Up the Ratios’ Place in Today’s World

Hi - I’m Vir Sanghavi, the founder and executive director of Up the Ratios, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting, fostering, and facilitating robotics education in today’s world. We do this through three smaller mechanisms, all of which come together to do one thing in the end - improve accessibility to robotics & STEM education throughout the globe. 

Firstly, we have classes, workshops, and lectures, all within the education branch of our organization. Here, we allow people who need it, and people who want to learn about robotics to sign up for classes, attend workshops where they can learn hands-on, and attend lectures where they will understand more. This is phase 1 of our approach to reaching our goal. 

Next - we have parts and resources. This is the second phase of our plan to improve robotics education. This part is extremely simple & self explanatory, however, it is one of the most important, if not THE most important part of our program. See what I did there! (parts and parts)!

However, even more crucially, we allow for students who can’t afford the prices and don’t have the opportunities to compete in robotics competitions like the First Lego League (FLL). We believe that STEM is the future, and that allowing students a pathway to compete is even more crucial.

The final phase of our plan to foster robotics education is our awareness campaign. To do this, we have smaller parts of this phase. 1) We have social media. We use various social media platforms, such as YouTube, Discord, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram in order to spread awareness and our broader message. 2) We also use word of mouth - our directors, clients, and others associated with this nonprofit are key to spreading word of mouth and helping us achieve our goals. It’s really simple yet really effective, and we know that if we can maintain and grow our three forms of spreading our message, we can contribute toward making our world a better place. 

Nonetheless, let’s reach the core questions about Up the Ratios. What is our place in today’s world and why do we do what we do? 

To me, our role in our world today is extremely clear. To understand it, look to SuperProf, which tells you that on average, it costs $14 per hour to learn robotics, per student. To many, this is simply too expensive, too inaccessible, or simply inconvenient. Moreover, these lessons require a laptop to attend. And that’s Up the Ratios’ place in our world today - providing underprivileged students who can’t compete a pathway to compete in robotics through the costly classes that we offer. And for the laptops? We raise money to provide students who don’t have access to the resources they need to attend our classes with what they need. However, we’ll talk about that next, and not here. 

The next reason that we love doing what we do is because of economic inequality. What do I mean by this? Forbes found on Apr 2, 2024 that a whopping 78% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck, an insane 6% increase from the year prior. This constantly-on-the-border lifestyle keeps people from gaining access to what they need, which is why we run a donation page. 100% of Up the Ratios’ donations go towards pushing our mission forward and part of that is giving the students who don’t have laptops those devices, because it is the duty of the fortunate to give to the unfortunate. Moreover, at Up the Ratios, we accept unwanted, old, or used laptops, robotics parts, and other things of the sort to save more money. That’s only the first part of the donation page - parts. The second part revolves around keeping our operations going, which is why we have an option to donate to Up the Ratios as an organization, allowing us to fund what we do, keep the website running, and keep maintaining our social presences. 

In addition to these foundational elements, our organization places a strong emphasis on community engagement and collaboration. We believe that fostering a sense of community among our students, volunteers, and supporters is crucial for achieving our mission. Through community events, local meetups, and collaborative projects, we create opportunities for individuals to connect, share knowledge, and inspire each other. This sense of community not only enhances the learning experience but also builds a supportive network that can drive collective progress in the field of robotics.

Furthermore, we recognize the importance of staying at the forefront of technological advancements. As such, we are continually updating our curriculum and resources to reflect the latest developments in robotics and STEM education. By doing so, we ensure that our students are equipped with the most relevant and up-to-date knowledge and skills, preparing them for future challenges and opportunities in the rapidly evolving tech landscape.

Our partnerships with schools, educational institutions, and industry leaders are another critical aspect of our strategy. These partnerships enable us to expand our reach, enhance the quality of our programs, and provide our students with access to a broader range of expertise and resources. Collaborating with established entities in the education and tech sectors also lends credibility to our efforts and helps us advocate more effectively for the importance of robotics education.

Additionally, we are committed to measuring and evaluating the impact of our programs. By collecting data on student outcomes, engagement levels, and overall satisfaction, we can continuously improve our offerings and demonstrate the value of our work to potential donors, partners, and stakeholders. This commitment to transparency and accountability ensures that we remain focused on our mission and use our resources in the most effective way possible.

Ultimately, Up the Ratios is driven by a vision of a world where robotics and STEM education are accessible to everyone, regardless of their financial situation. We believe that by breaking down barriers to education, we can empower individuals to achieve their full potential and contribute to technological advancements that benefit society as a whole. Our work is rooted in the belief that education is a powerful tool for social change, and we are dedicated to making a positive impact through our innovative programs and initiatives. Together, we can create a future where everyone has the opportunity to learn, grow, and succeed in the exciting field of robotics. 

That’s what we do at Up the Ratios, promote STEM as a future, and give everyone an equal opportunity to succeed.