Free STEM Education · South Asia

Where you grow up shouldn't determine what you can build.

We believe where you grow up shouldn't determine what you can build. NextStep STEM gives young people in South Asia free access to world-class STEM education.

Apply for Cohort 1 See the programme →
NextStep STEM
6 sessions
Across 4 weeks
30+
Students in Cohort 1
£0
Cost to students
18k
PKR in prizes
What We Do

Real problems.
Real solutions.

NextStep STEM doesn't teach students to memorise answers. We teach them to understand problems — and design their way out of them.

01
Project-Based Learning
Students don't just study energy efficiency — they design a low-cost solution for a real Pakistani home, school, or community and submit it for judging.
02
Expert Mentorship
Small groups of 10 students work closely with dedicated mentors across six sessions — enough contact to actually make progress, not just observe.
03
Completely Free
No fees, no subscriptions, no costs of any kind. NextStep STEM exists because opportunity shouldn't be determined by postcode or income.
The Programme

Four weeks.
One real project.

Cohort 1 runs online via Google Meet in groups of 10. Every student submits an original energy efficiency project and competes for prizes.

Week 1
2 Sessions
Introduction + First Group Session
Whole-cohort welcome with Ali, then first mentor-led session covering energy efficiency fundamentals and Pakistan's energy crisis.
Week 2
2 Sessions
Solutions + Project Ideation
Low-cost solution case studies — passive solar, reflective roofing, solar cookers, LED retrofitting, biogas. Students develop their project ideas.
Week 3
2 Sessions
Refinement + Submission
Mentors give structured feedback on project drafts. Students refine and submit their final project via Google Form.
Week 4
2 Sessions
Showcase + Celebration
Group showcase with mentors, then whole-cohort celebration where Ali announces winners and every student receives a certificate.
The Competition
Energy Efficiency Challenge
"Design a low-cost energy efficiency solution for a Pakistani home, school, or community — costing under 5,000 rupees to implement."
1st Place
10k
PKR
2nd Place
5k
PKR
3rd Place
3k
PKR

All participants receive a certificate of completion. Projects are judged by Ali Jamali on creativity, feasibility, cost realism, and expected impact.

The Team

Built by people who care.

NextStep STEM was founded and is run entirely by volunteers — students and graduates who believe in what this programme can do.

Ali Jamali
Founder & Director
Ali Jamali
Year 12 student in London. Founded NextStep STEM to address the education and energy challenges he witnessed firsthand in South Asia.
Havith Chavda
Mentor · Group A
Havith Chavda
Leads Group A through the full four-week programme, delivering curriculum content and guiding project development.
Zenia Khan
Mentor · Group B
Zenia Khan
Leads Group B through the full four-week programme, delivering curriculum content and guiding project development.
Abilakshan Gajan
Mentor · Group C
Abilakshan Gajan
Leads Group C through the full four-week programme, delivering curriculum content and guiding project development.
Cohort 1 · Now Open

Ready to build something that matters?

Applications for Cohort 1 are open. Places are limited to 30 students across three groups. Free to join — no experience required, just curiosity.

Apply Now — It's Free

For questions, contact hello@nextstepstem.academy

NextStep STEM

Free STEM education for young people in South Asia

✉ hello@nextstepstem.academy