands-on STEM education directly to remote and under-resourced schools. The MSLs bridge critical gaps by providing students the opportunity to explore scientific concepts through tactile experiments and models, making abstract ideas tangible and exciting. Each lab is staffed by two passionate instructors who guide students and engage adult community members, extending the impact of science education beyond classrooms into the wider community.
The IMSL takes this a step further, transforming mobile STEM education into a dynamic STEAM Maker Space. Equipped with tools for design thinking, coding, and project creation, IMSL empowers students not only to learn science but to innovate and solve real-world problems. Every four months, the IMSL hosts showcases where students present a diverse range of projects—from simple experiments to innovations benefiting their communities—fostering creativity, confidence, and critical thinking.
From January to March 2025, these programs reached thousands of students in regions like Coorg, Warangal, Nelamangala, and Hyderabad. Students engaged in interactive sessions on topics such as magnetism, light and mirrors, combustion, respiration, sound, electricity, atomic structure, and the solar system. Complementing science learning, computer classes enhanced digital literacy, preparing students to navigate an increasingly technology-driven world.
The impact has been profound. Students participating in these programs have shown a 43.3% increase in curiosity and a 13.3% boost in confidence, while science knowledge grew by an astonishing 349.7%. Importantly, the IMSL and MSL actively work to break down gender barriers in STEM, ensuring girls have equal access and encouragement to pursue careers in science and technology.
Beyond education, the IMSL’s dual-purpose design demonstrates AT&T’s commitment to community resilience. In times of crisis, the IMSL transforms into a relief vehicle, distributing essential supplies to communities within a 200-kilometer radius, providing vital support during emergencies.
This partnership between AT&T and Agastya exemplifies how corporate innovation can align with nonprofit expertise to tackle social challenges. By providing underserved communities access to quality STEM education and digital tools, the programs inspire lifelong learning, build self-confidence, and lay the foundation for future careers in technology and science.
Looking ahead, the IMSL and MSL are set to deliver over 8,000 science exposures and 4,000 digital literacy sessions annually, continuing to inspire young minds, break barriers, and create opportunities for a brighter future. AT&T’s investment is more than corporate responsibility—it’s a promise to the next generation that their potential is limitless.
By nurturing curiosity today, AT&T is helping build the innovators, leaders, and changemakers of tomorrow. Together with Agastya, AT&T is not just funding programs—it is building a legacy of empowerment, inclusion, and transformative growth that will shape communities and the future for years to come.
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